Better Life: Akwa Ibom Trots Out N31 Billion Empowerment Programmes

By Patrick Titus, Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State government has approved the release of N31 billion as provided in the 2026 Approved Budget, for the implementation of the empowerment programmes shared at N1 billion per Local Government area of the state.

Commissioner for Information, Mr. Aniekan Umanah announced this after the state’s executive council meeting held Tuesday at the Government House, Uyo.

The programme comprises youth skills acquisition, training and starter packs; women cooperative business support; traders’ business grants; agricultural support and farm inputs; SME development and enterprise growth and the transport empowerment scheme.

Umanah said that the initiative was aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, job creation, poverty reduction, agricultural productivity, business growth, and inclusive economic development through skills acquisition, grants, enterprise support, farm inputs and the distribution of productive assets such as tricycles, to qualified beneficiaries across the state.

To drive the programmes, a committee headed by Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah has been constituted to work out modalities for the implementation and distribution of the intervention, which a total of 165, 912 persons would benefit. Umanah added.

The Information Commissioner further disclosed other decisions highlighted at the meeting to include, “the recruitment of over 2,854 health workers, completion of 29 Model Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), ongoing upgrade of 17 additional PHCs, and rehabilitation of four secondary healthcare facilities to strengthen healthcare delivery across the state.

“Directive by the Governor-in-Council, Pastor Umo Eno, that emergency measures be adopted to bypass bureaucratic bottlenecks and accelerate the recruitment of more medical doctors to address manpower gaps in the health sector.

“Council further noted the acquisition of three CT Scan machines, with three additional units expected, as well as two MRI machines, alongside the ongoing digitisation of healthcare processes to improve efficiency, expand access, and enhance the quality of healthcare services across the State,” he revealed further.

According to him, the Council also received and approved the transmission of nine health sector bills to Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly for legislative consideration.

The meeting also deliberated on the planned visit of President Bola Tinubu to the state when he will commission 39 completed projects across the state being part of the activities to mark
the 39th anniversary of the creation of Akwa Ibom State on September 23, 2026.

The scheduled projects for commissioning include, “the New Terminal Building, Airport Hospital, Aviation Village, the 14.5-kilometre Nsit Atai–Okobo Road, the Dualisation of Ring Road 3, the Command and Control Centre, AkwaGIS, the State Secretariat Annex, and the ARISE Palm Resort.”

Accordingly, the Governor has directed all relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure seamless coordination and adequate preparations for the successful hosting of the president and the commissioning exercise.”