Gov. Umo Eno during the Town Square meeting…recently.
By Emmanuel Ndon
The town square meeting for Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency has come and gone, but the memories will linger for a long time to come. It was a grand slam of some sort. Devoid of many speeches, but marked by free, sincere expression. The large crowd greeted their special guest with warm smiles.
The town square meeting itself is a novelty idea initiated by Governor Umo Eno as a people-centred political framework used for understanding and improving development projects across the state. The second layer of the programme – empowerment – focuses on the social and emotional needs and well-being of the people – particularly the disadvantaged groups.
Thus, from all indications, the town square meetings can also be seen as a mechanism to track the progress and development in different parts of the state.
Two significant items decorated the town square meeting in Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency. The people of the area were given the opportunity to present their choice projects, that is, those projects they believe can or will best address their needs and aspirations in the NEEDS Document. Secondly, thousands of people benefited from the empowerment packages that has been a characteristic feature of the programme.
The empowerment programme ranges from farmers grants, traders grants, equipment support scheme as well as the MSME grant.
The MSME grant is designed to empower medium, small, and micro enterprises across all the local government areas in the state. The focus is on key sectors such as agribusiness and its value chain, fashion and leather works, hospitality services, manufacturing and production, oil and gas services, and arts and crafts.
On the other hand, the equipment support scheme is designed to empower small businesses with equipment to boost productivity and foster job creation. The scheme is intended to demonstrate government’s commitment to nurturing entrepreneural spirit within the state. At least 677 people were empowered in Itu and Ibiono Ibom local government areas with cash, working kits and motor vehicles. Of this number, 108 farmers in Itu, and 115 farmers from Ibiono Ibom received the farmers grant ranging from N500,000 to N1 million.
184 people in Itu and 125 in Ibiono Ibom were beneficiaries of the Arise Traders Grant while another 135 people from the two local government areas were rewarded under the ARISE equipment support scheme with equipment ranging from hairdressing machines, welding tools, sewing machines, generating plants and other forms of equipment.
Four beneficiaries from the two local government areas were also given N5m each under the ARISE MSME grant, while four buses and two cars were given to six people in the two local government areas.
In addition to these packages, there is also the Arise compassionate homes across different federal constituencies which provides decent housing accommodation to the widows in particular and other disadvantaged individuals.
With these inspiring programmes,Itu/Ibiono Ibom is starting to dream again. Still, another 35 road projects are ongoing – some either already completed or nearing completion Expectations are high that the Ibom science park which was abandoned after the Obong Victor Atah administration can come alive after nearly 20 years, as contained in the NEEDS document.
The science park has the potential to stimulate innovation and to grow associated knowledge-based businesses. The infrastructure creates an ecosystem of industry specialists who feed into a ‘knowledge economy’, which in turn attracts and supports world class talent.
Itu is also interested in the development of tourists and historical sites, but even more serious is ecological remediation. For Itu, addressing the ecological challenges should form the fulcrum for infrastructure development.
Still in the NEEDS Document, roads construction dominated Ibiono Ibom local government requests. And this is understandable because other than being agrarian, that axis appears to have been neglected by previous administrations particularly in the area of road infrastructure. Again, being a prominent food basket, roads are essential to create the needed access to and from farms. Both Itu and Ibiono Ibom have also requested for a general hospital to carter for the health needs of the locals – and this could help free up the mega health facilities already in the federal constituency for optimum healthcare delivery.
Although the governor had assured them that the NEEDS Document will be incorporated in the 2026 budget, he frankly told the people that government cannot accommodate everything in the Document at once. Yet, there’s a ray of hope given the level of progress already on ground.
Filled with joy and excitement, the people of Itu/Ibiono federal constituency felt the need to endorse the governor for a second term in 2027. There is no better appreciation for a performing governor who is filled with love and compassion for his people. The speed and energy with which the governor is pursuing his electoral promises and campaign blueprint could well be enough for his cruise for a second term. Indeed, the future looks even brighter than what was expected.
Ndon writes from Uyo
