The Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt.Hon. Aniekan Bassey has encouraged the March and April winners of his empowerment scheme, Rt. Hon Aniekan Bassey Youth Entrepreneurship Support Scheme (RHAB-YESS) to make good use of their support funds for the growth of their businesses.
The Speaker gave the admonition on Wednesday at the Conference room of the Assembly Complex before doling out a sum of N1Million to six beneficiaries for the two months in view.
Represented by the Chief of Staff, Charles Iwatt, the Speaker explained that the program was in line with Gov. Udom Emmanuel’s policy of entrepreneurial development and economic expansion through trade and Agricultural activities.
He said the total lockdown in the state occasioned by Corona virus pandemic could not allow the organizers to issue the March winners of the empowerment scheme their cash , hence the reason for merging them with those of April.
His words “due to the situation in the country, we can not have a full ceremony. But I urge the beneficiaries both in the first, second and third series to utilize effectively any amount given to them to add value to their businesses.
“I congratulate all of you for meeting the criteria and scaling through the process of selection successfully.”
Also Speaking, the Special Assistant to the Speaker on Media and Communication, and one of the coordinators of the programme, Darlington Udobong said RHAB-YESS as a strict initiative of the Speaker was meant to boost small scale business in the state adding that anyone who resides in the state and has a small scale business is qualified to participate in the contest where members of the public through e-voting would select three winners that would benefit of the funds.
According to Udobong, “entry for the RHAB-YESS is open to every young entrepreneur in the state. The strategy is to give opportunity to every business startup in the state. To participate for the contest simply go to the programme web site www.rhab-yess.com and fill out the form that is basically to introduce yourself and your startup business and then upload a short video about your business to the website.
“The best videos will be selected and posted on our Facebook page for voting. Videos with the highest comments will be shortlisted and the best three will become winners.”
Highpoint of the event was the presentation of cheques to the six beneficiaries which made of three from March and three from April batches.
For March batch, the beneficiaries included; Mmenim Udobong Wilson -N250,000; Utibe Effiong Okon – N150,000; and Utibe Akwa – N100,000.
The April batch were; Blessing Monday Akpan – N250,000; Aniedi; Edem Asuquo – N150,000; and Dorcas Friday Ekungbe – N100,000.
Giving a vote of thanks on behalf of other beneficiaries, Blessing Akpan, appreciated the benefactor, Rt.Hon.Bassey and the organisers of the event for their benevolence and promised to use the funds wisely for the growth of their various businesses.
