Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has inaugurated a N7.38 billion cooperative support fund aimed at boosting women-led businesses and lifting women out of poverty across the state.
The initiative will benefit women in all 369 political wards across the 31 local government areas, with each ward receiving N20 million.
The governor announced the programme during a women’s mobilisation and sensitisation event in Nsit Ubium LGA, describing it as a strategic effort to expand economic opportunities at the community level. Eno noted that the fund would be accessible to all women in the state, irrespective of political affiliation, and that Permanent Voter Cards would serve as part of the identification process to ensure transparency in disbursement.
“The money is meant to assist women in their small businesses and improve their economic activities across the wards,” the governor said. He also commended the coordinating committee for conducting a mobilisation tour across the 31 local government areas to sensitise women about the programme.
Deputy Governor Senator Akon Eyakenyi praised the governor’s consistent commitment to women’s economic empowerment and urged women to organise themselves into cooperative societies and complete their National Identification Number registration to participate fully in government initiatives.
Mrs. Helen Obareki, Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, thanked residents of Nsit Ubium for their warm reception and encouraged continued support for Governor Eno, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and President Bola Tinubu.
Contributors to the initiative included Dr. Inemesit Uwa, representing the Secretary to the State Government, who donated N5 million, and Barr. Eno Idem, SAN, who also contributed N5 million. Oku Ibom Ibibio, His Eminence Nteyin Dr. Solomon Etuk, CFR, and former senator Effiong Bob commended the governor and the First Lady’s office for their leadership in supporting women’s economic development.
State officials, including Commissioner for Trade and Investment Capt. Iniobong Ekong and the Special Adviser to the Bureau of Cooperative Societies Mrs. Alice Ekpenyong, highlighted that the fund would be disbursed directly through registered cooperative societies to ensure transparency and maximise benefits for women at the grassroots.
The State Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Obongawan Obonono Uko, said the mobilisation also aimed to appreciate women for their support of the administration and stressed that empowering women strengthens the social and economic foundations of society.
The cooperative initiative is expected to deepen financial inclusion, support small-scale enterprises, and enhance economic participation for women across all 369 wards of Akwa Ibom State.
