By Ekaette Okon-Joseph
The Akwa Ibom State Government has approved a ₦31 billion small-business support (SMS) fund for 2026.
With this development, ₦1 billion is allocated to each of the state’s 31 local government areas in a major push to expand access to finance, stimulate grassroots enterprise and strengthen women-led businesses.
Gov. Umo Eno announced the package through the Deputy Governor, Sen. Akon Eyakenyi, during a women’s sensitisation and empowerment engagement in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area on Saturday.
Eyakenyi said the intervention forms part of the administration’s broader economic growth strategy aimed at reducing poverty, deepening financial inclusion and enabling women and small-scale entrepreneurs to build sustainable livelihoods.
She said each council would receive ₦1 billion dedicated to small and medium-scale enterprises, with beneficiaries drawn largely from agriculture, artisan trades and informal sector businesses.
“The governor is committed to ensuring that every woman can earn a living and provide for her household,” Eyakenyi said. “This ₦31 billion investment across the 31 local government areas is designed to open up access to capital for small businesses and strengthen our local economies.”
She added that about 1,000 women in Etim Ekpo alone are expected to benefit in the first phase of the programme, with similar rollouts planned statewide.
Beyond economic empowerment, Eyakenyi urged women to obtain their National Identification Number and complete electronic registration, describing both as necessary for civic participation and inclusion in government support initiatives.
Chairman of Etim Ekpo Local Government Area, Gideon Uwah, commended the state government for prioritising grassroots development, saying the funding would directly impact households and small traders across the area.
He described the governor’s approach as inclusive and people-driven, noting that it has strengthened public confidence in governance at the community level.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Hon. Inibehe Silas, encouraged women to take full advantage of the opportunities by participating actively in both the empowerment programme and civic processes.
Commissioner for Youth Development, Dr Ekerette Ekanem, called on young people to also engage in entrepreneurship and political participation to attract more development to the area.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Bureau of Cooperatives, Rt. Hon. Alice Ekpenyong, urged women to form cooperatives to improve access to funding and resources, describing collective enterprise as key to scaling small businesses.
Also speaking, Senior Advocate of Nigeria and APC stalwart Emmanuel Enoidem said the administration’s focus on women’s economic growth and financial inclusion would strengthen local industries, particularly agriculture and palm oil production. He pledged ₦3 million to support women entrepreneurs in the area.
The engagement forms part of the state government’s broader plan to combine enterprise financing with grassroots mobilisation, positioning small businesses as drivers of economic expansion across Akwa Ibom.
