On September 27, 2026, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State inaugurated a youth development centre in Uruan Local Government Area. The centre aims to provide young people with practical skills, promote entrepreneurship, and create opportunities for self-reliance. Representing the governor at the commissioning ceremony was Princess Usoro Akpabio, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the South-South Development Commission.
The governor described the centre as a significant investment in the skills, talents, and future of young people in Akwa Ibom State. He emphasized that the centre was more than just a building, but a hub where young people could acquire valuable skills and develop themselves. Eno encouraged the youths to use the centre, protect it, and make it productive, adding that it was part of his administration's plan to establish similar facilities across the 31 local government areas of the state.
The Chairman of Uruan Local Government Area, Surv. Iniobong Ekpenyong, commended the governor for translating the ARISE Agenda into tangible development across sectors. Ekpenyong noted that the centre was a testament to the governor's commitment to providing meaningful opportunities for youths in rural communities. He expressed confidence that the youths would make judicious and maximum use of the facility, citing their hardworking and industrious nature.
Senator Aniekan Bassey, representing Uyo Senatorial District, acknowledged the governor's interventions in Uruan, citing the large turnout at the commissioning ceremony as evidence of the people's appreciation. Bassey mentioned that the joyous crowd was not just about the Youth Development Centre but also about other projects and initiatives executed by the governor in Uruan, including the eight Compassionate Homes and training programs through DASAC and Ibom LED.
Hon. Dr Itoro Etim, member representing Uruan State Constituency, and Akparawa Godwin Ntukudeh, Political Adviser to the Governor, also spoke at the event, describing the initiative as a demonstration of the governor's commitment to providing opportunities for youths in rural communities. They noted that the centre would give young people the tools to become entrepreneurs and employers of labour, preparing them to compete globally.
Dr Ekerette Ekanem, Commissioner for Youth Development, praised Governor Eno as a game changer, noting that the centres would provide young people with the necessary skills to become entrepreneurs and employers of labour. The commissioning of the centre is part of activities marking the 39th anniversary of Akwa Ibom State, with the state government targeting youth skills development and enterprise creation across all 31 local government areas.
The youth development centre in Uruan is one of several initiatives aimed at empowering young people in Akwa Ibom State. The governor's administration has prioritized youth development, with a focus on providing opportunities for skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, and self-reliance. The centre is expected to serve as a model for similar facilities across the state, contributing to the overall development of young people in Akwa Ibom.
Key points
- Governor Umo Eno commissions youth development centre in Uruan Local Government Area to equip young people with practical skills and promote entrepreneurship.
- The centre is part of the governor's plan to establish similar facilities across the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State.
- The initiative aims to provide young people with the tools to become entrepreneurs and employers of labour, preparing them to compete globally.
