Oro Town Square Meeting: AKSG Disburses N335m To Farmers, Entrepreneurs

… As Gov Eno Reassures On Completion Of 4km Airport-Nsit Atai-Okobo Road Project
By Bassey Nkponam
ORON
The Akwa Ibom government has disbursed N335 million to traders, farmers and business owners in the five local government areas of Oron Federal Constituency, comprising Oron, Okobo, Udung Uko, Urue Offong/Oruko and Mbo.  
A breakdown of the funds, which came under the ARISE Traders’ Grants, the ARISE Farmers’ Grants, and the ARISE MSMEs Grants, showed that N51 million went to 108 farmers from the N2 billion farmers’ loan; N225 million to 543 business men and women, while N50 million was given to 10 entrepreneurs with each of them receiving N5 million. 
At the Oron Federal Constituency Town Square Meeting and Empowerment programme, which took place at the Oron Township Stadium, Oron, Saturday, the State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, said the presentations were done in line with his government’s policy of entrepreneurial and agricultural development.
Eno appreciated the people of Oron Federal Constituency for their support during the electioneering campaign, and enumerated the several life-touching projects executed in the constituency which, he said, were testaments of his promise to run an all-inclusive government. 
He saw Oron Federal Constituency as a critical part of the State having contributed immensely to the economic development of the State in the areas of infrastructure, tourism and human capital development. 
Eno expressed gratitude to stakeholders in the constituency, reemphasising his resolve to promote the ARISE Agenda across party lines to ensure that development penetrates every area of the State.
The governor, who was impressed at the massive turnout at the Stadium, urged the people to keep faith with their representatives as the Needs Documents so presented by the stakeholders would capture virtually the priority needs of the people of the constituency.  
Eno described the town square meeting as his administration’s strategic approach to feel the pulses of the constituents, reveal his plans and receive their needs documents to enable his administration capture such needs in the 2026 budget to be christened, “The People’s Budget.” 
He restated his administration’s commitment to reaching out to all areas of the State with life-touching projects and promised to execute no fewer than five projects in Oron Federal Constituency next year.
The governor used the occasion to announce government’s plans to flag off the construction of a city gate into the Ibom Deep Seaport project and the Sales Centre, as well as the inauguration of the 4km Airport – Nsit Atai – Okobo Road handled by Hensek Integrated Services, noting, “the road has seen three successful governments and has been used for campaigns. But, today, with the finishers anointing that God has given us, that road will be commissioned soon.”
The deputy governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, appreciated Governor Eno for considering Oron Federal Constituency in his execution of live-touching projects, saying the governor has done much for her people, even as more are on course, under the ARISE Agenda, thanking Eno for loving her and her people. 
Earlier, while setting the tone for the engagements, the secretary to the State government, Prince Enobong Uwah, said the event was for government to listen to Oro people and know their needs for appropriate capturing in the 2026 budget, noting that Eno has touched the lives of people, especially in Oron Federal Constituency like never before.
Uwah appreciated the people of the federal constituency for the well organized town square meeting, as well as the massive and unprecedented turnout at the event. 
The chairman of Urue Offong/Oruko Local Government Area, Mr Uno Etim Uno, who spoke on behalf of the chairmen of the five local government areas in Oron Federal Constituency, noted that Governor Eno has brought developments that will stand the test of time to the area.
   The paramount ruler of Udung Uko and chairman of the State Traditional Rulers’ Council, HRM, Odidem Bassey Etim Edet, expressed the support of royal fathers to the governor for a second term in office, for ‘walking the talk’ in his development agenda for the people.
The member representing Oron Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr Martins Esin, who spoke on behalf of other legislators from the area, lauded the governor for his frequent visits, the impactful empowerments and the infrastructural development doting different corners of the federal constituency. 
Esin moved a motion for a vote of confidence on Governor Eno, seconded by the chief whip of the State House of Assembly, Chief Effiong Johnson. 
In their separate goodwill messages, the leaders of Oron Federal Constituency, who spoke through former secretary to State government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, lauded the governor’s performances in the State, saying, “our people shall stand by you in appreciation of your excellent performance across the entire State, and in Oron Federal Constituency in particular.”
The president-general of Oron Union, Sir Essang Nsa Bassey, noted with delight the governor’s truthful fulfillment of his electioneering campaign promises, describing his developmental accomplishment as unprecedented.
Highpoints of the event was the presentation of cheques to the beneficiaries by the speaker of the State House of Assembly, Elder Udeme Otong, senator representing Eket Senatorial District, Senator Ekong Sampson and the PDP State chairman, Elder Aniekan Akpan.