Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has secured the approval of the Executive Council for the release of ₦31 billion to implement a comprehensive economic empowerment programme that will benefit 165,912 residents across the state’s 31 Local Government Areas.
The approval was one of the major decisions reached at the State Executive Council meeting.
The initiative, funded through the 2026 Appropriation Law at ₦1 billion per Local Government Area, is designed to empower youths, women, traders, farmers, transport operators and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through targeted interventions aimed at stimulating entrepreneurship, creating jobs and reducing poverty.
The programme includes Youth Skills Acquisition, Training and Starter Packs; Women Cooperative Business Support; Traders Business Grants; Agricultural Support and Farm Inputs; SME Development and Enterprise Growth; and a Transport Empowerment Scheme.
To ensure seamless implementation, Governor Eno constituted a committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government to develop the modalities for the distribution of the intervention and report back to the Executive Council.
The Executive Council also approved fresh measures to strengthen healthcare delivery across the state, following a review of the administration’s emergency health response.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Ekem Emmanuel, noted that the state has recruited 2,854 health workers, completed 29 Model Primary Healthcare Centres, commenced the upgrade of 17 additional primary healthcare centres, and rehabilitated four secondary healthcare facilities as part of ongoing efforts to improve access to quality healthcare.
READ ALSO: Mutfwang Unveils Digital Transformation Drive, Says Technology Boosting Security, Governance
Governor Eno directed that emergency measures be introduced to fast-track the recruitment of additional medical doctors to address manpower shortages in the health sector.
The Commissioner for Health further noted the acquisition of three CT scan machines, with three additional units expected, as well as two MRI machines, while ongoing digitisation of healthcare services is expected to improve efficiency, expand access and enhance service delivery across the state.
As part of the reforms, the governor approved the transmission of nine health sector bills to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
The proposed legislation covers 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 earlier transmitted to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly had been passed.
Governor Eno subsequently approved that the Speaker and leadership of the House be invited to a special Executive Council meeting on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, for the signing of the bills into law.
The governor also endorsed the phased implementation of a solar-powered rural water scheme across the state’s 369 wards to improve access to potable water in rural communities.
He directed the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation to forward a detailed proposal to the Finance and General Purposes Committee for procurement review, cost evaluation and further necessary action.
