In furtherance of the industrial advancement and wealth creation aspiration of the ARISE Agenda, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno has presented N400 million as grants to 800 beneficiaries of the State’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme.( EAP)
Presenting the Cheques at the Government House Banquet Hall, Uyo, the Governor congratulated the beneficiaries for successfully going through the programme and described them as ambassadors of the EAP.
According to him, “I like to say clearly here that whether this programme will continue or not depends on you because you are the ambassadors of this programme. You are not all totally new in businesses or enterpreneurship. I am not concerned about the little seed that’ll be put in your hands, but the training you’ve received.”
The Governor who took time to advise the beneficiaries on some business tips said, “everything you need to succeed is in your hands. For now, don’t be politicians, just be an enterpreneure. This is an opportunity for you to have a primary address. If you’ve a primary address, politics is secondary.
“People will respect you for what you can do. This little money is a seed and if you plant it well, it will bring a mighty harvest. I remember that, in this state, I opened my hotel with just five rooms, and few years later, we had grown exponentially.
“The first thing is that you must make up your minds to succeed and in that determination, there will be a place of sacrifice and self denial. People will tell you all manner of things, don’t mind them. Your time will soon arrive. Above all, this community has been created; stay around the community and don’t try to impress people. As a government, we’ll continue to support you. This is just the beginning,” he added.
The Governor who was moved by compassion while presenting cheque to a physically challenged beneficiary, Mr. Jones Okon Akpan of Jones Manufacturing, directed that he be given a good means of mobility as well as an additional support.
In his remarks, the team lead of Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurship Development, Pastor Imoabasi Jacob, appreciated the Governor for the vision, commitment and support for the Akwa Ibom business community and assured that given the quality training to the beneficiaries, the grants will yeild the desired dividends.
Presenting a keynote address, the Head of Alumni Directorate and Support Services, Enterprise Development Center, Pan-Atlantic University (EDC) Lagos, Ms Nnena Ugwu advised the beneficiaries to cultivate the culture of discipline, commitment and focus to enable them succeed in their different business ventures.
Also speaking, the Director General of the Umo Eno/Akon Eyakenyi campaign, Chief Assam Assam SAN, appreciated the Governor for keeping to his campaign promises, and advised the beneficiaries to see the seed money as a spring board that will put them in the global map of entrepreneurship.
In their separate messages of appreciation, the General Manager of Ibom-LED, Mrs. Ekaette Umoh, and the Alumni President for Batch 1, Daniel Esetang, appreciated the Governor for the vision which according to them has translated to a life-time empowerment for 800 Akwa Ibomites.
They assured that the grant will be judiciously used for expansion of their businesses and for the greater good of the State.
High point of the event was the presentation of cheques to beneficiaries from the different programmes including; Ibom-LED Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme (EAP), Ibom-LED Business Leadership and Entrepreneurship Programme (BLEP), Ibom-LED Business Mastery Programme (BMP), and Ibom-LED Start-Up Accelerator and Incubation Programme (SAIP).
