Governor Umo Eno Unveils Economic Empowerment Package For Windows Of Deceased Soldiers, Others

Governor Umo Eno unveils economic empowerment package for windows of deceased soldiers, others. The Akwa Ibom State Government has unveiled a comprehensive economic empowerment package aimed at improving the livelihoods of widows of fallen military, police, and paramilitary personnel through sustainable income-generating initiatives.

Governor Umo Eno announced the programme on Wednesday, during the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day ceremony held at the Cenotaph on Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo.

As part of the initiative, the state government will construct 150 lock-up stores, comprising 100 for widows of fallen military personnel and 50 for widows of deceased police officers and other paramilitary operatives.

The Governor disclosed that beneficiaries would also receive take-off grants to enable them establish and sustain small-scale businesses.

Pastor Eno explained that the intervention reflects a deliberate shift from short-term financial assistance to long-term economic empowerment for families of fallen heroes who paid the ultimate price in the service of the nation.

“In line with our commitment to the welfare of families of our fallen heroes, we are deliberately moving beyond one-off financial support to programmes that provide lasting economic stability,” the governor stated.

Beyond the empowerment package, Governor Eno also announced immediate financial support totalling N120 million in appreciation to the serving personnel, a N10 million donation to officers on parade, an additional N20 million to widows present at the ceremony, as well as another N20 million to the Nigerian Legionaries, reaffirming his administration’s tradition of recognising sacrifice and excellence.

He recalled that in the previous year, the state government disbursed N250 million as welfare support, including N150 million to widows of fallen military personnel and N100 million to widows of fallen police officers.

According to Governor Eno, construction of the lock-up stores will commence immediately after the relevant service formations make land available for the project.

He added that the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, the Ministry of Women Affairs, and the Bureau of Cooperatives will jointly coordinate and supervise the project to ensure prompt and timely delivery.

Speaking on national unity and politics, Governor Eno urged leaders to continue to see politics as a platform for service rather than bloodshed, commending chairmen of political parties for personally attending the remembrance event.

He expressed optimism that leaders across party lines would continue to embrace politics of ideas, development, and peaceful engagement.

On national security, the Governor commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for what he described as decisive leadership in tackling Nigeria’s security challenges, noting observable improvements across various parts of the country.

Governor Umo Eno Unveils Economic Empowerment Package

He also glowing tribute to the courage and sacrifices of officers and men of the Armed Forces who lost their lives in active service and those that are currently engaged in various theatres of operations across the nation.

Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to security agencies, Governor Eno recalled previous interventions including the completion and commissioning of internal roads at the Police Headquarters in Ikot Akpan Abia last year.

He disclosed that the Command and Control Centre would be completed soon, alongside continued provision of amenities across service formations to enhance operational effectiveness.

The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is marked annually to honour Nigerian military personnel who died in the line of duty, while also recognising the sacrifices of veterans and their families.

Governor Eno while calling on corporate organizations to support the security agencies, also called for continued peace in Akwa Ibom State and across Nigeria, stressing that the sacrifices of the nation’s fallen heroes must never be forgotten.

Sterling Oil (SEEPCO) Appoints Aniekeme Finbarr As Media Manager

Sterling Oil (SEEPCO) appoints Aniekeme Finbarr as media manager. Retired Col. Amit Ghosh (Chief of Security & Community Development, AKS) hands over the appointment letter to Mr. Aniekeme Finbarr in Lagos.

In a recent development, Sumedha Energy Limited, Sterling Oil’s joint venture with NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL), appoints Mr. Aniekeme Finbarr as its Media Manager for Akwa Ibom State Operations.

Finbarr, with his credible background in journalism, will also manage communications and media relations for supporting subsidiaries of Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO), which provide infrastructural support to the upstream operations of this joint venture at OML 13 (Oil Mining License block).

The selection of Mr. Finbarr was driven by his professional expertise and strategic communications experience.

The appointment is expected to enhance stakeholder engagement and improve communication with communities in Akwa Ibom State, including giving a voice to the infrastructure and service providing units under Ibom Developers FZE.

The appointment of Finbarr brings an experienced professional to oversee media relations and provide a platform for the company’s development work to be seen and heard by relevant stakeholders, including addressing false narratives and misleading information. His prior experience serving as Special Assistant to two Governors of Akwa Ibom State will definitely help him to collaborate effectively with both company and community influencers.

NMDPRA

Aniekeme Finbarr is a versatile broadcast journalist and digital media leader. His journalistic accomplishments have been recognized internationally, including being awarded the prestigious U.S. Department of State Edward R. Murrow Journalism Fellowship. A proud native of Akwa Ibom State, Finbarr’s appointment highlights local employment in senior and strategic levels.

The company, starting the year with this positive message, is being seen as another step by Sterling Oil Group to strengthen its community relations and ensure transparent, effective dialogue with its key publics.

Umo Eno Unveils Plan Reclaimed Akwa Ibom Community Dumpsite

Umo Eno unveils plan reclaimed Akwa Ibom community dumpsite. Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has disclosed plans to transform the reclaimed Uyo Village refuse dump-site into a modern Government Residential Area, comprising of a creative village, and a housing estate, to reduce housing deficit in the State.

The Governor made this known Tuesday, January 6, 2026, while fielding questions from the Government House Correspondents immediately after his inspection of the reclaimed dump-site spanning over 100 hectares of land alongside the ravine prone landscape that has been sand-filled for future development.

“The truth is, with vision and foresight, we can do a lot. You won’t believe this was a terrible refuse dump-site. Today, we have reclaimed it all, over a 100 hectares of land to be used for housing, agriculture, and more.”

He added that the whole area has been reclaimed and mapped out for proper development purposes with appropriate water channels.

The Governor revealed that the ravine will be adequately transformed “to contain Uyo GRA first with about 150 middle-class housing; and the creative village with a spur to link them all.”

He said the project is strategically designed to open up previously unusable land, address erosion challenges and create new development corridors for housing, agriculture and creative industry, all within close proximity to the Uyo city centre.

“This project is about reclaiming valuable land close to the city centre and deliberately deploying it for the benefit of our people,” Governor Eno said.

He explained that his decision to visit the site was informed by the need to physically examine the road design and fully appreciate the scope of work being executed by the contractors beyond technical presentations earlier made in his office.

Expressing satisfaction with the progress so far achieved, the Governor noted that the area, once used as a dump site, has been successfully reclaimed as part of efforts to support government long-term urban development policy.

He once again, urged contractors handling government projects to ensure timely delivery and quality execution noting that the Uyo village road project will address housing deficit and would contain middle-income housing and other strategic residential developments.

“We are committed to ensuring that every square meter of this reclaimed land serves the people of Akwa Ibom,” he said.

Speaking further, Governor Eno said the various projects being embarked on by the government are opening up significant job opportunities for youths and local workers, urging the youth to embrace the opportunities and uphold the culture of hard work, emphasizing that, deliberate infrastructural development could serve as a catalyst for economic growth.

Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno

Governor Eno who stressed that the 2026 budget of N1.584 trillion naira reflects the scale of planned projects, urged citizens to engage with the budget and key into its opportunities and expressed confidence that, with collective effort, Akwa Ibom can achieve development standards comparable to global cities.

On the Governor’s entourage were the Executive Assistant/Chief Delivery Advisor, Mr. Aniefiok Johnson; Commissioner for Works, Prof. Eno Ibanga; and other Government functionaries.