The Akwa Ibom State Government says it has invested billions of naira in youth empowerment, education and tourism infrastructure, with thousands of young people benefiting from grants, bursaries, skills training and other interventions under Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda.
This was disclosed during a press briefing showcasing the Umo Eno administration interventions in the two sectors by the Commissioner for Youth Development, Ekerette Ekanem, and his Culture and Tourism counterpart, Anieti Udofia, as part of activities commemorating the State’s 39th anniversary.
Ekanem said the Ministry of Youth Development, established as a stand-alone ministry in September 2024, had facilitated the construction of Youth Development Centres in Oron, Ikono, Etinan, Itu, Ibiono and Ikot Ekpene.
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He said training had commenced for the first batch of beneficiaries at the Oron centre, while the ARISE Tech Talent Accelerator Programme was equipping young people with digital skills and certifications in areas including cybersecurity and Python.
The Commissioner said the annual ARISE Youth Skill Week had also rewarded dozens of young entrepreneurs with cash prizes across its two editions.
Yourh Allowance
On youth welfare, Ekanem said the monthly allowance for corps members serving in Akwa Ibom and indigenes serving outside the state had been increased from N5,000 to N20,000, benefiting about 98,000 people since August 2025.
He said the students’ bursary was also increased from N20,000 to N50,000, with about N1.69 billion disbursed so far, while 30,000 young people had received N50,000 each as business start-up grants.
According to him, the state government has paid about N6.8 billion in examination fees for students between 2023 and 2026, while approving the recruitment of 7,000 young people into the civil service.
Ekanem added that the ministry had verified village youth presidents across gazetted villages, inaugurated the state chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria and strengthened grassroots security through the Ibom Community Watch.
Tourism
On tourism, Anieti Udofia described the ARISE Palm Resort as the administration’s flagship project, saying the facility transformed a former erosion site into a tourism asset.
He said the resort had hosted a state banquet earlier in September and is expected to be commissioned by the President later this year.
Udofia said the state spends more than N900 million annually maintaining tourism assets, including the ARISE Palm Resort and Ibom Hotel golf courses, Unity Park, and the Ibom and Ikot Ekpene plazas.
He said the State’s Unity Park was being expanded with new walkways and a food court, while the Ibom International Hotel and 5,000-capacity Ibom Convention Centre were nearing completion.
Other projects, he said, included the Oron Maritime Infrastructure Project, featuring a ferry service between Oron and Calabar, renovation of the Oron Museum, and approved renovation works at the Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort.
Udofia announced that this year’s Christmas festival, rebranded Ibom Christmas Unplugged, would run from December 1 to January 1 under the theme, “A Taste of Akwa Ibom: Our Food, Culture and Heritage.”
He said new attractions would include Ibom Kitchen, showcasing local delicacies; a celebrity night; and Mbopo Akwa Ibom, an indigenous beauty pageant.
According to him, the 2025 edition created about 4,900 jobs across construction, security and other sectors.
Both Commissioners said investments in aviation, including expansion of the Ibom Air fleet, and healthcare, particularly the Ibom International Hospital, were complementing the state’s youth development and tourism initiatives.
