Akwa Ibom State Government has announced the introduction of a dual training programme that places 2000 youths annually in apprenticeships within manufacturing firms, as part of efforts to build skilled manpower and support industrial growth in the state. The programme was unveiled alongside the completion of the state’s industrial park, which officials say will create hundreds of jobs and strengthen entrepreneurship.
The industrial park, located on a 250-hectare facility, is equipped with modern amenities including a dedicated customs checkpoint and a logistics hub. According to the state government, the infrastructure has reduced the cost of moving goods to port by up to 30 percent, making operations easier for manufacturers.
Governor Umo Eno disclosed this while declaring open the 18th Annual General Meeting of the Cross River and Akwa Ibom States branch of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) held in Uyo, the state capital.
The governor said the state has also deployed a digital business portal described as a one-stop-shop to simplify company registration, tax incentives and permits. He explained that since the portal was launched, the average time required to obtain a business licence has dropped from 45 days to just seven days.
“In partnership with the Nigerian Institute of Industrial Engineers and local universities, we have introduced a dual training programme that places 2000 youths annually in apprenticeships within manufacturing firms, ensuring a pipeline of skilled labour tailored to industry need,” he said.
Governor Eno, who was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Iniobong Ekong, said the state’s industrial policy for 2024 to 2029 offers several incentives to investors. He listed these to include a five-year tax holiday for new manufacturing enterprises, a 50 percent reduction in electricity tariffs for energy-intensive plants, and a matching grant scheme for research and development projects, which he said has delivered a 15 percent increase in productivity.
He called on MAN members to partner with the state government by investing in the industrial park, tapping into available incentives and bringing innovation into the state.
“Together we can create a robust ecosystem where raw materials are transformed into value-added products, jobs are generated and our economy diversifies beyond oil,” the governor said.
He also appealed to the federal government for policy support. “To the federal government, we seek continued support in the form of fiscal measures that encourage local production as well as the swift implementation of the national industrial policy which aligns closely with our state initiatives,” he stated.
In his address, the chairman of the MAN branch, Inalegwu Adoga, praised the governors of the two states for improving infrastructure, stabilizing the business environment, enhancing security and supporting local enterprise. He said these efforts have gone unnoticed.
