Abayomi Susan
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has secured the approval of the State Executive Council for the release of ₦31 billion to fund a comprehensive economic empowerment programme aimed at improving the livelihoods of 165,912 residents across the state’s 31 Local Government Areas.
The approval was one of the key resolutions reached during the State Executive Council meeting, with the intervention programme to be financed under the 2026 Appropriation Law at ₦1 billion allocation per Local Government Area.
The initiative is designed to support youths, women, traders, farmers, transport operators and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through targeted empowerment programmes focused on boosting entrepreneurship, creating employment opportunities and alleviating poverty.
Beneficiaries will receive support through various schemes, including youth skills acquisition training and starter packs, women cooperative business assistance, traders’ business grants, agricultural support and farm inputs, SME development initiatives, and a transport empowerment scheme.
To ensure effective implementation and transparency, Governor Eno has constituted a committee chaired by the Secretary to the State Government to develop the framework for the programme’s execution and submit recommendations to the Executive Council.
Meanwhile, the State Executive Council has also approved additional measures to strengthen healthcare delivery across Akwa Ibom following a review of the administration’s emergency health response.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Ekem Emmanuel, disclosed that the state government has recruited 2,854 healthcare workers, completed 29 Model Primary Healthcare Centres, commenced the upgrade of 17 others, and renovated four secondary healthcare facilities as part of efforts to improve access to quality medical services.
Governor Eno further directed the introduction of emergency measures to accelerate the recruitment of more medical doctors to address manpower gaps in the health sector.
The Commissioner also revealed that the state has acquired three CT scan machines, with three more expected, alongside two MRI machines, while the ongoing digitisation of healthcare services is expected to enhance efficiency, accessibility and overall service delivery.
As part of the healthcare reforms, the governor approved the forwarding of nine health sector bills to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. The proposed laws cover public health security, healthcare standards and accreditation, health insurance, medical residency training, primary healthcare development, drug and health supplies management, nursing education, health sciences and technology, and the establishment of the Akwa Ibom State University Teaching Hospital.
In another development, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Legislative Matters informed the Council that all 12 Executive Bills previously transmitted to the State Assembly had been passed.
Governor Eno subsequently approved the invitation of the Speaker and leadership of the Assembly to a special Executive Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, July 28, 2026, for the signing of the bills into law.
The governor also approved the phased rollout of a solar-powered rural water scheme across the state’s 369 wards as part of efforts to improve access to potable water in rural communities.
He directed the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation to submit a detailed proposal to the Finance and General Purposes Committee for procurement assessment, cost evaluation and further action.
