The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, has announced a cash reward of N310 million to the leadership of Akwa Ibom youths across the 31 local government areas of the state for boycotting the recent #EndBadGovernance protest.
The governor had promised in a meeting with stakeholders on the eve of the #EndBadGovernance protest in Uyo that he would appreciate the state’s youths if they avoided the nationwide protest held from 1st to 10th August across the country.
The governor made the announcement while speaking at a thank-you rally held at Uyo Township Stadium on Tuesday.
He stated that each of the 31 local governments would receive N10 million.
He added that the money should be shared across party lines.
He said, “The leadership of the youths in each LGA will receive the money and distribute it across party lines.” This gesture was a promise he made to appreciate the state’s youths.
“We cannot leave you in the same state we found you. We are pleased that you heeded our plea not to join the protest—not because we don’t believe in protests or are indifferent to the current issues.
“We understand that there are always individuals who hijack peaceful protests to damage government facilities and vent their anger. Our leaders have worked diligently for the past 37 years to build this infrastructure, and a moment of anger can destroy all this hard work.
“We are not ashamed to commend your efforts, and we are here to offer our gratitude. Although you did not protest, we heard your concerns loud and clear. We are aware of the issues causing you distress.
“We recognise the challenges such as hunger, unemployment, and the high cost of food. We will endeavour to address these within the resources available in our state.”
The governor further announced that “100 youths per Local Government Area will be added to the Ibom Community Watch, across political party lines.”
He continued, “Our prominent figures, when they meet, do not consider political party affiliations. Therefore, there will be no discrimination.”
He also revealed that the student bursary had been increased from N10,000 to N20,000 for undergraduates and from N20,000 to N30,000 for those pursuing professional courses and postgraduate studies.
“The Ministry of Labour is collaborating with my Senior Special Assistant on ICT to open an employment portal for all youths in Akwa Ibom. When you register, it will automatically sort your area of specialisation. When we need to recruit, even for the government, we will use this portal to filter qualifications.
“We will engage with oil companies in Akwa Ibom to gather applicants for interviews. We want to avoid long queues for interviews and instead use a digital platform to manage qualifications and employment opportunities.
“Additionally, we will support 5,000 youths monthly with N50,000 business grants through this portal, to help them start small businesses or farms. We want to ensure you do not remain idle while waiting for employment. Note that this grant is a one-time opportunity.”
Stakeholders at the youth appreciation gathering urged the governor to push for the completion of the Ibom Science Park, initiated by former Governor Obong Victor Attah. The park was intended to accelerate the state’s technological growth but was abandoned by successive administrations after significant investment.
