Empowerment remained the heartbeat of Dr. Uwemedimo Udo's administration in the last one year.
The major one was the disbursement of ₦100 million in business grants to over 160 indigenous traders and small enterprises within Uyo. The grant categories included ₦2 million, ₦1 million, ₦500,000 and ₦250,000, showing a wide-reaching impact on the local economy. That intervention instantly shot the Chairman's empowerment programme into history as one of the largest grassroots economic packages ever implemented by a Local Government in Akwa Ibom State.
For beneficiaries like Ms Udeme Ekpe, a young fashion designer in Uyo, the grant was a turning point in her business.
Alongside the ₦100 million business grant, the council facilitated skills development training in entrepreneurship, digital literacy, and vocational crafts for about 30 youths to build capacity among the youths and ensure sustainability beyond cash interventions.
