Akwa Ibom at 36: Gov Eno donates N250m to Ibom-LED

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has announced a donation of N250 million to the Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Centre, Ibom LED, for the training and mobilisation of approximately 400 entrepreneurs in the state.

During the formal flag-off of the Made in Akwa Ibom Trade Fair at Ibom-Led Headquarters, formerly Ibom E-Library, IBB Avenue, Uyo, as part of activities commemorating the 36th anniversary of the state’s creation, the Governor expressed his admiration for the dexterity of the people in various trades and urged the entrepreneurs to take advantage of the trade fair to proudly exhibit their innovations and creativity.

Governor Eno explained that N50 million would be allocated to the business school as fees paid by the state government for the registration and training of entrepreneurial students, while 500,000 naira would be disbursed as a take-off grant to each student upon completion of the training in various fields to enable them to establish their businesses.

The Governor, reiterating his commitment to ensuring the growth of small and medium-scale enterprises in the state, spoke of his administration’s readiness to provide an enabling environment for businesses to thrive. He noted that this was in fulfilment of his campaign promise to create and support entrepreneurs to succeed.

He stated, “While budgeting for the anniversary, I had cut down N250 million. I am now donating the N250M to the Ibom LED.

And this is how it will be shared. From the money that I saved from that budget, I am donating it to you for everyone who has registered so far. Put it at 400 people.”

“To each and every one of them, you will share. Fifty million is for the school so that it can serve as their training fees.

So let it be that I have paid for that. As you graduate them, if the job is for those who do not have an NAFDAC number, make sure you help them get one.

Look at their products, and let those products look good. Train them, and then help them look for a market too. As you finish training them, each of them shall have N500,000.00.”

He emphasised that his determination to encourage them was born out of his desire to create employment in diverse ways for the people, understanding that aside from government jobs or political appointments, the people can be gainfully employed through their skills.

The Governor explained that his decision to convert the Ibom E-Library to accommodate the Entrepreneurial and Leadership School was due to the fact that the facility was abandoned.

He stressed that it was better to have a business school in the state than pay substantial sums to train Akwa Ibom people elsewhere.

However, he noted that a section of the facility would still be maintained to serve the purpose for which the e-library was established by former Governor Godswill Akpabio.

“That we transform and restructure this place, which was a former e-library, and attach it to something else where our children who desire to learn trade can come here, register, and learn.

We would not be able to pay transport for our children to go to a business school in Lagos and abroad, but we can pay school fees for our children to come to Akwa Ibom Business School,” he stated.

Governor Eno, therefore, expressed his appreciation to the Ministry of Trade and Investment and the Ibom-LED crew led by the Director General, Mrs Ekaette Umoh, and his Senior Special Assistant on Entrepreneurial Development, Mr Ime Uwah, for organising the exhibition on short notice and for the accurate interpretation of his vision of the Entrepreneurial Centre.

He was impressed with their efforts and achievements.

Earlier, the State Commissioner for Economic Development, Emem Bob, commended the Governor for keeping to his promise of ensuring the growth of businesses in the state and for rekindling the trade fair initiative.

Bob stated that the compilation of the database of all the SMEs in the state, as directed by the governor, would be extended to allow for the registration of more businesses.

He urged the people to engage with the entrepreneurial programmes of the government to benefit from them.

On his part, the Team Leader of the Ibom LED crew and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Centre, Pastor Imo Abasi Jacob, said, “The Governor’s action is a clear demonstration of his understanding that entrepreneurship is the bedrock of economic development.”

He pledged to ensure that the governor’s vision for the training and setting up of the people was adequately realised.

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