Akwa Ibom Speaker Empowers Constituents With Items Worth Over N100 Million
December 22, 2016
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Akwa Ibom Speaker Empowers Constituents With Items Worth Over N100 Million

By Itoro BASSEY

In a rare display of love and appreciation for his election as lawmaker, the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mr. Onofiok Luke, Wednesday, made distribution of materials estimated at over N100 million for his constituents in Nsit Ubium local government area.

Mr. Luke made the distribution during his constituency thanksgiving service and briefing held at the Nsit Ubium council secretariat in Ikot Edibon.

The empowerment items include saloon, cars, mini buses, scholarship for students, grinding machines, generators and vulcanising machines. Others include motorcycles, hairdressing equipments, sewing machines, welding machines, desktop computers and text books, among others.

Luke, who is in his second term in the House, said that the empowerment programme was to eradicate poverty and ensure prosperity for his immediate constituency toward sustainable development.

He said, “These empowerment programmes represents not just the distribution of resources, but the continuation of a journey towards sustainable employment, increase income and a prosperous future for the beneficiaries and their dependants.”

Luke said he had introduced skills development scheme and constituency support programme to the empowerment programme.

“One hundred students will be given N20,000  each as bursary, while 10 indigent students will receive N100,000  worth of scholarship each.

‘In addition, five law students will receive N100, 000 each to support their studies at Law School”, Luke said.

The Speaker said that the beneficiaries of the support items, start-up capitals and business support funds had been grouped to reflect the people in various socio-economic strata with specific areas of needs.

He noted that the support was in partnership with the governor’s wife, Mrs Martha Udom Emmanuel’s Pet Project, Family Empowerment and Youth Reorientation Programme (FEYReP).

One of the beneficiaries, Mr Imo Idem, expressed appreciation to God for being among the selected persons, saying that he would use the money given to him judiciously.

Meanwhile, Governor Udom Emmanuel, who was moved by Mr. Luke’s benevolence for his people, announced an empowerment programme of N10 million for 50 youths and women as part of government’s effort to encourage small and medium scale business owners.

Governor Udom said five youths would be empowered in each of the 10 wards in Nsit Ubium local government area.

He said, “As a mark of support, we also need to support what Luke is doing today.

“I will like you to select five youths per ward, making 50 in the 10 wards; at least two must be female, out of those 50 youths and women to support the laudable programme.

‘I like to support your business initiative with the sum of N200, 000 for each of them to be self reliant.

“We came here to support you, we came here to show appreciation for what you have done and we came here to also thank Nsit Ubium people for their support”, Emmanuel said.

He added that the state government was building three power sub-stations  to improve power supply in the state.

According to him, when the power station is completed, it will help to reduce the cost of the businesses engaged in by the youths and women of the area.

He said that his administration was determined to provide jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the state.

The governor promised that his administration would change and impact positively on the lives of the people in the area.

The constituency briefing, which was Mr Luke’s third since he was elected a lawmaker, saw his friends and associates from within and outside the state gathered in his state constituency to honour him.

Guests at the occasion include Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State and the First Lady, Mrs Martha Emmanuel; representative of Her Excellency, former First Lady of the Federation, Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua represented by a brother to the late President, Col. Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua (rtd), Former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah.

Also at the occasion were former military administrators: Col. Yakubu Bako, Col. John Ebiye, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (Rtd), Capt. Samuel Enwang, former Deputy Governor, Obong Chris Ekpenyong, members of the Forum of Speaker’s of Nigeria led by the Chairman of the Forum and Speaker of Kebbi State House of Assembly, Ismaila Kamba.

Others are Honourable members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly led by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Princess Felicia Bassey, Senators Effiong Bob, Anietie Okon, and Bassey Albert, President of Ijaw Youth Council, student leaders from the National Association of Nigerian Student, and youth leaders among several others.

Below are some pictures of the event.

. Gov Udom Emmanuel & wife, Martha (m) & Speaker Onofiok Luke (l) at the occasion . Speaker Onofiok Luke kneeling to welcome former Governor Victor Attah . Luke receiving blessings from traditional rulers

Luke exchanging pleasantries with a brother to the late President, Col. Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua (rtd), [PROPELLER NEWS] | VIEW MORE PICTURES HERE