Umo Eno, Governor of Akwa Ibom
Akwa Ibom raises 100m fund for physically challenged students. Pst Umo Eno, Governor of Akwa Ibom State, has established a N100 million Educational Intervention Fund for physically challenged Akwa Ibom students studying in public institutions and other disabled students in the state.
The Governor made the announcement on Monday during a courtesy visit to Government House, Uyo, by the University of Uyo branch of the National Association of Students with Disabilities, led by its President, Emmanuel Wisdom.
Gov. Eno stated that he was driven by the need to provide the student body a sense of belonging in order to highlight his administration’s political inclusion campaign.
He mandated that the disbursement of the fund be overseen by the Office of the Accountant General, the Secretary to the State Government, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare.
The governor, who also directed that school fees be paid directly to the beneficiaries’ schools and allowances be given to students after due profiling, warned against bureaucratic bottlenecks in the fund’s disbursement, adding that the gesture is intended to encourage them and make their lives easier.
“We will immediately deposit one hundred million naira into that fund to support all disabled or physically challenged students in public tertiary institutions for disabled Akwa Ibom students and those residing in this area,” he stated.
“That money is reserved for them.” The Ministry of Women Affairs and the Ministry of Education will verify that the beneficiaries are enrolled in school, pay their school fees directly to their institutions, and then provide them with a small allowance to keep them enrolled until they graduate.
“It’s only one hundred million naira.” We may supplement it from time to time, but for the time being, we will leave it alone. The Ministry of Women Affairs will guarantee that they are adequately profiled so that they can profit from it.
“All you need is permission to open a joint account, and the money will be kept there as your profile and finish the SSG will authorize payment.”
“I don’t want the bureaucratic bottleneck of them applying and there being no money, so we put the money there for you to manage and give us the report, but please let us verify and encourage them.”
“The objective is to encourage them and make their lives easier. Let us at least cover their tuition if they wish to go to school because they are doing extremely well, even better than some of us who claim we are not challenged.
“All you need is permission to open a joint account, and the money will be kept there as your profile and finish the SSG will authorize payment.”
“I don’t want the bureaucratic bottleneck of them applying and there being no money, so we put the money there for you to manage and give us the report, but please let us verify and encourage them.”
“The goal is to encourage them and make their lives easier.” Let us at least fund their tuition if they want to go to school because they are doing exceptionally well, even better than some of us who complain we are not challenged.
“As I stated in one of those meetings, we are all challenged in some way.” “I just want to let you know that you are not alone; we will work with you and support you,” he said.
The Governor also announced a monetary grant to one of the impaired students, Mr. Udeme Emmanuel, as well as a monthly stipend to help with his participation in the Law School, and assured him of automatic employment in the Ministry of Justice upon completion of the course.
“I believe that if the physically challenged among us want to go to school, we must support them,” he said. “For Mr Udeme Emmanuel, who is leaving for law school, we will support him and pay a monthly allowance for his upkeep, as well as give him automatic employment in the Ministry of Justice once he finishes law school.”
Emmanuel Wisdom, one of the pupils, was named Personal Assistant on Student Matters, while Ubong Imoh Ikpe was named Personal Assistant on pupils with Disabilities.
Speaking to journalists, the appointees, Mr. Emmanuel Wisdom and Mr. Ubong Ikpe, expressed gratitude to the Governor for his political inclusion agenda, noting that the physically challenged have been positively touched and promising to carry out their duties diligently and deliver on their mandates.