Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has unveiled ten life-touching projects in Ibesikpo Asutan local government area, including oil palm and cassava processing mills to boost women’s economic activities in the area.
According to the governor, the projects, executed under the Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP), a government-backed empowerment initiative in partnership with the World Bank, are designed to promote women’s empowerment and deepen economic inclusion across rural communities.
Speaking during the pilot inauguration of one of the projects, an Oil Palm Processing Mill at Ikot Nkim village in Asutan-Ekpe, on Wednesday, Governor Eno, represented by his deputy, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, said the initiative aligns with his administration’s ARISE Agenda, particularly in advancing gender equality and improving the livelihoods of rural women.
Senator Eyakenyi explained that the projects, which have reached 60 spread across different parts of the state, are structured to dismantle barriers limiting women’s participation in economic ventures and to foster financial independence through structured support systems.
Providing further insight into the initiative, the Governor’s Delivery Advisor, Nigeria for Women Projects, Dr. Ini Adiakpan, commended Governor Eno for his deliberate commitment to transforming the economic fortunes of women in the state.
Adiakpan noted that the programme enhances access to training, savings schemes, financial services, and strengthens social networks among women.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Inibehe Silas, described the oil mill and other NFWP initiatives across the local government as a practical demonstration of the governor’s resolve to empower women and stimulate grassroots enterprise.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, Mr Edidiong Inyang, conveyed the gratitude of the people to Governor Eno for siting the projects in the area and assured that the community would take ownership of the facilities and protect them from vandalism.
Meanwhile, the government's entourage received a thunderous welcome from a massive crowd of All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters in Ibesikpo Asutan LGA as the Women Sensitisation Tour on Civic Responsibilities continued in the area.
Addressing women and stakeholders, Deputy Governor Akon Eyakenyi rallied support for the re-election bids of President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Governor Umo Eno, reinforcing the governor’s call for women across all 13 wards of Ibesikpo Asutan to update their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), National Identification Numbers (NIN), and APC registration.
Senator Eyakenyi also underscored the importance of women embracing cooperative societies, describing them as a deliberate government strategy to boost entrepreneurship, expand access to opportunities, and strengthen economic empowerment in the Local Government.
Also speaking, the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Mrs. Helen Eno Obareki, applauded the women of Ibesikpo Asutan for their confidence in Governor Umo Eno’s administration and solicited continued support to ensure the full realisation of the ARISE Agenda.
Other dignitaries in attendance included the wife of the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Inemesit Uwah; the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Aniekan Umanah; the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Princess Eno Ibanga; former women affairs wommissioner, Dr. Glory Edet; WALGON President, Akaninyene Uwemedimo; Wife of the APC State Chairman, Mrs. Ini-Louisa Ntukekpo; along with other women stakeholders.
