Akakan Umoh
Akwa Ibom State Government has approved N31 billion to boost entrepreneurship development especially Small and Medium Enterprises, skill acquisition scheme and women cooperative businesses.
The 31 local government councils will receive N1billion each for the implementation of the programme, which also include empowerment and transport schemes.
The initiative is expected to benefit 165,912 people through skills acquisition, grants, enterprise support, farm inputs and the distribution of productive assets, including tricycles.
Dr. Aniekan Umanah, the state Commissioner for Information, announced this at end of State Executive Council’s meeting following conclusion of a two-day Delivery Meeting, and review of the implementation of government projects and programmes, held at the Executive Council Chambers, Governor’s Office, Uyo, presided over by Governor Umo Eno.
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Umanah said the empowerment programme, funded in the 2026 Approved Budget at ₦1 billion for each Local Government Area, targets youths, women, traders, farmers, transport operators and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
He said it comprises youth skills acquisition, training and starter packs, women cooperative business support, traders’ business grants, agricultural support and farm inputs, SME development and enterprise growth, as well as a transport empowerment scheme.
According to him, “the initiative is aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, job creation, poverty reduction, agricultural productivity, business growth, and inclusive economic development, through skills acquisition, grants, enterprise support, farm inputs, and the distribution of products such as tricycles to qualified beneficiaries across the State.”
“The Governor-in-Council constituted a Committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government, to work out modalities for the implementation and distribution of the intervention and report back to the Executive Council.”
The Council also noted that President Bola Tinubu, would inaugurate key projects during his planned visit to the State to mark the 39th anniversary of the State creation.
Among the projects expected to be inaugurated are the new terminal building, airport hospital, aviation village, the 14.5-kilometre Nsit Atai–Okobo Road, the dualisation of ring road 3, the command and control centre, AkwaGIS, the State secretariat annex, and the ARISE Palm Resort.
“Council noted the recruitment of over 2,854 health workers, the completion of twenty-nine (29) Model Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), the ongoing upgrade of seventeen (17) additional PHCs, and the rehabilitation of four secondary healthcare facilities,” the commissioner added.
“Council further noted the acquisition of three CT Scan machines, with three additional units expected, as well as two MRI machines, alongside the ongoing digitisation of healthcare processes to improve efficiency, expand access, and enhance the quality of healthcare services across the State.
On legislative matters, Council noted that all 12 Executive Bills before the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly had been passed and approved the invitation of the Speaker and House leadership for their signing into law.
Council approved December 18, 2026, for the Annual Christmas Carol Festival, directed that Christmas Unplugged 4.0 should showcase the state’s culinary and cultural heritage, and announced a two-day Youth Conference.
It also endorsed phased implementation of solar-powered rural water projects across 369 wards, approved the 2026 State Sports Festival, congratulated Edidiong Umofia and Ruth Nyong on their Commonwealth Games medals.
The meeting, which witnessed the swearing-in of Mr Uduak Isaac as State Statistician-General, also noted Governor Eno’s Best African Leader in People-Centric Governance Award, received on his behalf by the Deputy Governor during the 19th Security Watch Africa Conference and Awards Ceremony in Banjul, The Gambia.
Governor Eno thanked the people of Akwa Ibom State for their continued support and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to peace, progress, prosperity and the implementation of the ARISE Agenda.
