If the Akwa Ibom State government keeps its promise, especially now that the state is preparing for another general election, unemployed and jobless citizens may have reasons to smile, following plans by the government to implementation an economic empowerment programme for youths, women, traders, farmers, transport operators and small/medium enterprises (SMEs) across the 31 local government areas of the sate.
Already, the state executive council has approved the release of the sum of ₦31 billion as provided in the 2026 Approved Budget, for the implementation of the programme.
The state commissioner for information, Dr Aniekan Umanah, said in a document believed to be the minutes of the council meeting, that the programme comprises Youth Skills Acquisition, Training and Starter Packs; Women Cooperative Business Support; Traders Business Grants; Agricultural Support and Farm Inputs; SME Development and Enterprise Growth; and the Transport Empowerment Scheme.
According to him, the initiative is aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, job creation, poverty reduction, agricultural productivity, business growth, and inclusive economic development through skills acquisition, grants, enterprise support, farm inputs, and the distribution of productive assets such as tricycles to qualified beneficiaries across the State. About 165,912 persons are expected to benefit from the scheme.
A committee to be headed by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Prince Enobong Uwah, has already been set up to coordinate the programme.
This is coming even as the state is preparing to receive the president, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the commissioning of some projects to mark the 39th anniversary of the state’s creation.
Some of the projects expected to be commissioned by Tinubu include the New Terminal Building, Airport Hospital, Aviation Village, the 14.5-kilometre Nsit Atai–Okobo Road, the Dualisation of Ring Road 3, the Command and Control Centre, AkwaGIS, the State Secretariat Annex, and the ARISE Palm Resort.
