Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has announced the donation of N250 million to the Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Centre, Ibom LED, for the training and mobilisation of about 400 entrepreneurs in the state.
Speaking during the formal flag-off of the Made-in-Akwa Ibom Trade Fair at Ibom-Led headquarters (former Ibom E-Library) in Uyo, as part of activities commemorating the 36th anniversary of the state’s creation, the governor said he was impressed by 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 N50m will be taken by the business school as fees paid by the state government for the registration and training of the entrepreneurial students, while N500,000 will be disbursed as take-off grant to each of the students upon their completion of the training in various fields to enable them to set up their businesses.
The governor, who reiterated his commitment to ensuring the growth of small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in the state, spoke of the preparedness of his administration to provide an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, noting that it was in fulfillment of his campaign promise to create and support entrepreneurs to succeed.
He said, “While budgeting for the anniversary, I had cut down N250m. 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 (Naira) 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 did not have NAFDAC Number, make sure you help them have it.
“Look at their products and let those products look good. Train them and then help them look for market too. As you finish training them, each of them shall have N500,000.00.”
He emphasised that his determination to encourage them was borne out of his desire to create employment in diverse ways for the people, knowing 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, stressing that it was better to have a Business School in the State than pay huge sums to train Akwa Ibom people outside the state.
He, however, noted that a section of the facility will 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 which 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 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 Center, stressing that 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 will be extended to allow for the registration of more businesses and therefore urged the people to key into the entrepreneurial programmes of the government to enable them benefit from it.
On his part, 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 vision of the governor in the training and setting up of the people was adequately realised.
We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →
Join Our WhatsApp Channel
