By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By PPeter Onyekachukwu
The Akwa Ibom State Government has announced that N2 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) funds from the Bank of Industry (BOI) are available for youths in the state to access.
The government said the initiative is part of efforts to encourage young people to embrace skill development programmes such as the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre (DASAC) and the Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Centre (Ibom-LED).
At a press briefing in Uyo on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, and his Health counterpart, Dr. Ekem Emmanuel John, highlighted the state’s investment in human capital development.
Umanah said Governor Umo Eno has invested over N12 billion in empowerment programmes designed to give Akwa Ibom citizens sustainable livelihoods.
“We want our people to take advantage of the BOI funding window. This is what others across the country are already using to change their lives. That is why His Excellency, the governor, is doing so much to equip youths with skills for self-sustenance through Ibom-LED and prepare them for empowerment,” Umanah said.
He also revealed that the state government had injected N100 million into the creative industry fund to boost talent development, capacity building, and expand opportunities in the entertainment, film, and allied sectors.
Listing other recent interventions, Umanah said the governor launched the State Security Trust Fund, inaugurated the 4th batch of the Ibom-LED Entrepreneur Accelerator Programme, supervised distribution of the third phase of ARISE food packages across all 31 LGAs, and commissioned over 17km of roads in partnership with the FCT Minister.
On health, Commissioner Ekem John disclosed that the declaration of a state of emergency in the sector would soon yield results, with systematic reforms underway. He said outdated public health laws dating back to colonial times were being reviewed with the Justice Ministry to produce a new holistic health sector reform law before December.
He further revealed that retired health workers within the last 10 years who are medically fit would be offered contract jobs, with over 200 retirees already applying, in addition to the 2,000 full-time health workers recently recruited.
John also urged citizens to key into the State Health Insurance Scheme, explaining that beneficiaries will pay 3.5 percent of their basic salary while the state government covers the remaining 6.5 percent of their hospital bills.
Highlighting progress in emergency services, he noted that 31 ambulances are now operational, handling over 600 emergencies between March and September, while three medical oxygen plants in Itu Mbang, Ukpom Abak, and Eket now supply all health facilities in the state.