•The Akpabios (L)
As part of his constituency project, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio on Boxing Day presented 10 outboard engine fishing boats to women and cooperative groups of Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District in his country home in Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom.
The women and cooperative societies were drawn from the riverine communities of Akwa Ibom State and have fishing as the main source of their livelihood.
At the ceremony, the wife of the President of the Senate, Dr (Mrs) Ekaette Unoma Akpabio thanked the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio for remembering the women from the riverine communities of Akwa Ibom State.
She said the women were drawn from Eket Senatorial District because her husband is the Senate President for all, irrespective of the senatorial districts.
In his remarks, Akpabio commended the beneficiaries for their support. He said he had always enjoyed the support of women in Akwa Ibom State and therefore felt the need to empower them in their fishing business.
He told the women: “I can never forget your love; I can never forget your prayers, I can never forget your support. We are still standing strong because you are still praying.
“Let me thank you in advance for the support you will give to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027. Today I’m making you also fishers of men. The nets will be for you to drag as many votes as possible for the All Progressives Congress, APC, in your senatorial district.
“The president is very happy with Akwa Ibom State. Governor Umo Eno has made us proud. He is touching lives and making sure that human capital development is a major focus of his administration. Mine is to urge you to support him,” he said.
According to the Executive Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) who coordinated the presentation, each of the boats have fishing nets, refrigerator and extra tanks for fueling the boats and powering the outboard engines. The big boats have double 75 horsepower engines while the smaller boats have 40 horsepower engines.
A representative of the beneficiaries, Mma Nkoyo Isong expressed their appreciation to Senator Akpabio and his wife for empowering the women to fish instead of merely giving them fish. She said the women will reciprocate the kind gesture by their continued support for the Senate President and his party in the next general elections.
A few of the boats were brought for the symbolic presentation while Akpabio read out the names of the individual beneficiaries and the Cooperative Societies.
