By Bassey Nkponam
NSIT UBIUM
The six months epochal town square meetings and empowerment series convened by the Akwa Ibom governor, Pastor Umo Eno, across the 10 Federal Constituencies in the State, ended weekend, with no fewer than 7,688 citizens across the State benefiting from grants for farming, trading, equipment support, cars and mini buses worth over N10 billion.
Eno, who announced this at the Etinan, Nsit Ibom, Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency Town Square Meeting And Empowerment series, which took place at the Nsit Ubium Local Government secretariat, in Ikot Edibon, said no fewer than 7688 citizens across the State have benefited from the empowerment series covering farming, trading, equipment supports, cars and mini buses gifts.
The series, which began in Abak Federal Constituency with 833 beneficiaries continued in Oron with 980, Eket with 1,076, Ikot Ekpene with 664 and 540 in Ikot Abasi Federal Constituencies.
411 and 677 people also benefitted in Ukanafun and Itu Federal Constituencies, respectively, while 1,187 and 476 beneficiaries were recorded as beneficiaries from Uyo and Ikono Federal Constituencies.
At finale of the town square meetings, Eno said 844 from Etinan Federal Constituency were beneficiaries of N361,450,000 worth of grants for the different empowerment packages.
He said all the beneficiaries were harvested from the ARISE portal and urged everyone, especially youths, to take advantage of the portal to benefit from the different government initiatives including procurement, employment, empowerment and others.
According to him, the State under his leadership, will not give slots to individuals, but will continue to ensure level playing field for all citizens irrespective of social status, stressing that everyone should have equal opportunity.
Eno said though the town square meeting had ended, his committed service to Akwa Ibom would continue, adding that the needs document for Etinan Federal Constituency as well as all others across the State had been received and will be accommodated accordingly in the 2026 budget, based on availability of funds.
The governor said all local government areas have benefited from one project or the other at various stages of completion, noting that youth centres would be built in all the local government areas across the State, and urged local government chairmen to make land available for the project.
Eno, who reiterated his support for local government autonomy, said to ensure that local government chairmen reside within their communities, official residences will be built for all local government chairmen across the State.
He appreciated everyone for taking part in the town square meetings, and specifically appreciated the people of Etinan Federal Constituency for their overwhelming turnout and heroic reception, and directed the commissioner for works and fire service, Professor Eno Ibanga, to facilitate the design for the award of contract for a dual carriageway from Afaha Offiong in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area to Itreto in Nsit Ubium.
Eno, who is the leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Akwa Ibom, urged all members and intending ones to participate in the ongoing membership registration/revalidation, as well as in the Continuous Voter registration that has just been started by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
He warned youths against insulting leaders, stressing that Akwa Ibom is progressively united in support of President Tinubu, Godswill Akpabio and of course his return to Hilltop Mansion, come 2027.
The secretary to the State government, SSG, Prince Enobong Uwah, said the meeting was a homecoming for a worthy son of the Federal Constituency who has been fruitful and has served creditably well.
Gen Paul Isang (rtd), Otuekong Sunny Jackson, Obong Umana Okon Umana, said they were proud to identify with the laudable achievements of Governor Eno, adding that he has done creditably well and deserves a second term.
The Oku Ibom Ibibio and president-general of Akwa Ibom Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, Ntenyin Solomon Etuk, appreciated the governor for making them proud through impactful service, and prayed for more grace upon him to do more for Etinan Federal Constituency and the State at large.
Members of the State Executive Council, led by the attorney-general and commissioner for justice, Uko Udom, SAN, appreciated the governor for his people-centric governance and for appointing them to be part of his cabinet, and assured of continuous support beyond 2027.
On behalf of local government chairmen from the federal constituency, the chairman of Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, Mr Alfred Charles, said the governor has made them proud with his impactful leadership.
Presenting the empowerment packages on behalf of the State government, the State chairman of the APC, Obong Stephen Ntukekpo, said he was not surprised by the sea of heads at the event, stressing that it was not just a statement, but a vote of confidence and endorsement for the governor.
High point of the event was the adoption of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Gov Umo Eno as sole candidates for the office of President and Governor in the 2027 elections, following a motion by Mr Otobong Bob and seconded by Mr Eric Akpan.
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