As popular musician Favour lighted up the evening, Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno wetted the indigenes who have distinguished themselves in various endeavours went home with N550 million incentives.
In what was tagged, “An Evening of Grants and Empowerment,” N25 million was given as grants to 50 winners of the ARISE Home Farms Contest and N300 million as grant to 400 female youths under the Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme-3.
Others were N20 million prize money to winners of the 2023 Governor’s Cup Tournament, N155 million prize money to 31 local government areas that participated in the 2024 Christmas Unplugged and Cultural Display Competition.
A total of 32 outstanding civil servants got N1 million each, as well as several other on-the-spot cash awards and car gifts.
Addressing the gathering at the Evening of Grants and Empowerment organized by the State Government at the Amphitheatre, Unity Park, Uyo, Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno said the event underlined his administration’s commitment to promoting entrepreneurship, food security through agricultural ventures, celebrate excellence, passion for good works and the spirit of healthy competition among Akwa Ibom people in their various fields of endeavours.
Eno stressed that his administration remains committed to gradually moulding and building Akwa Ibom into a destination of choice, saying, “We are gathered to reaffirm commitment to food security and agricultural sustainability through our various initiatives.
“We are gathered to empower and encourage small and Medium scale enterprises, ensuring they leverage their skills and creativity to stimulate economic growth and personal development.
“We are here to celebrate passion, excellence and the spirit of healthy competition, whether through sports, service delivery or entrepreneurship. Tonight, we are here to celebrate what Happy Hour represents: rewards for hardworking, talent, creativity and industry. When you put in the work, you should also take the time to celebrate your effort.
“We are here to celebrate a milestone for our young female youths that have have just graduated from the Leadership and Entrepreneurial school. You have always been our cheer leaders, but tonight we are your cheerleaders. That’s why we are here tonight. We are here to celebrate that.
“We are here to celebrate Akwa Ibomites. We are here to celebrate you who have decided to rise to our call that everyone can own a farm, even if it is a home garden,” he said.
The Governor assured that his administration will not relent effort at making the people the centre of governance, uphold the principles of accountability and probity and ensuring transparency, inclusivity and fairness in implementation of policies and programmes.
“We are a peaceful, hospitable and blessed State with one of the finest cuisines in the nation. Our road network is among the best in the country and our Ibom Air continues to set a standard in aviation excellence. So, we invite the world to come, invest, live and thrive in our State,” Governor Eno said.
Setting the tone for the event, the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah said it was basically a fulfilment of promise to the different sets of beneficiaries, adding that there was need to celebrate them and have a happy hour.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Grace Akpan said, the surprise declaration of all the 31 local government areas of the state Winners in the Christmas Unplugged Season 2.0, is a demonstration of the large heart, benevolence spirit and all-inclusive governance disposition of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno.
This Winning Prize presentation officially brought to an end, the 32 days 2024 Christmas Unplugged Season 2.0, celebration, which lasted from December 01, 2024 to January 01, 2025, showcasing the Cultural heritage and Tourism potentials of all the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State.
Mrs Akpan stated that, with the whopping prize sum, each of the 31 local government areas went home with N5 million as reward for participating effectively in the Local Government Sights and Sounds competition.
The Permanent Secretary who spoke expressed deep gratitude to the State Governor for his show of love and magnanimity towards the people of Akwa Ibom State since assumption of office.
Mrs. Akpan had earlier in her presentation explained the modalities involved in the selection of Winners in the Christmas Unplugged Season 2.0 where she enlisted the A-List team put together to carry out the process and enumerated the criteria used in selecting Winners in the Christmas Unplugged contest to include: Organization and Coordination; Contingent Appearance and Number of Cultural troupes, Local Cusines on Display, Major Economic and Cultural activities showcased and functional use of local dialects in presentation.
She said the Christmas Unplugged programme is part of measures enunciated in the ARISE Agenda of Governor Umo Eno geared towards the development of entrepreneurship and Tourism in the state.
In their different explanations of the processes through which the beneficiaries emerged, the Head of Civil Service, Elder Effiong Essien, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on ICT, Dr. Frank Ekpenyong and Permanent Secretary of Sports Ministry, Mrs Rose Bassey gave clarity on the transparency, fairness and due diligence employed to ensure probity, while also extolling the magnanimity and inclusiveness of the Governor.
The Happy Hour evening which witnessed presentation of different categories of grants to different groups was spiced with performances by Flavour, Mister Xto, young professionals, among others.
