Governor Umo Eno Accelerating Entrepreneural Development in Akwa Ibom With N400 Million Grants

Governor Umo Eno“s Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme (EAP), is a new wave of promoting entrepreneurial spirit among young people of the State, aim at empowering them to be self – reliance.

The programme, which was launched recently, comes at a time the people needed some financial help seriously to boost their businesses arising from the current economic realities, which is staring at Nigerians; forcing everyone into productive ventures. And the Governor’s N400 million grant to the 800 beneficiaries in this regard is a welcome development to the entrepreneural community.

For this reason, the Governor is highly applauded for giving a helping hand to young entrepreneurs in the State believing that, it will further their economic advancement and wealth creation aspiration of his ARISE Agenda.

Eno, during the presentation of cheques at Government House, congratulated the beneficiaries for successfully going through the programme, describing them as ambassadors of the Entrepreneural Advancement Programme.

“I like to say that, whether this programme will continue or not depends on you because you are the ambassadors of this programme.

“You are not totally new in businesses or enterpreneurship. I am not concerned about the little seed that will be put in your hands, but the training you have received”, the Governor stated.

The Governor, himself a business leader advised the beneficiaries on business tips saying that, “everything you need to succeed is in your hands.

“For now, don’t be politicians; just be an enterpreneur. This is an opportunity for you to have a primary address. If you have a primary address, politics will be secondary.

“People will respect you for what you can do. This little money is a seed and if you plant it well, it will germinate and bring a mighty harvest. I remember that, in this state, I opened my hotel with just five rooms, and few years later, we had grown exponentially.

“The first thing is that, you must make up your minds to succeed and in that determination, there will be a place of sacrifice and self denial.

“People will tell you all manner of things, you should not mind them. Your time will soon arrive. Above all, this community has been created; stay around the community and don’t try to impress people. As a government, we will continue to support you. This is just the beginning” , he advised.

Eno, moved by compassion while presenting a cheque of N500, 000 plus extra N1 Million to the physically challenged beneficiary, Mr. Jones Okon Akpan and founder of Jones Shoes Manufacturing, also directed that, the Health Commissioner, Prof. Augustine Umoh should give him a befitting means of mobility.

This display of love to the physically challenged, Mr. Jones by the Governor has no doubt proven his soft spot for the down troden.

To show his readiness for energizing entrepreneurial sector, Umo Eno took no time than moved the Bank of Industry (BOI) to grant startup capitals of N2 billion to small and medium businesses in the state.

Not done, the Governor had recently directed the commencement of programmes at the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Center at Ikot Ada Idem in Ibiono Ibom LGA; to train and certify youths on several entrepreneurial programmes.

This center, which is affiliated to the University of Lagos, will begin activities this May 20th, and is expected to service a number of industries with skilled manpower.

The center’s faculty include; Confectionery/Culinary; Fabrication; Animal Husbandry; Production etc. This center will compliment IBOM LED, whose fashion faculty will be making thousands of uniforms for pupils and students in public schools, as well as footwears for school and beyond.

In their separate remarks, the team lead of Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurship Development, Pastor Imoabasi Jacob, appreciated the Governor for the vision, commitment and timely support for the Akwa Ibom businesses.

The Head of Alumni Directorate and Support Services, Enterprise Development Center, Pan-Atlantic University (EDC) Lagos, Ms Nnena Ugwu in her keynote address advised the beneficiaries to cultivate the culture of discipline, commitment and focus to enable them succeed in their different investment.

Also speaking, the Director General of the Umo Eno/Akon Eyakenyi Campaign Organization and former Nigerian Ambassador to Russia, Chief Assam Assam (SAN), appreciated the Governor for fulfilling his campaign promises, and advised the beneficiaries to see the seed money as a spring board that will put them in the global map of entrepreneurship.

Goodwill messages also came from the General Manager of Ibom – LED, Mrs. Ekaette Umoh and the Alumni President for Batch 1, Daniel Esetang.

Both appreciated the Governor for the vision which they said has translated into a life – time empowerment for the 800 Akwa Ibomites.

They assured that, the grant would be judiciously used for the expansion of their businesses and for the greater good of Akwa Ibom State.

Other groups that also got cheque presentations included; Ibom – LED Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme (EAP), Ibom – LED Business Leadership and Entrepreneurship Programme (BLEP), Ibom – LED Business Mastery Programme (BMP) and Ibom -LED Start – Up Accelerator and Incubation Programme (SAIP).

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