•Governor Eno at the event
Over 10,000 sets of equipment have been presented to 2,000 entrepreneurs engaged in various crafts including tailoring, barbing, shoe making, welding, laundry, hair styling, car wash, make up artistry, baking, palm and cassava milling, vulcanizing, and tiling under the ARISE Entrepreneurial Equipment Support Scheme by Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State.
Also presented were 77 mini buses, 31 saloon cars to various beneficiaries, while some others who have distinguished themselves in various educational pursuits got various cash gifts under the Academic Excellence Award and Exceptional Grit Award.
Under the academic excellence category, Edidiong Essien who scored 8 As in the 2023 West African School Certificate Examination, WASCE was awarded N10 million, a Medical Doctor, Dr. Joseph Akpan, who scored 10 distinctions out of eleven courses in his final examination at the University of Uyo was awarded full tuition and living expenses to study for a masters degree outside the country, while five Akwa Ibom students who won the Singapore- Bilateral International School Debate got N15 million, with an additional N5 million going to the teachers that led the team.
Also awarded in the exceptional grit category was a female tipper truck driver, Otobong Philip Udoh, from Ikot Ukana, Nto Edino, who was gifted N5 million for daring to venture into a male- dominated trade.
Presenting the empowerment packages and awards to the beneficiaries at the Uyo Township Stadium, the state governor who is a seasoned entrepreneur, said the event was in furtherance of the continuous push to stimulate the state’s economy through Medium and Small Scale Enterprises, SMEs, adding that they are the driving force for the creation of a thriving middle class.
He applauded President Bola Tinubu, for his economic policies which according to him were gradually revitalizing the economy.
“I have always said that our best legacy would be the number of lives we would have positively impacted through entrepreneurial support schemes, humanitarian interventions and other kitchen-table issues that directly affect the quality of lives of our people, while also executing big-item projects. In all, as I have always said, the people will be our greatest legacy in governance.”
He noted that the passion to impact on the people explains why within the first few months of his inauguration, he brought the Bank of Industry (BoI), for the first time ever, to the state to serve as a partner in supporting MSMEs and went ahead to provide a matching fund of N2billion so that entrepreneurs, especially the small scale ones could borrow at single digit interest rates.
He commended the Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Centre-IBOM-LED for their painstaking job, transparent selection process cutting across party lines and affiliations, and urged the beneficiaries to utilize the equipment to expand their businesses and in the process, inspire others to follow their lead.
The governor assured that government under his leadership will continue to support enterprise, industry and other meaningful engagements by Akwa Ibom people.
The State Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Dr. Ubong Inyang, and his Science and Digital Economy counterpart, Dr. Frank Ekpenyong, as well as the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Entrepreneurial Development, Mr Ime Uwah who gave insight into the event, said the governor was passionate about growing SMEs, adding that the approach was the real deal in empowerment.
In their separate remarks, the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Elder Aniekan Akpan, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, and the Director- General of Campaigns, Chief Asam Asam, SAN appreciated the governor for keeping to his campaign promises and for making everyone proud with his leadership disposition.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Dr Joseph Akpan conveyed their appreciation to Governor Umo Eno, saying the gesture was a pleasant surprise that has not only made up for the years of rigours but would encourage others to aim for excellence in their chosen endeavour, be it in education or business.
