AK-CARES SET TO DISBURSE PHASE 2 WORLD BANK TO NMSEs
Akwa Ibom State Government in conjunction with the Bank of Industry has concluded the enumeration / verification exercise for second phase beneficiaries of the World Bank assisted COVID – 19 Action Recovery Stimulus, AK-CARES operational grants across the three senatorial districts of of the state.
The exercise which took place simultaneously at Uyo, Eket and Ikot Ekpene Senatorial district centers respectively, ended on Tuesday 7, 2024, with an impressive participation by all the stakeholders.
The exercise sought to ascertain the authenticity of businesses that had applied for the AK-CARES operational grants, which is aimed at pulling back ailing businesses, as a way of stimulating the growth and prosperity of Nano, Micro and Small Enterprises {NMSEs} in a post Covid-19 economy.
In his remarks, the Programme Manager of AK-CARES, Result Area 3.2, which is coordinated by the Ministry of Trade and Investment, Mr. Michael Essien-Ibanga congratulated the potential beneficiaries for attaining the enumeration / verification stage of the programme and wished them well in their various lines of business.
It should be emphasized that eligible candidates for the capturing were businesses that had met the criteria and deadline set by the Bank of Industry to merit the onward cash transfer to revive their ailing businesses, as jointly agreed by the Akwa Ibom State Government, the Federal Government and the World Bank.
In their separate reactions at the Uyo centre, Miss Emem Ime – a fashion designer; Mr. Aniekan Edem Sam of Anisa Enterprises; Mr. Ubong Okon Jacob – a dealer on wines and beverages and Mr. David Okpo – an aluminum fabricator: all narrated their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, describing AK-CARES as a laudable intervention programme to revitalize their businesses.
At the Ikot Ekpene Centre, the General Manager of Cyril Building Enterprises, Nto Ndang in Obot Akara Local Government Area, Mr. Cyril Udoh; the Managing Director of Otobong Multiple Ventures, Ikot Enwang in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, Mr. Otobong Sunday Umoekam; Miss Comfort Udo of Commy Food Stuffs and Mrs. Unyime Ibanga – Director of U & B Farms, Oruk Anam Local Government Area: appreciated the State Government, the Ministry of Trade and Investment as well as the Bank of Industry for ensuring transparency through the entire process and promised to make very good use of the grants.
At Eket center, the General Manager of Peculiar Whole Foods, Esit Eket – Miss Monica John Mark and the Manager of Seconds Ventures, Eket – Mr. Secondus Mkpidut described the programme as the best thing that has happened to business owners across the state, as it would give them the opportunity to expand their business frontiers and further contribute to job creation.
The beneficiaries were unanimous in applauding Governor Umo Eno for giving prompt approval for the commencement of the second phase of the programme and solicited the programme’s sustainability for best results.
The exercise was strict and closely monitored by personnel of the Bank of Industry, AK-CARES Implementation team, the Ministry of Trade and Investment and the State CARES Coordinating Unit, headed by Mrs. Enobong Okponkpong.
