Building men: Best legacy project

By Emmanuel Nicholas

Building men means investing in human capital, teaching people how to think entrepreneurially, equipping them with practical skills, and instilling discipline and confidence so they can stand on their own.

Governor Umo Eno has proven to be the finest governor Akwa Ibom State has ever produced, directing the majority of his empowerment initiatives toward strengthening citizens through their businesses.

He does not rely on token political handouts that offer no lasting support. Instead, Governor Umo Eno begins by providing training, equipping beneficiaries with the skills and knowledge required to establish and manage profitable enterprises, and only then supplies grants or machinery to help launch those businesses.

His record shows that he has expanded existing businesses into larger, job‑creating enterprises while also awarding grants to aspiring men and women to start their own ventures.

Governor Umo Eno’s approach of combining capacity-building with targeted grants or equipment ensures that assistance is absorbed effectively and used to create sustainable livelihoods.

The ripple effects of building men are vast. Skilled, well-supported entrepreneurs expand their operations, hire workers, and reinvest in their communities, turning small ventures into thriving businesses that become local economic engines.

This creates jobs, broadens the tax base, and nurtures networks of suppliers and service providers, multiplying the original investment many times over. When existing businesses are strengthened into larger empires, the whole state benefits, with lowered poverty, increased purchasing power, and more diverse economic activity.

By prioritizing capacity over charity, Governor Umo Eno is laying down a durable foundation for long-term prosperity and a culture of self-reliance, a legacy that continues to produce dividends long after programs are launched.

Having inaugurated a series of Town Square meetings while touring the state’s ten federal constituencies, Governor Pastor Umo Eno not only listened to constituents’ grievances, He reported on the developmental progress in their localities, but also seized the occasion to implement targeted business‑empowerment measures.

Beneficiaries ranging from farmers, traders and transport operators to skilled workers and small business proprietors expressed satisfaction at the assistance received.

Below is a concise summary of Governor Umo Eno’s statewide empowerment drive:

Overview, the initiative reached all federal constituencies in Akwa Ibom, delivering cash grants, equipment, MSME grants (₦5m) each, and vehicles (cars and minibuses) to farmers, traders, artisans, transporters and small business owners.

Key constituency highlights (brief): – Abak/Ika/Etim Ekpo Federal Constituency: 620 beneficiaries; cash support ₦150k–₦5m; 6 x ₦5m MSME grants; 178 farmers (₦500k each); 198 artisans-Equipment.

– Uyo/Uruan/Ibesikpo Asutan Federal constituency: 1,187 beneficiaries; ₦492.7m disbursed; 628 farmers, 300 traders, 263 equipment supports; 8 x ₦5m MSME; 12 vehicles.

– Ikot Abasi/Mkpat Enin/Eastern Obolo Federal Constituency: 540 beneficiaries; ₦250m; major ARISE traders/farmers/equipment support; 6 x ₦5m MSME; 3 cars + 6 minibuses.

– Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency: 476 beneficiaries; ₦239m for farming, trading, transport, entrepreneurial and equipment grants.

– Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara Federal Constituency: 655 beneficiaries; ₦260m in business support and equipment, 8 vehicles.

– Oron Federal Constituency : ₦335m total; 543 business grants, 108 farmers (₦51m), 10 x ₦5m MSME.

– Eket/Esit Eket/Onna/Ibeno Federal Constituency: 1,076 beneficiaries; ₦400m; 268 farmers, 549 traders, 239 equipment supports; 8 x ₦5m MSME; 12 vehicles.

– Itu/Ibiono Federal Constituency : 677 beneficiaries; ₦303m; 223 farmers, 309 traders, 135 equipment supports; 4 x ₦5m MSME; 6 vehicles.

– Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency : 405 beneficiaries; traders, farmers, 4 x ₦5m MSME, 131 equipment supports.

– Etinan/Nsit Ubium/Nsit Ibom Federal Constituency: 844 beneficiaries; ₦361.45m across farmers, traders, equipment support, MSME grants and vehicles.

Overall totals and sector breakdown
– Total beneficiaries: ~7,664 people
– Vehicles distributed: 77 minibuses and 31 cars

– Sector beneficiaries Farmers 2,736; Traders 2,489; Skilled workers/artisans 931; MSME recipients 62 (each ₦5m).

Ibom-led accelerator programme

Governor Umo Eno’s Ibom‑Led Accelerator Programme (Ibom LED / Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme) is driving broad-based economic empowerment across Akwa Ibom by combining hands‑on training, regulatory support and direct seed capital to turn informal traders and hobbyists into scalable micro and small enterprises.

The programme targets vulnerable groups (including young women), provides business training and mentorship, helps beneficiaries clear regulatory hurdles (National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), licenses, registrations), and supplies start‑up and shop‑rental support so new businesses can open, grow and formalize.

Financial breakdown (by cohort)
– 1st cohort (400 beneficiaries)
– The Governor released ₦250 million for take‑off, training and mobilisation.
– Each beneficiary received ₦500,000 after three months of training.
– Calculated disbursement to beneficiaries: 400 × ₦500,000 = ₦200,000,000.

– Implied training/mobilisation funds from the release: ₦50,000,000.

– 2nd cohort (400 beneficiaries)
– Each beneficiary received ₦750,000 (this amount includes seed capital and shop rental support).

– Calculated disbursement to beneficiaries: 400 × ₦750,000 = ₦300,000,000.

– 3rd cohort (400 beneficiaries — female youth groups)
– The governor released ₦250 million for take‑off and training.
– ₦50 million allocated to course fees and training.

– ₦200 million disbursed as Business Support Grants of ₦500,000 each.
– Calculated disbursement to beneficiaries: 400 × ₦500,000 = ₦200,000,000.

– 4th cohort (ongoing; 500 beneficiaries figures as announced)
– Each beneficiary will receive a ₦500,000 start‑up grant plus ₦250,000 for shop rent.

Total per beneficiary is ₦750,000.
– Projected disbursement 500 × ₦750,000 = ₦375,000,000.

Totals and reconciliation
– Calculated total seed/grant disbursements for cohorts 1–3 (based on the figures above): ₦200m + ₦300m + ₦200m = ₦700,000,000.

– First 3 cohorts: ₦700,000,000
– Fourth cohort (projected): ₦375,000,000.

– Combined (projected): ₦1,075,000,000 (≈ ₦1.075 billion), and total beneficiaries would rise from 1,200 to 1,700.

Stimulating business for residents

Non‑indigent communities residing and conducting business in Akwa Ibom have received a business support grant totaling ₦800 million.

The beneficiary groups, Arewa, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the South‑South group, and Afenifere, were each allocated ₦200 million to stimulate economic activity across the State.

My footnote

To sustain this lasting initiative into 2026, Governor Umo Eno has provided ₦31bn in the budget to further empower Akwa Ibom residents through business support and skills development.

Under the proposal, each local government will receive ₦1 billion to be distributed among farmers, traders, small business owners, transporters, and artisans.

The most enduring legacy a government can leave is to build its people’s capacity to achieve financial independence and self‑sufficiency.

By prioritizing transparent empowerment through grants and the provision of equipment, Governor Umo Eno’s administration has significantly reduced poverty and strengthened livelihoods across the State.