A’ Ibom Govt Floats N5.1bn Empowerment Scheme For Farmers, Entrepreneurs

Farmers, traders and entrepreneurs in Akwa Ibom State are to receive over N5.1 billion as grants and equipment support under the ongoing ARISE empowerment programme of Governor Umo Eno’s administration.

Under the scheme, N2 billion is earmarked as grant to support individuals, corporate and commercial farmers, another N2 billion for validated traders across the 31 LGAs, while operators of Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) will receive support in terms of equipment to the tune of N800 million as well as special grant of N310 million to be won by two farmers in each of the 31 LGAs of the State.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Ekerete Udoh, who made this known during a Press Briefing at Government House, Uyo, highlighted the Governor’s strides in advancing Akwa Ibom’s economic development and commended journalists in the State for their cooperation and promotion of the ARISE Agenda of the Governor Umo Eno-led administration.

He affirmed that first set of fifty beneficiaries of the ARISE Home Garden programme will be awarded N500,000 each in an atmosphere of excitement, conviviality and celebration of the Akwa Ibom spirit of oneness, on February 6, 2025 at the Amphitheatre, Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo.

Mr Ekerete Udoh further affirmed that the Town Hall meetings scheduled for the later part of February 2025, will feature four other components of the ARISE empowerment programme traders, farmers and MSMEs within the respective LGAs.

Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on ICT and subject matter expert on the empowerment programmes’ database management, Dr. Frank Ekpenyong, in his presentation, took journalists on a tour of the ARISE MSMEs Portal and gave assurances that due diligence has been done to check identity conflicts and duplicity, while also ensuring ease of navigation for verifiable entrepreneurs.

Ekpenyong therefore urged Akwa Ibom people to log onto the portal, (smegrants.akwaibomstate.gov.ng) and take advantage of the Governor’s gesture to extend economic empowerment to citizens across various strata and enhancing the State’s economy through investments in agriculture and MSMEs.

He added that beneficiaries would be chosen digitally through an unbiased process.

Another subject matter expert, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Entrepreneurial Development, Mr. Ime Uwah, described the ARISE Entrepreneurial Support Scheme as a deliberate approach by Governor Eno to empower real and verifiable entrepreneurs, adding that the Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Centre ( Ibom LED) is doing due diligence to interpret the Governor’s vision by giving usable guide for budding entrepreneurs, while supporting existing ones to expand.