The Empire Naija

  A bill seeking to amend some sections of the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) law, and a bill to establish the Akwa Ibom State Civil Society Organisations Registry to provide for harmonisation of registrations and related matters have passed first reading at the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. Additionally, two other bills passed the first reading during plenary on Tuesday, September 29th, at the Assembly Complex along Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo. They are: a bill to provide for the elimination of tuberculosis, protect the rights of persons affected by tuberculosis, prohibit tuberculosis-related discrimination, and address related matters; and a bill to regulate tenancy, the recovery of premises by landlords, and the operations of real estate agents in Akwa Ibom State. Three of the bills are sponsored by Rt. Hon. Kufre Abasi Edidem, Deputy Speaker; Hon. Moses Essien (Ibiono Ibom State constituency); and Hon. Uwemedimo Asuquo (Uyo State constituency), respec...

  By Asuquo Edem  Women in Akwa Ibom State have called for the establishment of a dedicated South-South Women Enterprise Fund to provide grants and other financial support to women entrepreneurs, particularly those operating in rural communities. The call was made by the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Hon. Inibehe Silas Etukudo, who was represented by Mrs. Nkechi Udoh, at a stakeholders’ engagement with women’s groups organised by the South-South Development Commission (SSDC) on Tuesday at La Mems Hotel, Uyo. Etukudo said the proposed fund would help bridge the financial gap faced by women entrepreneurs and ensure that development interventions reach women at the grassroots. “Our market women need grants, not just loans at high interest rates,” she said, stressing the need for interventions that would enable women to build sustainable livelihoods and contribute more effectively to the development of their communities. The Commissioner also c...

  Governor Umo Eno has intensified his administration’s youth empowerment drive with the commissioning of a Youth Development Centre in Uruan Local Government Area, designed to provide young people with access to skills acquisition, entrepreneurship and enterprise development opportunities. The centre, commissioned on behalf of the Governor by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the South South Development Commission (SSDC), Princess Usoro Akpabio, is part of the state government’s plan to establish similar facilities across the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State. Speaking at the commissioning, Akpabio described the facility as an investment in the potential of young people, urging beneficiaries to utilise and protect it. She said the centre should serve as a platform where young people could transform ideas into businesses, acquire practical skills and build sustainable careers. “For me, this occasion is particularly special because Uruan is home. To our...

  All Weather Golf (AWG) has honoured Captain William Uwemedimo Iyoho for his outstanding contributions and achievements in the aviation industry. Captain Iyoho was recognised at an event held at Luton Park Hotel, Uyo, which brought together golfers, friends, associates and members of the golfing community to celebrate his accomplishments as an international pilot, entrepreneur and golfer. The citation presented in his honour described him as a distinguished aviator, entrepreneur, golfer and gentleman, highlighting his more than three decades of professional experience and approximately 9,000 hours of flying. Born on June 6, 1972, in Ikeja, Lagos, to Captain Lawrence Uwem Iyoho and Mrs Obiageli Iyoho, Captain Iyoho had his early education in Lagos before attending Command Secondary School, Jos. He later studied Biochemistry at the University of Uyo, graduating in 1991. His career in aviation began in 1994 when he successfully competed for a helicopter training scholarship with Bris...

  By Edet Okpo  Stakeholders and Stalwarts of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oron Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State have disowned one of their own, Mr. Etim Isong, over his aspiration to contest the Akwa Ibom South (Eket) Senatorial seat in the 2027 general elections. The party leaders also said the move was an attempt to scuttle the age-long zoning arrangement in the senatorial district and unanimously declared that 2027 remains the turn of Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency to complete its two terms of eight years in the Senate. Their position was made public on Friday, September 25, 2026, during a press conference held at the Miami Estate Event Centre, Oron by Some Stakeholders and Members of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) Addressing journalists at the Press Conference,, Hon. Okon John Okon, who was flanked by Comrade Esin Bassey, Mr. Victor Edet Paul, Evangelist Uloh Anwanadung and Mr. Victor Bassey Eyo, said the stakeholders had unanimously resolved to up...

