In fulfillment of his promise, the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, has rewarded youths in the state for not participating in the recent #EndBadGovernance protest.
During a gathering in Uyo, he allocated N310 million, with each Local Government Area (LGA) receiving N10 million to be shared among youths, irrespective of their political affiliations.
The governor praised the youths for heeding his call to avoid the protest, while acknowledging the challenges of hunger, unemployment, and rising food costs that prompted the unrest.
He assured the gathering that his administration is addressing these concerns with the resources available.
Governor Eno also announced additional benefits for Akwa Ibom youths, including:
– 100 youths per LGA to be added to the Ibom Community Watch, regardless of political affiliation
– Increased student bursary from N10,000 to N20,000 for undergraduates and N20,000 to N30,000 for postgraduate students
– An employment portal to be created by the Ministry of Labour and the Senior Special Assistant on ICT to connect youths with job opportunities
– A digital platform for oil companies in Akwa Ibom to harvest applicants for interviews
– A monthly N50,000 business grant for 5,000 youths to start small businesses
Stakeholders at the gathering urged the governor to complete the abandoned Ibom Science Park, initiated by former Governor Obong Victor Attah, to fast-track technological growth in the state.
