Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, PhD, has commissioned the Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP) Livelihood Collectives Processing Mills at Oku Abak in Abak Local Government Area, as part of efforts to deepen grassroots development and promote women’s economic empowerment in the state.
The commissioning formed part of activities to flag off a statewide Women Sensitization Tour on Civic Responsibilities. Governor Eno was represented at the event by his deputy, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, who said the project aligns with the administration’s bottom-up development agenda that focuses on rural communities and vulnerable groups.
Speaking during the ceremony, Senator Eyakenyi said the governor remains committed to policies that lift women out of poverty and give them sustainable means of livelihood. She described the processing mill as a practical example of governance that targets the needs of people at the grassroots.
“This project reflects the heart of the governor for inclusive growth. Economic empowerment of women is not just a promise but a core pillar of his governance philosophy,” she said.
The deputy governor, accompanied by the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Lady Helen Obareki, and the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs Inibehe Silas, began the sensitization tour with visits to Abak and Ikot Ekpene local government areas.
The oil processing plant commissioned on Monday was executed in collaboration with the World Bank, in line with Governor Eno’s poverty alleviation and women empowerment initiative. The project is designed to provide women with shared production facilities that can generate steady income and support household livelihoods.
Senator Eyakenyi disclosed that Abak Local Government Area now hosts 11 processing mills spread across all wards. According to her, each mill is capable of producing about eight drums daily, making the initiative commercially viable.
She added that the products already have an export market, which places the venture on a sustainable path. “This is not a short-term intervention. The products have ready markets beyond our borders, and that guarantees income for the women,” she said.
Governor Eno, through his deputy, also announced that the state government has released ₦890 million as start-up capital to women collectives involved in the project. He further disclosed that an additional ₦450 million would be released for the immediate upscaling of the project across other local government areas.
On security and infrastructure, Senator Eyakenyi pledged government support to protect the facility. She said security personnel would be placed on payroll to ensure day and night surveillance, and promised to relay requests for access roads and lighting to the governor.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Mrs Helen Obareki, described the processing mill as a laudable initiative conceived by the First Lady, Pastor Mrs Patience Eno, to reduce hardship among women at the grassroots.
She thanked Governor Eno for being gender-friendly, noting that his support for women goes beyond speeches. “The governor has shown that gender inclusion is not just about words but about concrete actions that improve lives,” she said.
Mrs Obareki also commended the Nigeria for Women Project for ensuring the successful completion of the initiative, saying the project demonstrates what can be achieved when government and development partners work together.
In a welcome address, the Chairman of Abak Local Government Area, Mrs Ime Effiong Charles, expressed appreciation to the state government and its development partners for siting the project in the area. She said the processing mill would significantly improve the livelihoods of women and stimulate economic activities within the community.
Delivering a technical explanation of the project, Barrister Ofonime Etuknwa said the processing mill is collectively owned by 200 women organised into livelihood collectives. She explained that the ownership structure promotes accountability, shared responsibility and long-term sustainability.
“The women are not employees here. They are owners. This model ensures transparency, shared benefits and positions them for long-term economic independence,” she said.
Also speaking, the Village Head of Oku Abak, Obong Okokon Udo, JP, said the community embraced the initiative wholeheartedly, noting that land belonging to three communities was freely donated for the project.
He formally handed the facility over to God and prayed for its sustainability and positive impact on the lives of women and the wider community.
In her vote of thanks, Mrs Comfort Etim, who represented the women collectives, expressed gratitude to all stakeholders and partners for their support. She appealed for the construction of an access road and the provision of electricity, lighting and security around the premises to enhance smooth operations.
During a rally held in Abak as part of the sensitization tour, the deputy governor called on women across the state to take ownership of their civic responsibilities, especially voter registration and participation in elections.
Senator Eyakenyi said she was speaking not only in her official capacity but also on behalf of the governor, whom she described as a leader who values the strength and contributions of women in Akwa Ibom State.
She noted that the governor recognises the numerical strength of women and has continued to demonstrate this through deliberate inclusion in governance. She cited appointments of women as commissioners, council chairmen, ward supervisors and in other strategic positions.
The deputy governor disclosed that the sensitization tour, which began in Abak Local Government Area, is aimed at mobilising women to register with the Independent National Electoral Commission, obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and be prepared to vote on election day.
She urged women to also register with their respective local government councils and reminded them that she now belongs to the ruling All Progressives Congress, unlike in previous elections.
She further charged women to support and vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Governor Pastor Umo Eno in future elections.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, thanked the women of Abak for their consistent support for the governor over the years. She stressed that voting is the right of every eligible woman and urged them to continue spreading the message of support for Governor Eno, Senator Akpabio and President Tinubu at the grassroots.
In a keynote address, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Hon. Inibehe Silas, said the governor had directed her ministry to sensitise women across the state on their civic duties, starting with voter registration.
She encouraged women, especially mothers, to ensure that their daughters from the age of 18 obtain their Permanent Voter Cards, stressing that political participation is central to empowerment.
She also urged women to join cooperative societies to improve their access to government programmes and economic opportunities.
The Chairman of Abak Local Government Area, in a separate welcome address, expressed happiness at hosting the sensitization programme and assured the state government of the continued support of Abak women and youths for people-focused policies.
The APC Women Leader, Mrs Awaudo Uko, encouraged women to formally register with the party and collect their membership cards to strengthen their political relevance.
Similarly, Mrs Maureen Umanah, wife of the Commissioner for Information, said the presence of the First Lady’s team showed that serious grassroots mobilisation had commenced. She pledged to move around all wards to ensure women are properly registered and prepared ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Commissioner for Information, Hon. Aniekan Umanah, said the governor deliberately gathered women to ensure they understand the importance of obtaining Permanent Voter Cards. He said this would enable them to participate actively in the electoral process and support President Tinubu, Senator Akpabio and Governor Eno.
The event attracted women from across Abak Local Government Area and featured sessions focused on political participation, empowerment and grassroots mobilisation.
