GOV ENO’S HUGE INVESTMENT IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT HAS TRANSFORMED THE BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM IN A’IBOM -SSA BRAND MGT

‎-As Uyo hosts NBC Trade Fair
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‎The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State on Brand Management and Marketing, Mr Raphael Edem has disclosed that the Governor’s huge investment in entrepreneurship development has transformed the business ecosystem in the State.
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‎Mr Edem, who made the disclosure, Thursday, March 27, when he played host to a team from Naija Brand Chick Trade Fair, noted that in recent years, no state in the South-South region has committed the structure and resources to supporting entrepreneurship like Akwa Ibom, adding that the outcome of the investments is the increasing number of small businesses springing up across the State.
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‎“What the government of Akwa Ibom State through His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, is not just giving people money or other forms assistance to support their businesses. We have done that overtime in Nigeria and after so many years, there has not been any significant impact in the country’s business sector.
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‎“In Akwa Ibom, the Governor has set-up a structure called Ibom-LED that first of all, allows entrepreneurs to willingly indicate interest to benefit from government supports, then they undergo training aimed at exposing them to various skills and ideas on how to run successful and sustainable businesses. The ones who are patient enough to go through and complete this process, have been given good empowerment packages to boost their businesses.
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‎“Recently, the Governor hosted the equipment support empowerment programme where over 2,000 small business owners were given various equipment to support their businesses based on need accessment. There is a whole a lot going in Akwa Ibom in terms of entrepreneurship development.
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‎“The positive response that you have gotten from the business community towards the trade fair is a testament to the fact that we have a very active business ecosystem in the State and this is largely due to the huge investment by the government. Young people are increasingly becoming interested in business because of the enabling environment,” he said.
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‎The SSA, while commending the team for identifying Uyo as a good choice to host the NBCTRADEFAIR, expressed the optimism that business owners in the State will leverage the opportunity to further promote their businesses and brands.
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‎Speaking earlier, the founder of NBCTRADEFAIR, Nelly Agbogu, said that she was very impressed by the development in Akwa Ibom especially in the areas of infrastructure, which according to her, is a big selling point for the State.
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‎While enumerating some of the opportunities for business growth that the trade fair will offer participants, Lady Agbogu disclosed that as the biggest trade fair in Nigeria, the two-day event will expose businesses in Uyo to a wider customer base, incorporate them into its community where they will have access to information and updates on various support programmes that they could benefit from, among others.

“Beyond the fair, we are also looking forward to exploring ways on how best to disseminate vital information to small businesses in Uyo about the various opportunities, support programs, and incentives the government has for MSMEs.

“This was an insightful and productive discussion, where we explored innovative ways to bridge the gap between policymakers and entrepreneurs. We have learned about additional opportunities available for businesses within Akwa Ibom State reinforcing the Governor’s commitment to fostering a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.

“We look forward to leveraging these insights to ensure that business owners not only benefit from the trade fair but also gain access to long-term growth opportunities,“ she said.

Also speaking, the Director of Operations, NBCTRADEFAIR, Mrs Ijeoma Okonkwo, said she was really impressed by the reception and excitement among business owners in Uyo about the trade fair, adding that it was an indication of how much they want to grow and assured that the trade fare will meet their expectations.

On her part, Mrs. Lucie Ekong, the Special Assistant to Akwa Ibom State Governor on Data Warehousing & Artificial Intelligence, disclosed the various efforts by the Governor towards supporting entrepreneurs in the State to leverage the opportunities in the digital economy.

The Naija Brand Chick Trade Fair, Uyo, will be held at the Ibom Tropicana on Saturday, March 29, and Sunday, March 30.
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‎PR UNIT,
‎DBM&M
‎28-03-25