Gov. Umo Eno flags off disbursement of N500k grant to 800 Ibom-LED trainees
By Daniel Etokidem
In fulfilment of his promise to train and empower entrepreneurs in the state, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, will on Thursday, May 2, 2024, flag-off the commencement of the disbursement of #500,000 grant to 800 Ibom-LED trainees. This will be followed with the branding of the beneficiaries business outlets across the state.
The event billed to take place at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, will see 400 participants of the Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme, (EAP) Batch 01 who participated in the mandatory 3-months training from October 16 – December 15, 2023 and the 400 Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme, (EAP) 02 Batch B participants who started their training from January 29 – March 28, 2024 at the Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Centre, at IBB Avenue, Uyo, receiving the grant.
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Entrepreneurial Development and Programmes Director, Ibom-LED, Mr. Ime Uwah, indicates that the 800 beneficiaries have successfully completed a 3-months mandatory training which will stand them out as certified ambassadors of the center poised to become world-class leaders in their respective fields, equipped with the knowledge and skills garnered during the training.
According to Mr. Uwah, the participants have undergone training covering key facets of entrepreneurship such as; Business Development, Record Keeping, Sales and Marketing Strategies, Product Development and Innovation, Legal and Regulatory Compliance, Networking and Collaboration, Pitching and Presentation Skills, and Access to Funding and Resources.
The beneficiaries upon completion of training were officially inducted into the distinguished alumni community of Ibom-LED, a platform where membership creates a meeting and melting point between the trainees and would-be-investors, with lost of benefits, including expert mentorship, networking opportunities, funding avenues, comprehensive support, and heightened exposure in the business landscape.
It could be recalled that on September 23, 2023, the Governor donated #250 million for the take-off and training of the first Batch of 400 participants and directed that trainees who had products that needed NAFDAC certification, licenses and registration be assisted to acquire them.
To help interpret his entrepreneurial visiom under the A.R.I.S.E Agenda, the Governor appointed Imo-abasi Jacob, Managing Director of AKICORP, as the Team Lead of Ibom-LED, Mrs. Ekaette Umoh, Pioneer General Manager, While Mr. Ime Uwah, SSA on Entrepreneurial Development serves as the Programme Director of the Centre.
The trio are tasked with the responsibility of interpreting the Governor’s entrepreneurial blueprint by articulating and implementing the strength of his vision, the passion of his conviction and the zeal of his futuristic insight in line with the administration’s entrepreneural philosophy.
