•Governor Umo Eno
UTIBE-IMA OKON, Uyo reporting
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has described women as “great multipliers,” stressing that investing in women is a strategic way to strengthen families, communities, and the nation.
Governor Eno stated this in Uyo during the federal government’s Decade of Gas Activation Programme held at Ibom Hal yesterday, Thursday, August 20, 2026.
The governor commended the federal government for its support and empowerment initiatives targeted at women, expressing confidence that beneficiaries would make productive use of the resources provided to them.
According to him, “If you build the women, you build the nation,” noting that women have a unique capacity to transform even modest financial support into meaningful economic opportunities.
The governor said, “If you give a man ₦100,000, it may not mean much to him. But give a woman with children ₦100,000, she knows what to do with it. Everything you put into a woman, she multiplies and gives back to you.”
He explained that while ₦100,000 might appear insignificant to people living in the cities, the same amount could make a substantial difference to a rural woman who understands how to start or expand a small business within her community.
Governor Eno expressed confidence that women benefiting from the federal government’s intervention would multiply the funds and create sustainable livelihoods, urging them to take advantage of the opportunities being provided.
He commended the Minister of State for gas, Obong Emem Ekperikpe Ekpo for the initiative of giving Akwa Ibom Women financial support, saying the gesture demonstrated the federal government’s commitment to improving the economic wellbeing of women.
The governor also highlighted his administration’s efforts to empower women across Akwa Ibom State, noting that about 60 palm oil refineries had been established across the state to support women and strengthen their participation in enterprise development.
He said women were being mobilised and empowered daily to participate in businesses and other economic activities, adding that many beneficiaries were already making progress.
Governor Eno assured the women of his administration’s continued collaboration with the federal government to ensure that empowerment benefits reached those who needed them most.
The governor said the achievements recorded by his administration and the federal government’s interventions were aimed at strengthening women economically and enabling them to contribute more significantly to the development of their families and communities.
