The Akwa Ibom State Executive Council has approved the release of ₦31 billion for the implementation of an economic empowerment programme across the state’s 31 Local Government Areas.
The approval was granted at the Council’s regular meeting held at the Executive Council Chambers, Governor’s Office, Uyo, presided over by Governor Umo Eno. The meeting followed the successful conclusion of the two-day Delivery Meeting, which reviewed the implementation of government projects and programmes.
In his opening remarks, Governor Eno reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the effective implementation of the ARISE Agenda, urging members of the Executive Council to remain focused on delivering people-centred governance.
The empowerment programme, funded in the 2026 Approved Budget at ₦1 billion for each Local Government Area, targets youths, women, traders, farmers, transport operators and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
It comprises youth skills acquisition, training and starter packs, women cooperative business support, traders’ business grants, agricultural support and farm inputs, SME development and enterprise growth, as well as a transport empowerment scheme.
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The initiative is expected to benefit 165,912 people through skills acquisition, grants, enterprise support, farm inputs and the distribution of productive assets, including tricycles. A committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, will work out implementation modalities and report back to the Executive Council.
Council also received a briefing on the forthcoming official visit of President Bola Tinubu and preparations for the commissioning of 39 completed projects during a 30-day programme marking the 39th anniversary of Akwa Ibom State.
The President is scheduled to commission the New Terminal Building, Airport Hospital, Aviation Village, the 14.5-kilometre Nsit Atai–Okobo Road, the Dualisation of Ring Road 3, the Command and Control Centre, AkwaGIS, the State Secretariat Annex and the ARISE Palm Resort.
On legislative matters, Council noted that all 12 Executive Bills before the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly had been passed and approved the invitation of the Speaker and House leadership for their signing into law.
Council reviewed the state’s health emergency response, noting the recruitment of more than 2,854 health workers, completion of 29 Model Primary Healthcare Centres, ongoing upgrades of 17 additional centres and rehabilitation of four secondary healthcare facilities.
Governor Eno directed accelerated recruitment of medical doctors, while Council noted the acquisition of three CT Scan machines, three additional units expected, two MRI machines and ongoing healthcare digitisation. It also approved the transmission of nine health sector bills to the House of Assembly.
Council approved December 18, 2026, for the Annual Christmas Carol Festival, directed that Christmas Unplugged 4.0 should showcase the state’s culinary and cultural heritage, and announced a two-day Youth Conference.
It also endorsed phased implementation of solar-powered rural water projects across 369 wards, approved the 2026 State Sports Festival, congratulated Edidiong Umofia and Ruth Nyong on their Commonwealth Games medals.
The meeting, which witnessed the swearing-in of Mr Uduak Isaac as State Statistician-General, also noted Governor Eno’s Best African Leader in People-Centric Governance Award, received on his behalf by the Deputy Governor during the 19th Security Watch Africa Conference and Awards Ceremony in Banjul, The Gambia.
Governor Eno thanked the people of Akwa Ibom State for their continued support and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to peace, progress, prosperity and the implementation of the ARISE Agenda.
