By Timothy Ekpo
ETIM EKPO
Akwa Ibom government has said that a total of N31 billion has been earmarked in the 2026 budget for cooperative empowerment in the State.
Governor Umo Eno, who announced this in Etim Ekpo and Ika Local Government Areas, during the ARISE Women Sensitization Tour on Civic Responsibilities, said each local government area’s cooperative in the State will receive the sum of N1 billion.
Represented at the event by the deputy governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, the governor said the measure was one way his administration intends to boost small scale businesses in Akwa Ibom.
Eno explained that to benefit from the funds, intended applicants must register with cooperative societies, and own a bank account, stressing that government would deal with cooperatives than individuals.
The state chief executive listed the credentials that would be needed to access the loan to include voters card, Bank Verification Number (BVN) and the National Identification Number (NIN), and charged women to acquire the items to avail them the opportunity of registration with cooperatives.
He stated that the ongoing sensitization tour, coordinated by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, which has taken the project to 12 local government areas of Abak, Ikot Ekpene, Urue Offong/Oruko, Oron, Oruk Anam, Ukanafun, Esit Eket, Etinan, Etim Ekpo and Ika, already, was intended to sensitize women on their civic responsibilities towards the 2027 general elections.
Eno noted that as part of efforts to get ready for next year’s polls, chairmen of local government councils should mobilise women from door to door to participate in the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) and party registration to enable them vote massively for candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), at the level of the President, governor and senate.
The governor maintained that it was imperative for those who were not up to 18 years as at the time the last CVR was done for the 2023 general elections to obtain their PVCs, while those affected by transfer, loss of cards, and faded cards should get replacements before the exercise ended on February 8, 2026.
Eno noted that since assumption of office in 2023, his administration, under the ARISE Agenda, has embarked on people-oriented projects at the grassroots to better the living conditions of the people.
He listed the projects executed by his government for the rural and urban residents to include roads, model primary schools and health centres, compassionate homes, among others, and urged the people to support his re-election for a second term next year.
The coordinator, Office of First Lady of Akwa Ibom, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, told the gathering in Etim Ekpo and Ika that she brought a thank you message from the governor, who had appreciated them for the support they gave to him in 2023, and the desire that the people should stand by him, the Senate President, and President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
In Ika, the council chairman, Barr. Utibe Nwoko, said the people of the area were encouraged by efforts made by the governor to make life meaningful to the people, adding that Ika people, especially the women have been mobilised for the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR), and party registration towards next year’s elections.
Nwoko made the council’s donation of the sum of N5 million to support the sensitisation tour in the area, and thanked the governor for the gesture.
He gave the assurance that Ika people would key into the election project as would be directed by government to ensure APC emerged victorious at the polls.
A total of N17.6 million was raised by stakeholders and the state government to advance the tour.
In Etim Ekpo, the council chairman, Mr Gideon Uwah, stated that the sensitisation tour was apt and timely as it had shown the way the people must go in 2027.
Uwah acknowledged the efforts made by the Eno-led administration in the provision of life-touching projects in the area, and assured of Etim Ekpo’s commitment to support his government beyond 2027.
The commissioner for women affairs and social welfare, Mrs Inibehe Etukudoh, said the tour was a statewide event aimed at educating women on what was expected of them ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Etukudoh stated that her Ministry was committed to the project to justify its essence.
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