The Patience Umo Eno Golden Initiative For All, (GIFA), has continued its grassroots empowerment programme, ‘GIFA At Your Doorstep’, with more small business owners across Uyo and Abak Local Government Areas receiving business support tailored to their individual needs, relayed in the comments section of a Facebook post, a month ago.
The latest round of the encounter, took place on Monday, 27 July 2026, when the team from the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of GIFA, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, led by the Team Lead of GIFA, Pastor Anne Abraham, alongside the Press Secretary to the the First Lady, Uduak Ekong and members of the GIFA team, visited beneficiaries at their homes and business locations to deliver the items and financial support they requested for.
In Uyo, a roadside popcorn vendor, Christiana Godwin Essien, who in her comment had asked for support to boost her business that she carried out with cups of maize, received two bags of maize. Having requested just one bag because she could only afford to purchase maize in small quantities, Christiana was overwhelmed with emotion when the GIFA team presented her with two bags instead.
She broke down in tears, knelt in gratitude and thanked the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Akwa Ibom State and Chairperson of the GIFA Board of Trustees, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, for the generous support. She also expressed appreciation to the GIFA team for bringing the assistance directly to her.
In Abak Local Government Area, Uyobong Esu became the proud owner of a brand-new generator. He explained that he had requested for a generator to enable him relocate to his village, where there is no public electricity supply, to establish an ice block production business which he would complement with selling cold drinks and cold water. Delighted by the gesture, he prayed for God’s blessings upon Lady Obareki and also commended Governor Umo Eno for what he described as his exemplary leadership.
Another beneficiary in Abak, Blessing Bassey, a graduate of Agriculture from Akwa Ibom State University who operates a pastry business, received financial support to expand her enterprise. She expressed heartfelt appreciation to Lady Obareki and the GIFA team for the timely intervention.
Also in Abak, petty trader Ekaette Timothy, who buys unripe plantain and banana in rural markets, for sale in the cities, received financial support to strengthen her business. She thanked GIFA for the financial support which she stressed, would significantly enhance her trading activities and thanked Lady Obareki and the GIFA team for their kindness.
Back in Uyo, Ifure Itakafe received financial support for his phone accessories business. He expressed gratitude to Lady Helen Eno Obareki and the GIFA team for the assistance.
Fashion designer Evelyn Samuel also received a brand-new sewing machine, to replace the one that was carted away by thieves who had broken into her shop and stolen her sewing machines, forcing her to work from a friend’s shop, as she struggled to save for a replacement.
Following her request through her comment on the Empowerment post, the team visited her and presented her with a new sewing machine. She thanked Lady Obareki and the GIFA team for restoring hope to her business.
Similarly, Enefiok Usoro, an apprentice in Uyo, received a sewing machine after explaining that she had been saving towards purchasing one but had not yet raised enough money. She expressed profound gratitude to Lady Obareki and the GIFA team for helping her take the next step towards establishing her own tailoring business.
Before drawing the curtains on day three of the empowerment exercise, a mobile food vendor Mrs Ndifreke Stephen, who was randomly selected as a beneficiary, received some cash to support and expand her business. Expressing appreciation over the intervention, the beneficiary who was surprised by the gesture, thanked Lady Helen Obareki, and the GIFA team, for the timely financial assistance, describing it as a significant boost to her livelihood.
The ‘GIFA At Your Doorstep programme’, which started from a series of engagement by a member of the GIFA team on Facebook on Saturday, June 13, attracted the attention of the Akwa Ibom Facebook community and the approval of Lady Helen Eno Obareki.
It is designed to empower small-scale entrepreneurs by providing business equipment, starter packs and financial assistance based on beneficiaries’ identified needs.
Unlike conventional empowerment schemes, the initiative delivers support directly to beneficiaries’ homes and business premises, ensuring that assistance reaches them in a personal and impactful manner.
The exercise continues on Tuesday, July 28, 2026.
Media Unit
Office of the First Lady, AKS
July 27, 2026.
