The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno has urged women in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area and across the state to take advantage of the cooperative initiative introduced by his administration to promote personal development and economic empowerment.
The Governor made the call at the grand finale of the women sensitisation tour on civic responsibilities held at the Local Government Headquarters grounds in Nsit Ubium.
Governor Eno said “the state government would inject N20 million into cooperative societies in each of the 369 wards in the state and encouraged women to actively participate in the initiative.”
He stated that all women empowerment programmes in the state would be channeled through cooperative societies to ensure proper coordination.
The Governor further called on women leaders across the state to assess different businesses they could engage in.
He commended the women, led by the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, for taking the message of peace, unity and meaningful engagement to women across the local government areas of the state.
Governor Eno further said that a special committee would be inaugurated to work with the Special Adviser on Bureau for Cooperative, Mrs Alice Ekpenyong, to drive the process and ensure optimisation.
He appreciated the women for their large turnout at the event, their support for the ARISE Agenda, and their commitment to supporting his re-election in 2027.
The Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, said the event was organised to appreciate the women for their support for the governor in 2023 and to encourage them to benefit from cooperative societies.
She noted that women across the local government areas visited during the tour had expressed satisfaction with the governor’s leadership and support for women, and had also conveyed their willingness to support his re-election in 2027.
Speaking, the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Lady Helen Obareki, thanked the Governor for his women-inclusive style of leadership, noting that “Akwa Ibom women were well represented at all levels of government.”
She explained that the sensitisation programme aimed at encouraging women to register and obtain their Permanent Voters Card ahead of the 2027 elections.
Present at the event were; the President General of the Akwa Ibom Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers Council, Ntenyin Solomon Etuk; Political Leader of Uyo Senatorial District, Senator Effiong Bob; State Woman Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Obonganwan Obonodo Uko; and other stakeholders.
They commended the Governor for his support for women in the state.
