While budgeting for the 36th anniversary of the creation of Akwa Ibom state, Governor Umo Bassey Eno, said he had cut down N250 million to share for the Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Developments LED, for the training and mobilisation of 400 entrepreneurs in the state.
Eno made this known when he flagged off Made in Akwa Ibom Trade Fair at Ibom-Led Headquarters, located at Former Ibom E-Library), IBB Avenue, Uyo.
The governor explained that the N250 million is the money that he saved from budget for LED and everyone that has registered so far.
Putting the total number of registered entrepreneurs at four hundred people, Eno said “This is how it will be shared.”
“To each and everyone of them you will share, N50 million for the school so that it can serve as their training fees. So let it be that I have paid for that. As you graduate them, if the job is for those who did not have NAFDAC Number, make sure you help them have it.”
“Look at their products and let those products look good. Train them and then help them look for market too. As you finish training them, each of them shall have N500,000.
Worrying by the huge sums paid to Business School elsewhere to train Akwa Ibom people, the Governor’s account of how he took the decision to convert the Ibom E-Library for Entrepreneurial And Leadership School, according to him, was due to the fact that the facility was abandoned.
“I am here to draw the attention of the Akwa Ibom people to this facility,” he continued, “This facility was built by one of our illustrious sons who was the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Obot Akpabio.
He pointed out that because this facility stands side by side by any international business school in the world, he transform and restructure the place which was a former E- library and attach it to something else which he said “our children who desire to learn trade can come here, register and learn.”
“We would not be able to pay transport for our children to go to business school in Lagos and abroad, but we can pay school fees for our children to come to Akwa Ibom business School,” he stated .
Truth Live News reported that the governor thanked Pastor ImoAbasi Jacob and the DG of the Ibom LED, Mrs. Ekaette Umo, as well as the Senior Special Assistant on Entrepreneurial Development, Mr. Ime Uwah for transforming the place and putting their visions together.
Commending the Governor for keeping to his promise and for rekindling the trade fair initiative, the State Commissioner for Economic Development, Emem Bob, and Team Leader of the Ibom LED crew and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Centre, Pastor Imo Abasi Jacob, said “the Governor’s action is a clear demonstration of his understanding that entrepreneurship is the bedrock of economic development.”