*as Economic Devt Commissioner begs Akwa Ibom people to key into the programme

BY EMMANUEL AKPAN

The Akwa Ibom State  Government has taken over the registration of N-POWER, one of the National Social Investment Programmes of the Federal Government. 

The Commissioner for Economic Development and Manpower Planning, Mr. Idorenyin Udo disclosed this last Thursday during a press briefing with journalists in the conference room of the Ministry. 

The Commissioner said though the essence of the programme is to reduce poverty by making jobs available for unemployed youths, it is also to stimulate the economy of the State and that after a meeting with the Federal Government officials that are in charge of the programme, the Ministry decided to be involved in the process.

Mr. Udo who noted that the first phase of the N-POWER pagramme was handled by an individual, said the programme commenced on January this year and a total of 3,010 has benefited from Akwa Ibom State. 

According to him, “The number is disaggregated as follows: N-Agro-503, N-Health-313, N-Teach-2,006 and N-Community-188 beneficiaries. It should be mentioned that each beneciary is drawing a stipend of N30,000 paid directly to the beneficiary’s account by the Federal Government, of interest also is the fact that all the beneficiaries as disaggregated above have been deployed to serve in those areas of the State economy that are staff deficient.

I am glad to inform you that report reaching my office shows that the programme in the State is going on well and the beneficiaries are all reporting for duties as directed by the deployment MDAs.”

As the activities leading to the selection of the second phase N-POWER beneficiaries in the State is on going, the Commissioner said it is the wish of his Ministry to have not less than 10,000 beneficiaries of Akwa Ibom indigenes on the programme, adding that his Ministry has created awareness and has sensitized the people of Akwa Ibom on the need to key into the programme. 

In his words, “My Ministry has also in this regard assisted and provided facilities to ease registration of candidates on the second phase of the programme. I am glad to inform you that as at the time of this gathering we have successfully registered more than 54,000 Akwa Ibom people for the second phase of the programme. I have been reliably informed that most of the registered candidates have taken their online test and many more are still writing the test given the test schedule on the N-POWER platform. “

He used the opportunity to expressed appreciation to Governor Udom Emmanuel for the support given to his Ministry which has helped to achieve success in the programme.