Akwa Ibom State Governor Pastor Umo Eno on Tuesday, September 10, gifted N310 million to youths in the 31 local government areas of the state as compensation for boycotting the recent nationwide hunger protest in the state.
He said each local government should receive a sum of N10 million.
It could be recalled that the governor, on the eve of the protest, convened a stakeholders’ meeting promising to reward the youths if they shunned the planned protest.
Speaking at the Uyo Township Stadium, the governor said the gesture was in fulfillment of his promise and instructed that the money should be shared across party lines.
He said, “The leadership of the youths in each LGA will receive the money and spread it across party lines. The gesture was a promise I had to keep in appreciation of the youths of the state.
“We can‘t leave you the way we met you. We are inspired that you listened to our plea not to join the protest, not because we don’t believe in protest or don’t feel what is going on in the country.
“We know there are always people who will hijack the most peaceful protest to destroy and vent anger on government facilities. Our leaders have worked so hard in the past 37 years since the creation of our state to put these infrastructures in place. And one minute of anger can destroy all of these hard works.
“We are not ashamed. You did well, and we are here to give you a pat on the back. Though you didn’t protest, we heard you loud and clear. We know the issues you’re angry about.
“We know those things that should be addressed: issues of hunger, unemployment, pains, and the high price of food. We will try, within the resources available in our state, to address them for the benefit of our people.”
The governor further approved that 100 youths per Local Government Area (LGA) will be added to the Ibom Community Watch across political party lines.
“We will, on a monthly basis, support 5,000 youths every month with N50,000 business grants from this portal to start small businesses as individuals or groups pooling their resources together to start a farm, because we don’t want you to just stay idle waiting for employment. There is no way you will get this money twice,” he added.
Stakeholders at the gathering urged the governor to push for the completion of the former Governor Obong Victor Attah-initiated Ibom Science Park as a tool for fast-tracking the technological growth of the state, which has been abandoned by successive administrations after billions of naira were poured into it.
