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The Akwa Ibom State Executive Council has said its ongoing grant programmes for farmers and traders are yielding positive economic outcomes, with beneficiaries recording increased production, business expansion and improved income levels.
This followed the council meeting held on Thursday and presided over by the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno, where a report on the impact of the N2B Agricultural and Traders Grants was presented and reviewed.
According to the report submitted by the Commissioner for Agriculture, the agricultural grant has led to a noticeable expansion in farm sizes and overall output across the state. Beneficiaries were also said to have increased their procurement of essential inputs, including fertilisers, animal feeds and farm machinery, a development the council noted has strengthened productivity within the sector.
The council further observed that the intervention has contributed to the growth of agro-processing activities, while also improving income levels among participating farmers. It added that the cost of cassava production per ton has reduced, indicating improved efficiency and better resource utilisation among beneficiaries.
Similarly, a separate report presented by the Commissioner for Trade and Investment on the N2B Traders Grant highlighted gains within the small business sector. The council noted that traders who benefited from the scheme have experienced business growth, alongside improved livelihoods.
The Executive Council described the outcomes of both programmes as encouraging, noting that the interventions align with the administration’s broader objective of strengthening economic activities at the grassroots and supporting small-scale enterprises.
The governor, while addressing members of the council, commended the performance of ministries involved in implementing key components of the administration’s ARISE Agenda. He urged officials to sustain momentum and ensure prompt execution of policies and programmes designed to improve the welfare of residents.
Beyond the grant interventions, the council ratified several projects across the state, including road construction works, as part of ongoing efforts to enhance infrastructure development. It also considered policy measures aimed at social welfare and rural development.
Among such measures was the approval of the Akwa Ibom State Policy on Aging, which is expected to provide a framework for the care and inclusion of elderly persons in socio-economic activities. The council further directed that a bill to establish a legal structure for senior citizens’ welfare be forwarded to the State House of Assembly.
In addition, the government reviewed the implementation plan for a solar-powered rural water scheme intended to cover all 369 wards in the state, with provisions for community participation in maintenance upon completion.
The council also inaugurated a steering committee to oversee ward-level cooperative societies already established across the state. The committee is expected to provide coordination and policy direction to ensure that the cooperatives effectively serve as channels for economic empowerment, poverty reduction and food security.
The meeting, which ended in the evening, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to policies and programmes aimed at driving economic growth and improving livelihoods across the state.
