The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno also increased the student bursary from N10,000 to N20,000 for undergraduates
The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, has announced a reward of N310 million to the leadership of the state’s youths across the 31 local government areas for boycotting the recent #EndBadGovernance protest. The governor made the announcement at a ‘thank you’ rally held at the Uyo Township Stadium on Tuesday.
The protest, which was held nationwide from August 1 to August 10, turned violent in some states, with reports of looting and destruction of property. However, Akwa Ibom State was among the few states that remained peaceful, with the youths heeding the governor’s call not to join the protest.
The governor praised the youths for their responsible behavior, saying that it was a promise he had to keep in appreciation of their maturity. “We can’t leave you the way we met you,” he said. “We are inspired that you listened to our plea not to join the protest… We know there are always people who will hijack peaceful protests to destroy and vent anger on government facilities.”
The governor also announced that 100 youths from each local government area will be added to the Ibom Community Watch, a scheme that aims to provide a platform for youths to engage in community development activities. He also increased the student bursary from N10,000 to N20,000 for undergraduates and from N20,000 to N30,000 for those pursuing professional courses and postgraduate students.
Additionally, the governor approved the creation of an employment portal for all youths in Akwa Ibom State, which will allow them to register and filter their qualifications based on their area of specialization. This digital platform will enable youths to apply for employment opportunities and reduce congestion in interview queues.
The governor also announced a monthly business grant of N50,000 to support 5,000 youths every month to start small businesses. This initiative is aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and reducing unemployment in the state.
Stakeholders at the gathering urged the governor to push for the completion of the Ibom Science Park, a project initiated by former Governor Victor Attah, which is expected to fast-track technological growth in the state. The governor assured them that he would work towards completing the project.
Overall, Governor Eno’s decision to reward the youths for boycotting the protest is seen as a move to promote peace and stability in the state. The initiative is also expected to empower youths and promote entrepreneurship and employment opportunities in Akwa Ibom State.
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