Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has disclosed that 4,000 young people trained under two state-backed skills development programmes received start-up support worth a combined ₦3.5 billion.
The Governor made the disclosure on Tuesday, October 27, while declaring open the 2026 IBOM IGNITE Leadership and Entrepreneurial Conference at Ibom Hall, Uyo.
The two-day conference, themed “REINVENT: Rethink, Reimagine, Redesign and Become,” focuses on leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship and youth development.
Governor Eno said economic growth requires young people to acquire market-relevant skills, identify emerging opportunities and transform innovative ideas into sustainable businesses.
Sharing his entrepreneurial journey, the Governor recounted how he built the Royalty Group from a five-room hotel into a hospitality conglomerate serving International Oil Companies and other clients.
He said the business eventually became the second-largest employer of labour in Akwa Ibom State, after the state government.
Eno urged young people to challenge conventional thinking, improve service delivery and embrace innovation, stressing that following only one path does not guarantee success.
On youth empowerment, the Governor disclosed that 2,000 beneficiaries of the Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Centre, IBOM-LED, received start-up packages valued at ₦750,000 each, amounting to ₦1.5 billion.
Another 2,000 trainees at the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre, DASAC, received grants of ₦1 million each, bringing the total announced support to ₦2 billion.
The Governor also highlighted the establishment of Youth Development Centres across the headquarters of all 31 local government areas, aimed at expanding access to practical and marketable skills.
He said his commitment to IBOM IGNITE began nine years ago, before his full entry into public service, as part of efforts to nurture entrepreneurial talent and develop future leaders.
The conference featured speakers from business, faith, technology, sports and public administration, including Rev. Prof. John Kennedy Opara, Apostle Joshua Selman and Dr Maxwell Ubah.
Discussions centred on leadership, strategic thinking, innovation and enterprise development.
The initiative aligns with the ARISE Agenda’s focus on human capital development, employment and economic diversification.
However, the long-term impact of the announced ₦3.5 billion support will depend on how effectively beneficiaries establish sustainable businesses, generate income and create additional jobs.
Access to markets, business mentorship, reliable infrastructure and continued support will also be critical to enterprise survival and expansion.
For Akwa Ibom, the broader challenge is to translate skills acquisition and start-up funding into productive businesses across agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, technology and other sectors.
The ultimate measure of success will be the number of enterprises that remain operational, the jobs they create and their contribution to the state’s economic growth.