  By Asuquo Edem  The Akwa Ibom State Government has unveiled a broad range of agricultural and environmental interventions under Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda, including ₦2 billion in grants to farmers, subsidised mechanisation, 486 kilometres of rural feeder roads and major flood-control and waste-management initiatives. The interventions were disclosed in Uyo by the Commissioners for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Offiong Offor, and Environment, Hon Nsikak Ekong, during the ongoing ministerial media briefing. According to the commissioners, the programmes are targeted at expanding food production, improving rural access, strengthening farmers’ livelihoods and addressing growing environmental challenges across the state. At the centre of the agricultural intervention is an equipment leasing scheme through which farmers can access tractors and other farm implements at a 50 per cent subsidy on land preparation. Offor said the initiative was designed to make mechanised...

  By Aniefiok Christopher  No fewer than 150 women farmers in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area have benefited from the distribution of agricultural inputs under the Transforming Lives Through Nutrition (TLTN) project, implemented by Helen Keller Intl, Vitamin Angels and iDE, funded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The beneficiaries received high-yielding varieties of vitamin A-fortified maize, okra, and groundnut seeds after undergoing training on climate-smart and nutrition-sensitive agricultural practices aimed at improving productivity, nutrition, and household livelihoods. Speaking at the flag-off ceremony held at the Ibiono Ibom Local Government Council Hall, the State Coordinator of Helen Keller Intl, Mrs. Unyime Ekpoudia, explained that the mission of the project is to improve maternal and child health and nutrition through proven interventions and by strengthening health and food systems at scale, with women and children at the center. She noted tha...

  By Moffat Ekoriko Nigeria’s Senate President once famously said that he would have been a comedian and a successful one at that if he had not chosen the path of politics. The comment betrayed the essential Godswill Akpabio: a man who sees the humorous side of life and pokes fun at the foibles of men. To him, life can be a joke or at best too playful to be taken seriously. His childlike disposition is uncommon with politicians. Akpabio is the only politician I know who holds his own phone and will pick the call of even an 18 year old constituent. Much of his character has to do with his background. Akpabio grew up a catholic. He cannot forget his bible lessons where it is said that for any man to enter the kingdom of heaven, he has to be like a child: loving, caring and forgiving. The last trait played out in January when he went to church on New Years Day. After listening to the homily from the priest, he grabbed the microphone to say the message of forgiveness was for him. Ther...

By Asuquo Edem  The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Environment has commended Governor Umo Eno for the ongoing transformation of the Uyo Village Road corridor, particularly the reclamation of more than 150 hectares of land previously ravaged by erosion and occupied by a former dumpsite. The Committee described the intervention as a strategic environmental and urban development project capable of not only permanently addressing the erosion and flooding menace in the area, but also unlocking a vast expanse of land for the future expansion of Uyo metropolis. The Chairman of the Committee and Member representing Okobo State Constituency, Hon. Bassey Bassey, stated this on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, during an oversight inspection of the ongoing Uyo Village Road erosion control, land reclamation and bridge construction project. Bassey said the intervention had changed the outlook of an area that had for years been defined by a deep ravine and erosion, stressing that th...

  The South-South Development Commission (SSDC) has commenced moves to establish a stronger and more structured partnership with universities across the region as part of efforts to harness research, innovation and human capital for sustainable development. The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Ms Usoro Akpabio, stated this on Friday, September 11, 2026, during a strategic engagement between the SSDC and Vice-Chancellors and representatives of federal universities across the South-South region at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Speaking at the forum, held at the Council Chambers of the University of Uyo Main Campus, Akpabio described universities as critical partners in the Commission’s quest to develop practical and sustainable solutions to the challenges confronting the region. She stressed that the vast intellectual resources within the region’s universities must be deliberately connected to the development agenda of the SSDC. According to ...

  The South-South Development Commission (SSDC) has commenced discussions with the Indonesian government and the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) on strategic partnerships aimed at strengthening agriculture, agro-industrial development, technical skills and human capital across Nigeria’s South-South region. The initiatives were disclosed following separate high-level engagements by the SSDC leadership led by its MD, Ms Usoro Akpabio with the Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Bambang Suharto, and the Executive Secretary of PTDF, Prof. Shu’aibu Shehu Aliyu. During the engagement with the Indonesian envoy, discussions centred on opportunities to leverage Indonesia’s experience in oil-palm production and agro-industrial development to transform the agricultural economy of the South-South. Areas identified for potential cooperation included the provision of high-yield oil-palm seedlings, farmer training, modern agricultural techniques, processing and development of the ...