Christmas unplugged 4.0: Gov. Eno Backs Tinubu, Akpabio, Announces ₦31bn Empowerment Scheme

UYO – Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Bassey Eno, has endorsed President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and All Progressives Congress candidates in the state, urging residents to support the party’s political leadership.

Eno made the position known while presiding over the Akwa Ibom State Executive Council meeting, where the Council also approved a ₦31 billion economic empowerment programme for the state’s 31 Local Government Areas.

The governor said the programme, which forms part of his administration’s ARISE Agenda, would provide ₦1 billion to each local government for economic empowerment initiatives targeting youths, women, traders, farmers, small and medium-scale businesses and transport operators.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary Ekerete Udo, quoted the governor as saying the initiative was expected to reach 165,912 beneficiaries across the state.

According to Eno, the empowerment scheme would include youth skills acquisition and starter packs, support for women cooperatives, trader grants, agricultural inputs, SME development and transport empowerment.

He announced that a committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government would work out the modalities for implementing the programme across the 31 LGAs.

The governor’s political endorsement placed Tinubu and Akpabio at the centre of his appeal for political support, as he called on Akwa Ibom people to back the APC candidates in the state.

Eno further linked the call for political support to the need for continuity in the implementation of development programmes and the alignment between the state and federal governments.

The ₦31 billion programme represents a major grassroots economic intervention, with the equal ₦1 billion allocation providing each of the state’s 31 LGAs with a designated empowerment fund,”Eno stated.

The governor said the initiative was intended to expand economic opportunities and enable beneficiaries to acquire productive skills, access support for businesses and participate more actively in the state’s economy.

The statement said the Council meeting also reviewed other areas of the administration’s development agenda, including infrastructure, healthcare, transportation and social interventions.