The Akwa Ibom State Government has procured various office equipment for the smooth running of Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NCARES) programme in the State.
The event took place on Tuesday 9th February 2021, in the conference room of Ministry of Economic Development and Ibom Deep.
Giving an overview of the NCARES in Akwa Ibom State, the State Focal Person and Chairman of the Steering Committee, Honorable Commissioner Ministry of Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport, Mr. Akan Okon, explained that the programme is design to ensure food security and provide livelihood support to vulnerable families in the society.
According to him, the programme is a World Bank intervention programme, meant to facilitate the recovery of economic activities which has been affected by the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
” there is a lot of areas government believe with intervention, it will help ameliorate the impact of COVID-19, particularly the Small and Medium Scale sectors as well as agriculture”.
Mr. Okon expressed appreciation to the State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel for his passion for his people, adding that Governor Emmanuel explores every available opportunity to better the lot of the people.
In the area of Agriculture, the Economic Commissioner asserted that the state is blessed with fertile soil where almost every crop can grow, noting that the state government has provided farmers with adequate equipment and improved seedlings for farming business.
The Chairman, commended members of the State CARES Steering Committee for their commitments in making sure that Akwa Ibom is among the few states that are eligible to benefit from the programme.
High point of the event was presentation of the equipments which include, laptop computers, desktop computers, printers, office chairs/ tables, generators, photocopier, smart TV sets, among others to the various NCARES implementing platforms.
The implementing platforms in Akwa Ibom State are, State CARES Coordinating Office (Ministry of Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport), Akwa Ibom State Agency for Community and Social Development, FADAMA, State Cash Transfer Unit ( Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare).
Others are, Akwa Ibom Road and Other Infrastructure Maintenance Agency (Ministry of Environment) and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises ( Ministry of Trade and Investment).
Receiving the items on behalf of the various platforms, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Glory Edet, Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Prince Ukpong Akpabio, Chairman AKROIMA, Prince Godwin Ntuk-udeh, Programme Coordinator for FADAMA, Mr. Richard Sam, Head of Unit, State Cash Transfer, Mrs. Christiana Akpan, thanked the Government of Akwa Ibom State and the World Bank for providing them with the necessary working tools that would aid in the smooth delivery of the task ahead.
They pledged to make effective use of the items given them.
