Gov. Umo Earmarks 5,000 Youths For Monthly Social Welfare Programme In Akwa Ibom State

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has disclosed plans by his administration to launch a social welfare programme that will provide monthly support for about 5000 youths in the state.

Governor Eno announced the package in reciprocity for the gesture of the youths of the state for distancing themselves from the nationwide protest, thereby maintaining the peaceful ambience of the state throughout the day.

During the August edition of the Monthly Covenant Service, he made the declaration at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Uyo, tagged “But They Shall Proceed No Further.”

Pastor Eno said by resisting the temptation to join in the protest, Akwa Ibom youths have averted the much anticipated violent outcomes as reported in some other states and urged them to maintain their resolve throughout the ten days the protest is scheduled for.

He assured that the planned social programme would be unveiled and possibly launched in October 2024, adding that it would accommodate youths who had yet to be employed across all local government areas in the state.

“Let me start by thanking Akwa Ibom youths. They have done extremely well. Let these words show them that I am very proud of them. I am proud of them for keeping Akwa Ibom safe. We celebrate all of our youth, wherever they are. They did not protest, not because the police stopped them, but because God spoke to them. I am extremely grateful to our youths for understanding that we can dialogue and get all we want and that we can work together as a people.

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“We will launch a program that will support about 5000 youths in Akwa Ibom State monthly. It will go round and round across the entire local government area. We should be able to support youths who are not employed to have something that will help them because they have made us proud. This state has always been the home of peace, and you have kept it so. I am proud of you,” the governor declared.

Also commending the peaceful conduct of the Ward Congresses across the state over the weekend, the Governor and leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state announced the postponement of the party’s councillorship primaries earlier scheduled to hold on Friday, August 2, to Saturday, August 3, 2024, and chairmanship primaries to hold on Monday, August 5, 2024.

The shift, he explained, was to enable the party to put the finishing touches on it that will ensure internal democracy, as he charged stakeholders and leaders of the party to ensure the selection of sellable and credible candidates for the elections, restating the resolve of the state to allow a level playing field for all parties that will participate in the general elections.

Gov. Eno, however, solicited the inclusion of women in the political exercise and urged female folks to see the need to support themselves in their quest to occupy public office and ensure that at least four women emerge as councillorship candidates in each LGA.

The General Secretary, Assemblies of God, Nigeria, Reverend Godwin Amaowoh, who delivered a sermon on the theme of the service, culled from 2 Timothy 3:1–9, urged the people to resist the deterioration of the perilous time, asserting that as Akwa Ibom is a state that looks up to God and is led by a servant of God, the people should thrive on godliness, and the spirit of God will place a limitation on ungodly men.