…commends Idem on empowering 1,000 families with One Million Naira each.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON, has charged federal lawmakers to initiate programmes and projects that have direct impact on the lives of their people.
This, according to the Vice President, aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, in the areas of “economic empowerment and job creation, support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises as catalysts to stimulate local commerce, reduction of multidimensional poverty and expanding social protection, and encouraging public-private and legislative partnership.”
VP Shettima was speaking during the Launch of the Renewed Hope/ARISE Agenda One Billion Naira Family-Based Business Grant Initiative for 1000 people, sponsored by the member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency And Chairman, House Of Representatives Committee On Public Procurement, Rt. Hon. Unyime Idem, held in Ukanafun Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.
Commending, Rep. Idem for the initiative, the Vice President stressed that “the gesture is an act of sacrifice and deep commitment to the social and economic prosperity of the people Hon. Idem represents.”
“The initiative also portrays deep synergy between the Bola Tinubu administration and government institutions, legislators, private actors, and community stakeholders to achieve inclusive development,” Shettima added.
On his relationship with the Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Lawmaker, the Vice President said “I went through this long list of over 20 members of the National Assembly who are here today to reflect the clout and respect on Rt. Hon. Unyime Idem, the China Man.
“When I was a Senator in the 9th National Assembly, Hon. Idem reached out to me and we started a relationship anchored on trust and confidence.”
Earlier in his address, Rep. Unyime Idem, highlighted the benefits of the initiative to include “empowering farmers, businesses, start-ups, women-led enterprises, young entrepreneurs, family cooperatives and community-based ventures,” expressing hope that the initiative will stimulate grassroots economic activity, improve household income, create jobs and youth engagement and trigger a ripple effect of opportunity across our constituency.”
He urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the grant, promising that subsequent batches of the programme will cover every family across the federal constituency, as “no one will be left out in this initiative.”
On his part, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, represented by his Deputy, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, commended Rep. Idem for always providing tangible dividends of democracy to the people of Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency, pledging the state government support for him to continue to touch lives
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, PhD., represented by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, led a delegation of over 20 members of the National Assembly to the event, which also had in attendance the Minister of State for petroleum resources (Gas), Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo.
Meanwhile, the 1000 beneficiaries will on Monday, December 8, 2025, undergo a fully sponsored business training, to be held at the Unyime Idem Empowerment Centre, 3 Barracks Road, Ukanafun Local Government Area, on how best to deploy the grant, for optimal result.