– By Ekemini James
Governor Umo Eno’s deliberate effort at equipping young people in the state with the necessary skills and knowledge to establish and sustain successful businesses in Akwa Ibom State has been further heightened with the graduation of 400 female youths from the Ibom-LED Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme (EAP 3.0) at the Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Centre, Uyo.
The Governor who does not believe in the politics of ‘use-and-dump,’ said while announcing his approval for the training: “I hate to finish and this people do not have anything doing. We are going to train the next 400 from these females, everywhere we’ve been they’ve been with us and they deserve to be given a source of livelihood and so we will train them and empower them”.
“Because they are young girls they might not have shops so apart from the N500,000 empowerment to each of them, you’ll add N250,000 so that they can rent shops”.he said.
The Governor’s intentional approach in empowering these female youths is indeed bridging the gender gap in entrepreneurial development and it is in line with his entrepreneurial vision and avowed determination to change the narrative in youth development.
These females, aged between 16-45 years, are drawn from the membership of the female youths Lemon, Purple, Golden Girls, and Arise Ladies in White groups, with strong interest in entrepreneurship and business, residents in Akwa Ibom State. They equally form a strong support base for the Governor right from the early days of his campaign.
The graduation ceremony which took place at the former E-Library complex, now Ibom-LED Centre Uyo, had 400 female youth graduands in the Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme (EAP) who were presented with certificates after completing an intensive 9-week course offered by the center and fully sponsored by Governor Umo Eno.
They were equipped with essential skills and expertise to build sustainable businesses, become employers of labour, and contribute to the State’s economic development. This initiative further shows that Governor Umo Eno’s administration is really committed to empowering 5,000 start-ups and growing businesses within his first term, with a focus on young people.
The beneficiaries, now part of the distinguished alumni community of Ibom-LED, received certificates and in the coming weeks will also get a business support grant of N750,000 each, comprising N500,000 for business capital and N250,000 for shop rental which will undoubtedly propel them towards success in their entrepreneurial endeavors.
The impact of the program has already extended beyond the individual beneficiaries, as it contributes to the state’s economic growth and development. With over 1,200 entrepreneurs trained under Ibom-LED’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme, the state is witnessing a surge in innovative solutions, ranging from fashion design to agribusiness and digital solutions.
The Made in Akwa Ibom Showcases held after the certificate presentation, shows the diversity and creativity of our young entrepreneurs in the State. The event not only provided a platform for innovative projects but also facilitated networking oppourtunities, expert mentorship, and access to funding avenues.
At the graduation ceremony of 400 Female Youths, the General Manager of Ibom-LED, Mrs. Ekaette Umoh, said, “This is only the beginning of your journey as entrepreneurs. The skills and network you’ve gained here will serve as the foundation for your future success.”
Also speaking, the team lead, Pastor Imo-Abasi Jacob, congratulated the graduands on their successful completion of the course and admonished them to work towards upgrading their businesses.
On his part, the Director of programme who doubles as SSA to the Governor on Entrepreneurial Development, Mr. Ime Uwah, while presenting the graduands for certification, said they were found worthy in character and learning, reason they deserved to be certified.
He further noted that, he was convinced that the multiplier effect of the training will soon be positively felt in the State and beyond.
Meanwhile, beneficiaries of the initiative expressed immense gratitude to Governor Umo Eno, for initiating the programme, which they described as amazing, great, impactful and profitable, especially, considering the fact that the programme comes with an exit grant of N750,000 per participant, with disbursement commencing soon.
The current administration’s commitment to empowering female youths in entrepreneurship serves as a model for other States in the area of youth development. The Governor has successfully bridged the gender gap in entrepreneurship in view of unlocking the full potential of our economy and creating a more inclusive and prosperous society.
