Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has reaffirmed his commitment to running a people-oriented government that is free from the influence of godfatherism.
Speaking with Government House Correspondents, the Governor said every citizen of Akwa Ibom State will have equal access to the Government portal for the various grants provided by his administration. He emphasized that the upcoming 2026 empowerment scheme has been carefully designed to accommodate more residents and provide opportunities across different sectors.
According to him, the scheme has a budget of N31 billion, which would be spread across multiple categories of grants. “These grants are: farmers’ grant, traders’ grant, MSMEs grant, and skills acquisition grant. Everyone, including members of support groups, have the right to benefit from any of the grants by just accessing the portal,” he said.
Governor Eno explained that the primary goal of the programme is to stimulate the local economy. “The idea is to stimulate our local economy. So, we are putting N1 billion in the budget for each Local Government Area in the 2026 Appropriation Bill,” he added.
He disclosed that once the portal is opened, each Local Government Area will individually access the N1 billion allocation. “I encourage groups and everybody to apply. There are four categories of grants to apply for: farmers’ grant, traders’ grant, SMEs’ grant, and the skills acquisition grant. These grants would be available in each Local Government for people to access,” he said.
The Governor made it clear that grants will be distributed based on Local Government of origin and not necessarily the business location. He said there will be thorough inspections to validate all business locations, just as the state did in previous years. “We will thoroughly verify all your claims before we release the funds,” he stated.
He further explained that all beneficiaries must undergo a refresher programme at the Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Centre, ILEDC, before accessing the funds. “This is expected to be a 10-week programme and before you leave or graduate, you will come up with a project on how you will utilize the money,” he explained.
Governor Eno stressed that only those who have proven skills will benefit from the skills acquisition grant. He added that businesses receiving funds will be closely monitored and evaluated to ensure sustainability. “There will be monitoring and evaluation of these businesses to see how productive they are in order to mentor and guide the people involved to ensure sustainability,” he said.
He also assured that the government will not hand over money to any group leader, noting that accountability and transparency must be upheld. “We want to eliminate this idea of godfatherism; the impression that you must know somebody before you access Government grants. Much as it lies within my power, we will reduce this issue to the barest minimum,” he assured.
The Governor also highlighted the role of support groups during the election period but noted that they do not have any special entitlement to the state’s resources. “Support Groups are social groups that volunteered to support a candidate whom they believe would provide good services, ensure accountability and transparency. I was elected to cater for the entire people of Akwa Ibom State, not individual groups. I truly appreciate the groups for their support but they shouldn’t see themselves entitled to the State’s budget,” he stated.
He encouraged every citizen, especially those without any political affiliation, to take advantage of the opportunities. “Let us allow the generality of Akwa Ibomites; people that have nobody to also access these grants to better their lives and those of their families. No particular group or groups will have an exclusive right to these programmes. They are for every Akwa Ibom indigene irrespective of their social status,” he said.