Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has announced plans to train 3,100 youths across the state at the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre (DASAC) in the next academic session to position them for sustainability and help them tackle life’s challenges.
The governor made this known while receiving youths during a rally held in Uyo in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and his administration. He said the state government under his leadership remained committed to raising a vibrant and responsible youth community.
Governor Eno appreciated the youths for their show of support for his administration and commended them for helping to sustain peace across the state. According to him, their actions had encouraged the government to do more for young people.
“What you have done today gives us much more inspiration to continue to work for you, to continue to put in our best to ensure that we create a future that our youth will be proud of. We continue to ensure that we make provision for our youths in the area of human capital development,” the governor said.
He explained that the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre was already training many young people and announced a new directive to expand participation across the state. “The Dakadda Skills Acquisition Center is training and training our young people. So, I am directing that for this academic session, each local government area will send 50 people. And apart from State sponsoring 50, local governments will add 50 to make it 100 for each local government area,” he said.
Governor Eno also announced a 150 per cent increase in student bursary, stating that from January 2026, students would receive N50,000 each, instead of the previous N20,000. He said the increase was part of efforts to reduce the burden on students and their families.
He advised youths to either pursue formal education or learn a skill, stressing that the government was ready to support them in either choice. According to him, no young person should be idle when opportunities for growth and development were available.
The governor highlighted several initiatives aimed at youth development, including the construction of youth-friendly centres across all local government areas of the state. He said the centres were being equipped with solar power, internet services, and other essential facilities to support learning, creativity, and innovation.
Governor Eno added that the Ministry of Youth Development was working on a comprehensive youth development policy for the state. He noted that his administration had maintained a youth-friendly approach, with many young people appointed as commissioner for youth development, members of the House of Assembly, local government chairmen, and personal aides to the governor.
Speaking on other empowerment efforts, the governor disclosed that through Ibom Air, 40 Akwa Ibom indigenes had been trained in aviation schools, with 20 trained as pilots and 20 as engineers. He added that in January 2026, another 10 persons would be trained as pilots.
“We are developing our young people for sustainability. While I support people giving you money once in a while, our youths must rise above handouts, you must be able to stand in the committee of youths across this country and hold your heads high; and you are doing it. We are seeing our young people, they are doing well in school and in their profession,” he said.
The governor assured the youths of continued support, saying, “As a government, I promise you that as far as God keeps me here, I will fight for your cause, we will make provisions for our youths, women, children and the elderly.”
He also appreciated President Tinubu for releasing funds to states to enable them to implement development programmes and assured that in 2026, Akwa Ibom State would continue to empower youths through skills acquisition initiatives.
Governor Eno thanked the youths for endorsing his administration and supporting President Tinubu and Senator Akpabio. “On behalf of the state government, President Tinubu and the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, I thank the youths for their continuous support and partnership,” he said.
In his remarks, the member representing Oron Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and Chairman of the House Committee on Youth Development, Hon Martins Esin, said the youths organised the endorsement rally because of the youth-friendly leadership of President Tinubu, Senator Akpabio, and Governor Eno.
He stated that youths made up about 60 per cent of the state’s population and described those present at the rally as a true representation of the youth population. He assured the governor of massive youth support in the 2027 elections.
The Commissioner for Youth Development, Dr Ekerette Ekanem, said Akwa Ibom youths had chosen to unite in progress by following the governor’s example of unity. He assured that youths would remain united in supporting the trio and other party candidates in the 2027 elections.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria in the state, Dr Uwemedimo Udo, said, “These are the youths of Akwa Ibom State coming out to thank you and to affirm that come 2027, they will continue to support the President of Nigeria, Governor Umo Eno, Senator Akpabio, and all APC candidates.”
The high point of the event was a motion for the adoption of President Tinubu, Senator Akpabio, and Governor Umo Eno as sole youth candidates for the 2027 elections, which was moved by Rt Hon Otobong Bob and seconded by Hon Uwemedimo Asuquo.
