*100,000 to be empowered by 2025
By: PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
As Akwa Ibom State marks the 37th year of statehood, Governor Umo Eno has again, reiterated his administration’s commitment to make life viable for the youth through robust empowerment schemes to ensure a peaceful and prosperous state.
Stating this in his broadcast to the people of the state on the anniversary celebration on Monday, Governor Eno who rolled out the opportunities under what he called, “My Contract With Our Youths” disclosed that 100 thousand youths would be empowered by 2025.
He said 60 thousand of them will be empowered through Youth Business Support Scheme, where each will receive support of 50 thousand Naira for an initial 12 months, beginning from October this year.
According to Governor Eno, 10 thousand youth will also be covered through the provision of business equipment and other cash support in the Arise Entrepreneurial scheme.
He said this number is in addition to 1, 200 youths who have already been trained under the Entrepreneurial Accelerator Programme of IBOM-LED, with 500 thousand grants given to each participant and a further 250 for training fees, where 400 were female
The Governor expressed optimism that 10 thousand youths would be engaged through IBOM-LED scheme while 3,000 youths, (100 each) from the thirty-one Local Government Areas excluding Uyo where 550 had already been recruited, would be engaged through Ibom Community Watch.
He further said One thousand youths would be trained at the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre (DASAC), where 200 youths have already commenced training.
On the challenging transportation costs in the state, Governor Eno said that government was looking for partners who would provide refilling depots for CNG buses, pointing out that once that is achieved, Akwa Ibom would launch the program.
According to him, “it does not make sense to buy CNG buses that will not have refilling depots, doing so, will defeat the purpose of this initiative.”
The Governor, who warned petroleum marketers who are selling petrol above the approved price that the state government would not tolerate such unpatriotic actions, announced the setting up a Task Force soon to ensure that those engaging in the practice are brought to book.
On the state of Akwa Ibom State in 37 years from its creation on September 23, 1987, Governor Eno acknowledged that it has developed from a rural backwater State at creation, with a provincial capital and spartan infrastructure to a profile of being seen as a Shining City on the Hill through God benevolences
He paid glowing tributes to former Military President Ibrahim Babangida who created the state, past governors both military and civilians who have governed the state for their visions for sustainable development and other leaders for their respective positive contributions.
The Governor called on the people of the state to remain united and be kind to one another, but never to allow politics nor ethnicity to divide them.
“As we celebrate 37 years of our creation, God has given us peace within our walls and we are working hard to expand prosperity too within her space. I call on our people to remain united and treat one another with love, mutual respect and compassion. If God has blessed you, please be a source of help to others. Let us face these challenging times together and Arise in glory as one people, whom God brought together 37 years ago.
“Politics should not divide us, ethnicity should not separate us, let our kindred spirit be an everlasting tie that binds and shapes our daily engagement with one another.” Governor Umo Eno stated.
