Gov Eno Empowers 476 Constituents Of Ikono/Ini With N239m Grants

A total of 476 persons in the Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency have been empowered with over N239 million in farming, trading, and equipment grants as the town square meeting initiated by Governor Umo glides to a close.

The cheques for the empowerment packages were presented to beneficiaries at the Town Square Meeting for the Federal Constituency held at Ibiaku Ntok Okpo on Thursday, August 21, 2025.

In his remark, Governor Umo Eno noted that the beneficiaries were qualified citizens of the Federal Constituency who had registered through the ARISE Youth Employment portal and were duly selected.

He called on everyone to embrace the digital method of getting jobs, empowerment and other government contracts, adding that it was imperative to do things differently to provide a level playing field for everyone in order to accommodate those who have no one to recommend them.

The Governor noted that his administration was touching lives and raising men and women who have the requisite capacity, are willing to work, and have registered on the ARISE portal.

“We have empowered our young people in Ikono and Ini, and one of them is your son, U & K. I didn’t know he was an Ini son. So as we see capacity, we continue to encourage it. We will encourage our young people regardless of where they come from. I love everybody. I am the Governor of Akwa Ibom State. What I want to see is capacity. Show me that you are ready. When you have a small job, do it and be ready for more. The Bible says, “He that is faithful in little shall receive more.”

“Let me speak to the young people of Akwa Ibom. We have a portal. The economy of the world today is based on data, and we must be able to show statistics of what any government has done. In God we trust, but for man, show us your data.

“We have opened portals for almost everything: procurement, employment, and bursary, and we are paying those who have registered. For Ikono and INI, we have empowered 476 of you with the total sum of N239,150,000. All their names and phone numbers are here. You can call them. You can find out. These people registered on the portal. Don’t let anybody deceive you; if you don’t register on the portal, there’s nothing for you.

“Any student or graduate who doesn’t know how to use a computer is deceiving himself or herself. In the forthcoming screening, we are going to use a computer, and as you finish, you will see your result,” he said.

Read Also: Gov. Eno Doles Out N335m Grants To Farmers, Entrepreneurs In Oron Federal Constituency

Explaining the reasons for his people-centric governance disposition, he said, “I became a governor by the grace of God, by the instrumentality of Deacon Udom Emmanuel, and I did not know anybody. If we were looking for people to be governor in this state, I would not have chosen myself, but it is the grace of God that chose me. Now, having been brought by the grace of God, I must allow that same grace to reach other people who do not know anybody.

“You must be able to apply without knowing the Governor, without knowing the Deputy Governor or knowing the Secretary to the State Government, and you get a job. That is my mission. Anyone waiting for slots is wasting time. Go to the portal and apply, and when you are invited, answer the questions well and get the job or contract.

“I want those who have nobody to benefit from my programmes. I was sent to those who have no one. If it weren’t for having someone, I wouldn’t be here today. God passed through Deacon Udom Emmanuel, who stood by me. So I will also stand by others who have no one. I met a young engineer who is working at our agricultural equipment leasing project, and I asked her, ‘How did you get the job?’ She said she applied on the portal, and they gave it to her. Those are the testimonies I want to get. So, young people, support groups go to the portal; if you are qualified, they will pay you, and it reflects in your group.

Stressing his determination to run a true democracy, he said, “Let us for once run a government of the people, by the people and for the people, which is democracy. So that people who have nobody can become somebody. Don’t let anyone deceive you with special projects or others, because we are all special.”

Governor Eno commended one of his personal assistants on protocol, Blessed Lawrence Essien, for impacting his community through a water reticulation and other projects, promoted him to the position of special assistant and urged other appointees in different categories to emulate him.

He said he had received the needs document and would accommodate as many as possible, depending on the availability of funds.

Speaking further, he expressed optimism on the availability of funds, especially with the President Tinubu-led administration, stressing that the President, as well as Senator Godswill Akpabio, deserves support to return them in 2027.

Following a request by stakeholders in the area, the governor approved immediate intervention in the State College of Science and Technology and directed the commissioner for education to visit to ascertain the things needed to facilitate accreditation for the programmes of the school.

He further said the college could either be maintained as a College of Science and Technology or converted into a campus of the Akwa Ibom State University, based on their preference.

Earlier, in his tone setting, the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, said the visit was to appreciate the constituency and to get their needs included in the 2026 budget.

In their separate remarks, the local government chairmen of Ikono and INI, the agriculture commissioner, the commissioner for trade and investment, Dr Offiong Offor and Dr Ubong Inyang, respectively, former House of Representatives member Prof Ini Udoka, and Sir S. U. Akpan commended the governor for the different impactful strides in the constituency.

Presenting the needs document, Senator Aloysius Etok also appreciated the governor for his leadership strides in the state and pledged continuous support beyond 2025.

High points of the event were the award of a chieftaincy title of Ette Iberedem to the governor by the traditional rulers of the constituency, as well as a motion moved by Rt Hon Emmanuel Ukpong Udo and seconded by Hon Lawrence Udoide to support the governor, Pastor Umo Eno, President Tinubu, and Senator Godswill in the 2027 elections.