Umo Eno promises ₦200,000 annual bursary for Akwa Ibom students if re-elected

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has promised to increase the annual bursary for students in public tertiary institutions from ₦50,000 to ₦200,000 if re-elected for a second term in the February 2027 governorship election.

Under the proposed arrangement, students studying Medicine, Law and Engineering would receive ₦250,000 annually.

Eno announced the plan during a fireside chat on the second day of the Ibom Ignite 2026 Conference, held at Ibom Hall in Uyo on Wednesday.

The governor explained that the proposed increase would take effect if he wins the 2027 election and is sworn in for another term.

He said the initiative was aimed at easing the financial burden on students, particularly in meeting their tuition and other educational expenses. He also pledged to sustain free and compulsory education at the primary and secondary school levels.

Eno urged beneficiaries of the ₦50 million Ibom Ignite business grant to manage the funds responsibly and invest them in ventures that would improve their businesses and livelihoods.

Describing the grant as seed capital for business development, the governor cautioned the beneficiaries against diverting the money to personal luxuries or unproductive ventures.

“A seed not properly planted and tended was as good as dead,” he said, urging the young entrepreneurs to use the funds strategically and remain committed to their business goals.

Speaking on his administration’s social welfare initiatives, Eno disclosed that more than 500 Compassionate Homes had been constructed for less privileged residents across the state’s 31 local government areas.

He added that each beneficiary had also received a ₦500,000 business grant to support their livelihood.

The governor promised to construct an additional 1,000 Compassionate Homes and provide the accompanying business grants across the state’s wards if he secures a second term.

He also highlighted youth development initiatives at the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre, the Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Centre (Ibom-LED), and newly completed youth development centres across the state.

Earlier, the conference guest speaker and Chief Executive Officer of Strategy House Limited, Dr Maxwell Ubah, urged young people to develop a mindset that promotes economic growth and social relevance.

Speaking on the theme, “Change Your Thinking, Change Your Future,” Ubah said wealth creation begins with the mind. He cited Singapore and Dubai as examples of places where sound economic policies and transformative leadership had helped overcome geographical limitations.

He encouraged young people to view societal challenges as opportunities for enterprise, identifying potential, problems, passion and possibilities as key ingredients for success.

Other speakers at the conference included the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Hensek Integrated Services Limited, Engr Uwem Stephen Okoko; Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Sports, Paul Bassey; the Governor’s Delivery Adviser on Tourism, Sir Charles Udoh; the Sole Administrator of Ibom Paint and Programme Director at Ibom-LED, Ime Uwah; and the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Start Innovation Hub, Hanson Johnson.

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