UYO – Akwa Ibom State Government has approved the release of ₦31 billion for a massive economic empowerment programme expected to benefit over 165,000 residents across the 31 local government areas of the state, as part of efforts to deepen grassroots development and accelerate the implementation of the ARISE Agenda.
The approval was one of the major resolutions reached at the State Executive Council meeting held yesterday (Monday), at Government House, Uyo and presided over by Governor Umo Eno.
Briefing Council, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Linus Nkan presented a memorandum on the implementation of an Economic Empowerment Programme targeted at youths, women, traders, farmers, transport operators and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
Council subsequently approved the release of ₦1 billion for each local government area, amounting to ₦31 billion, as provided in the 2026 budget.
According to the Commissioner, the programme will cover youth skills acquisition and starter packs, support for women cooperatives, grants for traders, agricultural inputs for farmers, SME development initiatives and a transport empowerment scheme.
He said, the intervention is designed to stimulate entrepreneurship, create jobs, reduce poverty, boost agricultural productivity and promote inclusive economic growth through grants, skills training and the distribution of productive assets, including tricycles.
To ensure effective implementation, Governor Eno constituted a committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah to work out modalities for the distribution of the intervention and report back to Council.
The Executive Council also received a briefing on the forthcoming official visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Akwa Ibom State, and the planned commissioning of 39 completed projects over a 30-day period to mark the state’s 39th anniversary in September.
Among the projects scheduled for commissioning are the New International Terminal Building Wing at the Victor Attah International Airport, Airport Hospital, Aviation Village, the 14.5-kilometre Nsit Atai–Okobo Road, Ring Road 3 Dualisation, the Command and Control Centre, AkwaGIS, the State Secretariat Annex and the ARISE Palm Resort amongst others.
The Governor directed relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to ensure adequate preparations for the successful hosting of the President and the commissioning activities.
In the legislative sector, Council noted that all 12 Executive Bills presented to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly had been passed and approved the invitation of the Speaker and House leadership to a special Executive Council session for the formal signing of the bills into law.
The health sector also featured prominently during deliberations, with Council reviewing the state’s emergency health response and acknowledging significant strides recorded under the current administration.
Council noted the recruitment of 2,854 health workers, the completion of 29 Model Primary Healthcare Centres, the upgrade of 17 additional centres, and the rehabilitation of four secondary healthcare facilities.
Governor Eno directed that emergency measures be adopted to fast-track the recruitment of more medical doctors to address manpower shortages in the sector.
Council further highlighted the acquisition of three CT Scan machines, with three more expected, alongside two MRI machines and ongoing digitisation of healthcare services to improve the state’s healthcare system.
In a major policy move, Council approved the transmission of nine health-related bills to the State House of Assembly, including legislation on public health security, healthcare standards and accreditation, medical residency training, health insurance reforms and the establishment of the Akwa Ibom State University Teaching Hospital.
