Some of the beneficiaries displaying their Cheques.
By Anietie Akpan
Governor Uno Eno of Akwa Ibom state has splashed N335m for Oro Farmersand Entrepreneurs as he intensifies his empowerment drive in the state.
This happened on Saturday, April 5, at the Town Square meeting organized to afford Oron Federal Constituency opportunity to avail the Governor of their needs, which turned out to be another empowerment avenue as several indigenes smiled home with cash grants.
The cash totaling N335, were given to traders, farmers and business owners in the five local government areas of the federal constituency, including Oron, Okobo, Udung Uko, Urue Offong Oruko and Mbo.
N51 million went to 108 farmers from the N2 billion farmers loan, 543 business men and women got N225 million while 10 entrepreneurs received N5million each.
In a statement from his media unit, the Governor at the occasion, said the presentations were done in line with his government’s policy of entrepreneurial and agricultural development.
He said, “We have received the needs documents and we’re going to look at it local government by local government and work with it as it will form part of the 2026 budget christened ‘The People’s Budget.
“As you know, there are 31 local government areas and even if we cannot execute all the projects on this document, we will make sure we execute at least one from each of the five local government areas.
“Because we swore to be fair to all, we will not leave any federal constituency in the state behind.”
Governor Eno who expressed delight at the progress of the 14km Airport – Nsit Atai -Okobo Road, commended the contractor, Hensek Integrated Services, for the pace of work.
Gov. Umo Eno (centre), his Deputy, Senator Akon Eyakenyi (left) dancing at the ceremony on Saturday.
“That road has seen three successful governments and has been used for campaigns, but today with the finishers anointing that God has given us, that road will be commissioned soon.”
The Governor used the occasion to announce that, “very soon, we shall be flagging off the construction of city gate into the Ibom deep seaport project and the sales centre.”
Commending the massive turnout at the Stadium, Governor Eno urged people to keep faith with their representatives as the Needs documents would capture virtually the priority needs of the people of the constituency.
The Deputy Governor, an indigene of the area, Senator Akon Eyakenyi expressed appreciation for everything the Governor has done for her people and assured them that even more are on course under the ARISE Agenda.
“The Governor is very passionate about Oro and he has promised to do more. Everything I ask him, he is always very willing to do it for us in Oro. Thank you for loving me and my people”, she said, while also thanking everyone who made the occasion a success.
Earlier while setting the tone for the engagements, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Enobong Uwah said that, “we are here to listen to the Oro people, and get to know what their needs are, so that they can be captured in the 2026 budget.
“You are going to have the ARISE traders’ grants, the ARISE Farmers’ Grants, and the ARISE MSMEs grants.
“For the love you have shown the Governor, I can assure you that he will show you more love in return from now till 2031.”
The SSG who particularly expressed joy over the progress at the Airport – Nsit Atai – Okobo Road, assured that was among the 52 projects by the Governor in the area.
Crowd of heads at the ceremony
In their presentation, the leaders of Oron Federal Constituency, who spoke through Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, eulogized the Governor for working hard to “depopulate the kingdom of the devil.
“Our people shall stand by you in appreciation of your excellent performance across the entire State, and in Oron Federal Constituency in particular.”
The stakeholders thereafter cladded the Governor in their traditional regalia of wrapper and cap to show their appreciation for all of his gestures to their people.
This was followed by a vote of confidence by the lawmakers from the federal constituency, following a motion by federal Lawmaker Martin Esin and seconded by Chief Effiong Johnson, the Chief Whip of the State Assembly.
In his goodwill message, Sir Essang Nsa Bassey, President General of Oron Union expressed appreciation to the Governor on the numerous completed and ongoing projects and assured the Governor of their continued support come 2027.
Speaking for the royal fathers, the Paramount Ruler of Udung Uko and Chairman of the State Traditional Rulers Council, Odidem Bassey Etim Edet expressed the support of royal fathers to the Governor for a second term in office, for ‘walking the talk’ in his development agenda for the people.
The local government chairmen, led by Hon Uno Etim Uno, chairman of Urue Offong Oruko local government area, also lend their voices in support of the government of Pastor Eno and promised to stand by him for eight uninterrupted years
High-points of the event was the presentation of cheques to the beneficiaries by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Elder Udeme Otong, Senator Ekong Sampson and PDP State Chairman, Aniekan Akpan.
