Akakan Umoh
A member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Unyime Idem, has unveiled plans to roll out the second phase of his N1 billion Family-based Agricultural/Business Support grant.
The plan is targeting 1,000 farmers and entrepreneurs to boost agribusiness, support small businesses and stimulate economic growth in his Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom.
Under the initiative, beneficiaries will either receive ₦1 million support in cash, or agricultural/business equipment worth over ₦1 million, depending on the nature of their enterprises and the specific support to strengthen their businesses.
The initiative is a build-up to first phase launched on December 6, 2025, in which ₦1 Billion was disbursed to 1,000 beneficiaries, with each receiving a ₦1 million grant to establish or expand a business.
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Already, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Procurement, has released comprehensive guidelines and modalities for the nomination and selection of beneficiaries, with emphasis on transparency, inclusivity, equity and fairness.
A press release issued from his office said he has constituted Village committees, comprising Village Political Leader (Unit Leader) as Chairman, Village Head as Co-chairman, Village Youth President as Secretary, Village Women Leader as Member – to oversee selection of beneficiaries ahead of submission deadline.
It is gathered from the initiative’s monitoring team, alongside verified testimonies from beneficiaries that the programme has recorded positive outcomes.
In realization of the significant role of Agriculture, the second phase will agribusiness and trading in the local economy specifically targeting farmers and entrepreneurs to strengthen their businesses, improve livelihoods, stimulate economic activities and promote self-reliance across the constituency.
The guidelines are designed to ensure that eligible constituents across the approximately 300 villages in Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency have a fair opportunity to benefit from the initiative.
Women, youths, men, older persons and persons living with disabilities are all eligible for consideration. Access to influential individuals or political godfathers will not be a requirement, as selection is to be based on the established guidelines rather than social standing, political affiliation or religious inclination.
Beneficiaries must, however, come from families that did not benefit from the first phase of the initiative.
Each village is expected to nominate three beneficiaries, subject to the overall target of 1,000 beneficiaries, who will receive ₦1 million each, or equipment worth over ₦1 million. Every village must also ensure that at least one woman is nominated.
To facilitate a transparent and community-driven process, each village will constitute a four-member committee comprising Village Political Leader (Unit Leader) – Chairman; Village Head – Co-chairman; Village Youth President – Secretary and Village Women Leader – Member.
The village committees will be responsible for conducting nominations within their respective villages in accordance with the prescribed guidelines.
The village committees are to incorporate family heads to be part of the committees to ensure seamless, inclusive and transparent nomination exercise.
The selection of beneficiaries shall be conducted through either consensus or balloting. Where consensus cannot be reached, balloting shall be adopted to determine the nominees.
Members of the Central Planning Committee (CPC) will participate in the process strictly as observers to promote compliance with the guidelines and uphold the principles of transparency, inclusivity, equity and fairness.
At the conclusion of the exercise, all four members of each village committee must sign the nomination forms to affirm the integrity of the process and their satisfaction with the outcome before the forms are forwarded to the CPC.
Nominations from villages where credible cases of irregularities, sharp practices, rancour or substantial non-compliance with the guidelines are established will be cancelled.
An independent verification exercise will also be conducted to confirm that the nominated beneficiaries are genuine residents of the villages from which they were selected and that the committees have carried out the required due diligence.
All selected beneficiaries will be required to complete designated forms and provide verifiable personal information. Each beneficiary must attach a recent, clear passport photograph and a valid means of identification, which may be any of the following: National Identification Card; International Passport; Driver’s Licence; or Permanent Voter’s Card.
Beneficiaries will be informed in due course on which commercial bank they shall open or own a verifiable account with, as the agricultural/business support will be paid directly into each recipient’s own account as was done in the first phase of the programme. Payments will not be made through proxy accounts.
Before disbursement, all selected beneficiaries will undergo a mandatory training programme to be delivered by a reputable Nigerian business firm as was done in the first phase, intended to equip recipients with relevant business management skills and knowledge to improve the sustainability and growth of their enterprises.
The firm will also undertake effective monitoring of the grants to encourage their proper utilisation for the intended agricultural and business purposes.
Nominations must be conducted in the respective villages by the designated village committees. Observers from the Central Planning Committee will not be responsible for selecting beneficiaries.
Constituents seeking clarification or further information about the nomination process are advised to contact the committees in their respective villages.
Constituents who may not be selected in this phase are advised to remain patient, as the empowerment initiative is planned to be implemented in annual batches, creating further opportunities for eligible constituents in subsequent phases.
The inauguration of the village committees is scheduled for Saturday, November 21, 2026, at the Unyime Idem Mega Skills Acquisition and Empowerment Centre, Barracks Road, Ukanafun Local Government Area will commence at 10 a.m.
All village committees are required to complete the nomination exercise and submit their duly completed forms to the Central Planning Committee on or before December 15, 2026.
The deadline is intended to allow sufficient time for verification, coordination and other necessary preparations ahead of the empowerment.
Rep. Idem reiterates his commitment to ensuring that the selection process is free from favouritism, undue influence and avoidable disputes, while providing eligible constituents with a fair opportunity to benefit, thus the setting up of the village committees.
The initiative forms part of his broader commitment to promoting entrepreneurship, strengthening family incomes, supporting agricultural and commercial activities, and expanding economic opportunities across Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency.
