476 EMPOWERED WITH N239M GRANTS IN IKONO/INI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY

476 EMPOWERED WITH N239M GRANTS IN IKONO/INI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY

… says his mission is to help the vulnerable, voiceless, those with no godfathers

IKECHUKWU AGBAMEGBUE, UYO

476 persons from Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency have joined other beneficiaries of the ARISE Empowerment Scheme of the Governor Umo Eno Led administration.

The Ikono/INI beneficiaries were empowered with over N239m as farming, trading, and equipment grants at the Town Square Meeting for the Federal Constituency held at Ibiaku Ntok Okpo.

The Governor noted that the beneficiaries were qualified citizens of the Federal Constituency who had registered through the ARISE Youth Employment portal, and were duly selected, calling on everyone to embrace the digital method of getting jobs, empowerment and other government contracts.

Governor Eno explained that it was imperative to do things differently to provide a level playing field for everyone in order to accommodate those who have the requisite capacity, are willing to work, and have registered on the ARISE portal

“We have empowered our young people in Ikono and INI, and one of them is your son, U &K. I didn’t know he is an INI son. So as we see capacity, we continue to encourage it. We will encourage our young people regardless of where they come from. I love everybody, I am Governor for Akwa Ibom State. What I want to see is capacity. Show me that you are ready. When you have a small job, do it and be ready for more. The Bible says, “He that is faithful in little, shall recieve more.

“Let me speak to the young people of Akwa Ibom. We have a portal. The economy of the world today is based on data, and we must be able to show statistics of what any government has done. In God we trust, but for man, show us your data.

“We have opened portals for almost everything; procurement, employment, bursary and we are paying those who have registered. For Ikono and INI, we have empowered 476 of you with the total sum of N239, 150, 000. All their names and phone numbers are here.You can call them.You can find out. These people registered on the portal. Don’t let anybody deceive you, if you don’t register on the portal, nothing for you.

“Any student, or graduate that doesn’t know how to use computer is deceiving himself or herself. In the forthcoming screening, we are going to use computer, and as you finish, you see your result,” he said.

Explaining the reasons for his people – centric governance disposition, he said, “I became a Governor by the grace of God, by the instrumentality of Deacon Udom Emmanuel and I did not know anybody. If we were looking for people to be Governor in this State, I would not have chosen myself, but it is the grace of God that chose me. Now, having been brought by the grace of God, I must allow that same grace to reach other people who do not know anybody.

“You must be able to apply without knowing the Governor, without knowing the Deputy Governor or knowing the Secretary to the State Government and you get a job. That is my mission. Anyone waiting for slots is wasting time. Go to the portal and apply, and when you are invited, answer the questions well and get the jobs or contract.

“I want those who have nobody to benefit from my programmes.I was sent to those who have no one. If it was by having someone, I wouldn’t be here today. God passed through Deacon Udom Emmanuel who stood by me. So I will also stand by others who have no one. I met a young engineer who is working at our Agricultural equipment leasing project, and I asked her: how did you get the job? She said she applied on the portal and they gave her. Those are the testimonies I want to get. So young people, support groups go to the portal, if you are qualified, they would pay you and it reflects in your group.

Stressing on his determination to run a true democracy, he said, “Let us for once run a government of the people, by the people and for the people which is democracy. So that people who have nobody can become somebody. Don’t let anyone deceive you with special projects or others, because we are all special.”

Receiving the needs document and assuring to accommodate as many as possible, Governor Eno expressed optimism on availability of funds especially with the President Tinubu led administration, stressing that the President, as well as Senator Godswill Akpabio, deserves support to return them in 2027.

Following a request by stakeholders in the area, the Governor approved immediate intervention in the State College of Science and Technology, and directed the Commissioner for Education to ascertain the things needed to facilitate accreditation for the school programmes.

He further said the college could either be maintained as a College of Science and Technology, or converted it into a campus of the Akwa Ibom State University based on their preference.

In their separate remarks, Local Government chairmen of Ikono and INI, Commissioners for Agriculture and Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Dr Offiong Offor, and Dr Ubong Inyang respectively, former House of Representative member, Prof Ini Udoka, and Sir S. U. Akpan, commended the Governor for the different impactful strides in the Constituency.

Presenting the needs document, Senator Aloysius Etok also appreciated the Governor for his leadership strides in the State ans pledged continuous support beyond 2025.

High points of the event were the conferment of a Chieftaincy title of Ette Iberedem on the Governor by the traditional rulers of the Constituency.