Umo Eno, the governor of Akwa Ibom, has rewarded youths in the state with the sum of N310 million for not participating in the #EndBadGovernance protest.
News About Nigeria reported that the nationwide protest against hunger and bad governance, which commenced on the 1st of August, 2024, was observed in many states of the federation.
However, Akwa Ibom was part of the states where the protest was not held, as the youths and residents alike listened to the governor of the state.
Speaking at a thank-you gathering in Uyo, the governor announced a N310 million cash reward, distributed as N10 million per Local Government Area (LGA), to be shared among youths across party lines in the state.
The governor also commended the youths for listening to his appeal to shun the protest, stating that their actions showed they were not ashamed to do well.
He also acknowledged the issues that led to the protest, including hunger, unemployment, and high food prices, assuring that his administration was working to address them within available resources.
Governor Eno also announced additional benefits for Akwa Ibom youths, including, “100 youths per LGA to be added to the Ibom Community Watch, regardless of political affiliation. Increased student bursary from N10,000 to N20,000 for undergraduates and N20,000 to N30,000 for postgraduate students. An employment portal to be created by the Ministry of Labour and the Senior Special Assistant on ICT to connect youths with job opportunities.
“A digital platform for oil companies in Akwa Ibom to harvest applicants for interviews. A monthly N50,000 business grant for 5,000 youths to start small businesses.”
Governor Umo also tasked the youths to continue to be law abiding citizens, promising that his administration will ensure that they continue to enjoy the dividends of democracy.
