DAKKADA Towers Comes Alive February, A’Ibom Govt Partners Of Industry To Boost SMEs

The economic advancement plans in the ARISE Agenda of Governor Umo Eno’s administration will be further boosted as the state has concluded arrangements to open a branch of the Bank of Industry in Uyo, the state capital.

Accordingly, the bank is to commence full operations at the 21-storey Dakkada Towers next month.

On Friday, Governor Umo Eno broke the cheering news during a New Year visit to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faithful at the party’s State Secretariat in Uyo.

He said that as part of his partnership agreement to support and boost small and medium-scale enterprises in the state, the government will partner with the bank in sourcing loans to boost businesses at a single-digit interest rate.

Governor Eno therefore urged the people to embrace the initiative, noting that the government has provided accommodation for the bank at the 21-storey Dakkada Towers and has also created an enabling environment for a successful operation to ensure the Bank’s optimal service delivery to the people of the State.

Related: Oku Ibom Ibibio Congratulates Gov. Umo Eno On Supreme Court Victory

“The Bank of Industry is opening in Akwa Ibom. We have finished working, we’ve given them space, they have set up and by the grace of God, they will start operations in February. All that is to support Small and Medium Scale Enterprises.

“We are going to support that bank and we’ll make sure that we give them money to loan to our business operators at a single-digit interest rate, and once your business is viable and they can see it, they’ll give you a loan at 9%.

“We have provided accommodations and a conducive environment so they can do their business, and we’re going to support them.”

Governor Eno announced that the first batch of four hundred youths who registered for training in various entrepreneurial skills at the Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Scheme, Ibom-LED were done with their training and have been empowered to start up their businesses.

He therefore encouraged youths to register with Ibom-LED for the second batch of training, after which they will attract the government‘s support and empowerment for their businesses, stressing that his government will only support youths ready to be up and doing.

Read Also: ARISE Agenda Will Accelerate A’Ibom Development – Eteidung Edem

The Governor who reiterated his commitment to ensuring that thirty per cent of recruits into the Akwa Ibom State Security outfit, the Community Watch Programme are female, also disclosed plans to sponsor women from the thirty-one local government areas to China to expand their business scopes.

He added that a similar gesture has been extended to students who have been selected to participate in the education exchange programme in the United Kingdom, explaining that the moves were part of his administration’s drive to grow small businesses and further deepen women‘s inclusion in government programmes.

Governor Eno noted that the new year get-together of the PDP is a double celebration for him and the party given the recent Supreme Court victory, affirming his election as the democratically elected governor of Akwa Ibom State and appreciating God for seeing him through 26 court cases, out of which 8 were dragged to the Supreme Court.

He acknowledged the party structure’s unwavering support before, during, and after the election, noting that the victory has further renewed his commitment to do better as a servant leader.

“It has been the tradition of all previous governors to come to the party house to celebrate New Year with the party members. This being my very first, I had looked up to it and we had fixed this date, but God who knows the end from the beginning, had a divine calendar.

“By the special grace of the Almighty God, the Supreme Court affirmed our governorship, affirmed all of your labour, your campaigns, your belief, all of your votes and so this calls for a double celebration. It has become both a New Year visit and a victory celebration so we return all the glory to God.”

Earlier, the State Chairman of the party, Elder Aniekan Akpan, appreciated the Governor for his laudable developmental strides in the last seven months of his administration, saying that he has fulfilled his campaign promises to the people, making the party proud of him.

He described the Governor’s victory at the Supreme Court as a confirmation of the people’s wish and proof that his emergence was divine, commending the Governor for his synergy with the federal government and other leaders at the national level towards expanding the horizon of development in Akwa Ibom.

Elder Aniekan Akpan assured the governor of the party’s continued support in the delivery of dividends of democracy to the people.

In their goodwill messages, former National Legal Adviser of the PDP, Barrister Emmanuel Enoidem and the Director General of Umo Eno Campaign Organization, Ambassador Assam Assam, SAN, appreciated God on the party’s victory at the Supreme Court, urging candidates of various political parties in the last governorship election to join hands with the Umo Eno led administration in the development of the State.