Vice President Kashim Shettima has launched a N1 billion grant programme to support family-based businesses in Akwa Ibom State. The initiative, aimed at grassroots economic empowerment, provides seed capital to 3,000 families. It aligns with federal and state development agendas to foster job creation and reduce poverty.
On Saturday, December 6, 2025, Vice President Kashim Shettima inaugurated the Renewed Hope/ARISE Agenda Grant Programme in the Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State. The N1 billion initiative, conceived by local representative Hon. Unyime Idem, delivers seed capital directly to families for starting or expanding small-scale enterprises.
Shettima highlighted the programme as a model for translating democratic commitments into tangible economic benefits at the community level. He emphasized President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on economic empowerment, job creation, support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), poverty alleviation, and broader social protection. "There is greater honour in empowering a man to create than in offering him a fleeting gift. True empowerment endures because it teaches the mind to search for its own doors, its own pathways, and its own opportunities," Shettima stated.
The Vice President praised the synergy between the federal government and Akwa Ibom State under Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda, which prioritizes agricultural growth, rural development, SME assistance, and social inclusion. "This is what governance should look like: a seamless convergence of federal and state agendas at the exact point where citizens feel the impact. When leadership aligns in purpose, the people inherit progress," he added.
The family-focused approach is expected to bolster local businesses, increase household incomes, empower women and youth, decrease reliance on aid, and enhance overall productivity and self-sufficiency. "When a family is empowered, a community is empowered; when a community is empowered, a nation is strengthened," Shettima remarked.
Akwa Ibom’s Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, expressed gratitude for Shettima’s repeated visits, calling him a committed leader. Hon. Idem noted the transparent selection process benefiting 3,000 families and voiced support for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027. Shettima encouraged wise use of funds and promised additional rounds to include more participants, positioning the effort as an example for other officials nationwide.