By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo
The economic advancement plans of Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom has received a boost as the State government has concluded arrangements to open a branch of the Bank of Industry in Uyo, the State capital.
This is even as the State government has empowered 400 graduates of the Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Scheme, Ibom – LED, to start businesses.
Eno broke the news weekend during a new year visit to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faithfuls at the party’s State Secretariat in Uyo.
The Governor said that as part of his partnership agreement to support and boost Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in the State, government would partner the Bank in sourcing for loan to boost businesses at a single digit interest.
He therefore urged the people to embrace the initiative, noting that government has provided accommodation for the bank at the 21 Storey Dakkada Towers and has also created enabling environment for a successful operation to ensure the Bank’s optimal service delivery to the people of the State.
“The Bank of Industry is opening in Akwa Ibom. We have finished working, we’ve given them space, they have set up and by the grace of God, they will start operations in February. All that is to support Small and Medium Scale Enterprises.
“We are going to support that bank and we’ll make sure that we give them money to loan to our business operators at a single digit interest and once your business is viable and they can see, they’ll give you loan at 9%.
“We have provided accomodations and a conducive environment so they can do their business and we’re going to support them.” He explained.
The Governor announced that the first batch of four hundred youths who registered for training in various entrepreneurial skills at the Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Scheme, Ibom – LED were done with their training and have been empowered to start up their businesses.
He therefore encouraged youths to register with Ibom-LED for the second batch of training after which they will attract government‘s support and empowerment for their businesses, stressing that his government will only support youths who are ready to be up and doing.
The Governor who reiterated his commitment to ensuring that thirty percent of recruits into the Akwa Ibom State Security outfit, the Community Watch Programme are female, also disclosed plans to sponsor women from the thirty-one local government areas to China with a view to expanding their business scopes.
He added that a similar gesture has been extended to students who have been selected to participate in the education exchange programme at the United Kingdom, explaining that the moves were part of his administration’s drive to grow small businesses and further deepen women‘s inclusion in government programmes.
Eno noted that the new year get-together of the PDP is a double celebration for him and the party given the recent Supreme Court victory, affirming his election as the democratically elected governor of Akwa Ibom State and appreciated God for seeing him through 26 court cases, out of which 8 were dragged to the Supreme Court.
Earlier, the State Chairman of the party, Mr Aniekan Akpan, appreciated the Governor for his laudable developmental strides in the last seven months of his administration, saying that he has fulfilled his campaign promises to the people, making the party to be proud of him.
Akpan described the Governor’s victory at the Supreme Court as a confirmation of the people’s wish and a proof that his emergence was divine, commending the Governor for his synergy with the federal government and other leaders at the national level towards expanding the horizon of development in Akwa Ibom.
The chairman assured the governor of the party’s continued support in the delivery of dividends of democracy to the people.
