No fewer than 110,000 women in Akwa Ibom State are to benefit from a new state government empowerment programme billed for October 2026, with a minimum of 300 women to be selected from each of the 329 wards across the state.
Governor Pastor Umo Eno announced this in Uyo on Thursday during the launch of the Federal Government’s Rural Women Empowerment Programme and the distribution of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG, cylinders in the state.
Eno said the state initiative is a key component of his administration’s ARISE Agenda and will run alongside the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Initiative, which provides financial support to women to start and grow businesses.
“Women remain the backbone of our homes and economy,” the governor said. “This empowerment will give them the capital and tools to build sustainable livelihoods and lift families out of poverty.”
The governor also flagged off the distribution of LPG cylinders to 27,000 households in Akwa Ibom. He said priority will be given to women, youths and vulnerable families.
According to him, wider access to cleaner cooking gas will cut energy costs, improve health outcomes, and protect women and children from the hazards of firewood and kerosene.
Eno further declared that Akwa Ibom is open for business, and called on investors to take advantage of opportunities in LPG plants, cylinder manufacturing, gas storage, transportation, logistics, gas processing and other gas-based industries.
He assured investors of infrastructure support, transparent governance and private sector partnerships.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Gas, Ekperikpe Ekpo, who was present, commended Governor Eno’s leadership. He described the event as marking two major federal interventions in the state: the rural women empowerment programme and the grassroots LPG penetration initiative.
Ekpo said both programmes align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and are designed to promote women’s dignity, safety, enterprise and overall wellbeing.
Dignitaries at the event included the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, represented by his wife, Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, Deputy Governor Akon Eyakenyi, Deputy Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Kufre Edidem, Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, Chief Delivery Adviser, Aniefiok Johnson, members of the State Executive Council, lawmakers, local government chairmen and other government officials.
The state government said details on registration and selection for the October empowerment will be released through ward structures and relevant ministries in the coming weeks.
