Akwa Ibom unveils mass empowerment plan for rural women

Akwa Ibom State gov, Umo Eno and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources( Gas) Ekperikpe Ekpo

The Akwa Ibom State Government said it is targeting a total of 110,000 women for empowerment across the 31 Local Government Areas of the state through cooperative societies in October this year.

The State Governor, Umo Eno, announced the plan during the launch of the Federal Government’s rural women empowerment initiative and the distribution of Liquefied Petroleum Gas cylinders in Uyo, the state capital, on Thursday.

Eno, who described women’s empowerment as critical to social welfare and a major component of his administration’s ARISE Agenda, said at least 300 women would be selected from each ward across the state for the programme.

Commending the Federal Government for bringing the LPG (cooking gas) distribution programme to the state, with 27,000 households targeted as beneficiaries, the governor said the state’s planned empowerment programme was designed to complement the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Initiative, which is already providing financial support to women across Akwa Ibom to establish and expand their businesses.

“We are particularly pleased that this programme prioritises women, youths and vulnerable households. Empowering women creates a multiplier effect that strengthens families, communities and local economies.

“This programme goes beyond the distribution of gas cylinders. It is about improving lives, protecting our environment and delivering economic opportunities directly to 27,000 households.

“Women empowerment is critical to social welfare and a major component of my administration’s ARISE Agenda, because we believe that women have the capacity to multiply whatever is entrusted to them.

“Akwa Ibom State will empower 110,000 women across the state through cooperative societies in October this year. At least 300 women will be selected from each ward across the state for the programme,” Eno said.

The governor described gas as more than a commodity, saying it is a catalyst for industrialisation, job creation, small and medium-sized enterprise development and long-term economic prosperity, adding that the programme demonstrated that Akwa Ibom is not only a major producer of gas resources but is also becoming a destination for gas-based investments and downstream utilisation projects.

According to him, the programme’s emphasis on entrepreneurship, skills development and economic inclusion complemented the state government’s efforts to create sustainable livelihoods and expand economic opportunities for residents.

He noted that access to cleaner cooking gas would help households reduce energy costs, improve health outcomes and protect women and children from the dangers associated with traditional cooking fuels.

Noting that Akwa Ibom is “open for business,” Eno invited investors to explore opportunities across the gas value chain, including LPG plants, cylinder manufacturing and maintenance centres, gas storage facilities, transportation and logistics, clean cooking solutions, gas processing, petrochemicals, gas-based manufacturing and energy infrastructure.

He assured investors that his administration would continue to provide an enabling environment through transparent governance, infrastructure development and collaboration with the private sector.

Earlier, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said the event marked the launch of two major national interventions in the state: the rural women empowerment initiative for entrepreneurship development and the Akwa Ibom State partnership activation and distribution of LPG cylinders under the Decade of Gas National Grassroots LPG Penetration Programme.

He said the programmes were designed to promote women’s dignity, safety, enterprise and wellbeing in line with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Initiative.

The minister also commended President Tinubu for placing women’s empowerment at the centre of national development.

“Women’s empowerment and clean energy cooking are deeply connected because both begin at the household level and create wider benefits for health, enterprise, family wellbeing and community development,” Ekpo said.