Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt.Hon. Aniekan Bassey, has encouraged young entrepreneurs in the State to utilize the various opportunities provided by the State government to grow as well as sustain their businesses.
The Speaker gave the admonition during the prize presentation ceremony to winners of the fourth edition of his empowerment scheme, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey Youth Entrepreneurship Support Scheme (RHAB-YESS), held at the Assembly Conference Hall, Uyo , on Tuesday.
Represented by the member representing Nsit Ubium State Constituency, Hon. Otobong Effiong Bob, the Speaker said the aim of the empowerment was to enable young entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and attract investors in near future.
He however urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of funds given to them adding that, the gesture was part of efforts to complement the Dakkada philosophy of Gov. Udom Emmanuel which encourages everyone to find something doing.
His words, “the essence of this programme is to lend critical support to those who are already into business ventures.
It is a way of complementing the philosophy of our governor and ensuring that people of the State especially, youths have something doing and they can generate funds and employment for themselves.
“This is another example of legislative – executive partnership to better the lives of Akwa Ibom people and we will ensure that this programme is sustained.”
In his remarks, the Senior Special Assistant on Marketing and Brand Management to the governor, Mr. Ime Uwah, told the participants to ensure they create and uphold value in their businesses in order to remain relevant and progress in their business venture.
According to him, “If you create value, your business will sell. The more lasting the value you create the more relevant your business will be for a long term.
“Financial education is key to growing and sustaining your business. You need to understand cash flow, how to block leakages because most budding businesses crash in the first phase of existence because the initiators lack financial education.
” You must always have at the back of your mind to make your business attractive as an investment. What investors look for are Integrity in the business operation, proper organization and documentation.
“If we can have at least 10 persons committing this amount of money every month into small and medium scale businesses. That will be a huge sum injected into our state economy.”
The SSA who commended the Speaker and the organisers of the programme for the transparent selection process revealed that RHAB-YESS is a creditable platform that is adding value to young people in small scale businesses.
In his opening remarks, the Special Assistant to the Speaker on Media and Communications, Mr. Darlington Udobong, stated that RHAB-YESS is an initiative of the Speaker to support Governor Udom Emmanuel’s Enterprise Development Drive through the Dakkada Philosophy.
He further stated that in four editions since inception of the programme, the Speaker has doled out financial support to the tune N2 million to boost 12 existing ventures and encouraged more entrepreneurs to participate and benefit from it.
Winners of the May edition of the RHAB-YESS contest are Miss Esther Okon Eyakndue, a graduate of Sociology from the University of Uyo and a vegetable farmer, who clinched the first prize of N250, 000; Mr. David Okon Ekanem, an agric entrepreneur, who cultivates cucumber, got N150, 000 while Mrs. Helen Effiong Essien, owner of a small scale palm oil mill in Obio Etoi, Uyo Local Government Area, went home with N100, 000.
In her vote of thanks, on behalf of beneficiaries, Miss Esther Eyakndue expressed appreciation to the Speaker for initiating and sustaining such a transparent and unbiased programme to assist entrepreneurs and promised to make good use of the funds.
