Over 10,000 sets of equipment have been presented to 2,000 entrepreneurs engaged in various crafts, including tailoring, barbing, shoemaking, welding, laundry, hairstyling, car wash, makeup 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 and 31 saloon cars to various beneficiaries, while others who have distinguished themselves in different educational pursuits received cash gifts under the Academic Excellence Award and Exceptional Grit Award.
Under the academic excellence category, Edidiong Essien, who scored 8 A’s in the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), was awarded ₦10 million. A medical doctor, Dr. Joseph Akpan, who earned 10 distinctions out of 11 courses in his final examination at the University of Uyo, was awarded full tuition and living expenses to pursue a master’s degree abroad. Additionally, five Akwa Ibom students who won the Singapore-Bilateral International School Debate received ₦15 million, with an additional ₦5 million awarded to the teachers who led the team.
Also recognized in the Exceptional Grit category was a female tipper truck driver, Otobong Philip Udoh, from Ikot Ukana, Nto Edino, who was gifted ₦5 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, a seasoned entrepreneur, said the event was a continuation of efforts to stimulate the State’s economy through Medium and Small-Scale Enterprises (MSMEs), adding that they are the driving force behind the creation of a thriving middle class.
He applauded President Bola Tinubu for his economic policies, which, according to him, are gradually revitalizing the economy.
“I have always said that our best legacy would be the number of lives we have positively impacted through entrepreneurial support schemes, humanitarian interventions, and other kitchen-table issues that directly affect the quality of life of our people, while also executing big-ticket projects. In all, as I have always said, the people will be our greatest legacy in governance.”
He noted that the passion to impact lives explains why, within the first few months of his inauguration, he facilitated the entry of the Bank of Industry (BoI) into the State for the first time to support MSMEs. He further provided a ₦2 billion matching fund, enabling entrepreneurs, especially small-scale ones, to borrow at single-digit interest rates.
He commended the Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Centre (IBOM-LED) for its painstaking work, transparent selection process, and commitment to inclusivity, cutting across party lines and affiliations. He urged the beneficiaries to utilize the equipment to expand their businesses and, in doing so, inspire others to follow their lead.
The Governor assured that his administration would continue to support enterprise, industry, and other meaningful engagements by the people of Akwa Ibom.
The State Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Dr. Ubong Inyang, and his Science and Digital Economy counterpart, Dr. Frank Ekpenyong, along with the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Entrepreneurial Development, Mr. Ime Uwah, provided insights into the event. They emphasized the Governor’s passion for growing SMEs, noting that his approach represents a truly effective empowerment strategy.
In their separate remarks, the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Elder Aniekan Akpan, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, and the Director-General of Campaigns, Chief Asam Asam, SAN, commended the Governor for fulfilling his campaign promises and making the state proud with his leadership disposition.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Dr. Joseph Akpan expressed their heartfelt appreciation to Governor Umo Eno, describing the gesture as a pleasant surprise that has not only compensated for years of rigorous effort but will also encourage others to strive for excellence in education and business.