Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno has empowered 476 indigenes of Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency with grants totalling ₦239.15 million during a Town Hall Meeting held recently at Ibiaku Ntok Okpo.
The beneficiaries, who received support for farming, trading and equipment, were drawn from those registered on the ARISE Youth Employment portal.
Governor Eno said the initiative reflects his administration’s resolve to prioritise inclusiveness and ensure that opportunities reach people without political connections. He stressed that access to government interventions would be strictly through digital platforms to guarantee fairness and accountability.
“For Ikono/Ini alone, 476 people have benefitted with ₦239,150,000. Their names and phone numbers are available for verification. Nobody should deceive you, if you don’t register on the portal, you cannot benefit,” he stated.
The governor admonished young people to embrace computer literacy, noting that future recruitment exercises would be computer-based, further assuring that his administration would continue to create opportunities for those considered vulnerable or voiceless in society.
At the meeting, he promoted his Personal Assistant on Protocol, Blessed Lawrence Essien, to Special Assistant in recognition of his contributions to community development, while approving immediate intervention in the State College of Science and Technology, Ikono, with the option of converting it into a campus of Akwa Ibom State University.
Moving on, stakeholders including local government chairmen, commissioners, former lawmakers and Senator Aloysius Etok, lauded the governor for his people-oriented policies and pledged support for his administration.
Meanwhile, traditional rulers of the constituency conferred on him the chieftaincy title of Ette Iberedem, while a motion was adopted to support Governor Eno, President Bola Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio ahead of the 2027 elections.
