Vice President Kashim Shettima has officially inaugurated a major economic empowerment scheme, launching a N1 billion family-based business grant initiative in Akwa Ibom State. The launch event took place on Saturday, 6 December 2025, in the Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency.
A Model for Grassroots Economic Empowerment
In his address, Vice President Shettima described the programme as a practical template for transforming democratic pledges into tangible economic uplift for ordinary citizens. He stated that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is firmly dedicated to interventions that directly improve household welfare and stimulate inclusive growth in communities across Nigeria.
"There is greater honour in empowering a man to create than in offering him a fleeting gift," Shettima remarked. "True empowerment endures because it teaches the mind to search for its own doors, its own pathways, and its own opportunities."
The initiative, conceived by the area's representative, Honourable Unyime Idem, is designed to provide seed capital directly to families. This funding is intended to help them either start new or expand existing small-scale enterprises.
Alignment with Federal and State Agendas
The Vice President emphasised that the grant programme is in perfect sync with the core pillars of President Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises job creation, MSME support, poverty reduction, and broader social protection.
"This gathering aligns with the principle that democracy works when the dividends promised by us reach families at the grassroots, uplift communities, and expand opportunities for all," Shettima said. He added that democracy finds its true meaning not in speeches but in interventions that touch lives.
Shettima also praised the collaborative synergy between the federal government and the Akwa Ibom State government under Governor Umo Eno. He specifically acknowledged the state's ARISE Agenda, which focuses on agriculture, rural development, SME growth, and social inclusion.
"This is what governance should look like: a seamless convergence of federal and state agendas at the exact point where citizens feel the impact," the Vice President noted.
Expected Impact and Beneficiaries
Shettima outlined the expected outcomes of the family-centred approach, which include:
- Strengthening local enterprises and boosting household incomes.
- Expanding the local economy and empowering women and youth.
- Reducing dependency while promoting productivity and self-reliance.
"When a family is empowered, a community is empowered; when a community is empowered, a nation is strengthened," he concluded.
According to the initiator, Hon. Unyime Idem, a transparent process ensured that 3,000 families are the direct beneficiaries of the first phase of the grant. Shettima urged these beneficiaries to use the seed capital wisely and assured others that more rounds of disbursement would follow.
The Vice President further commended Idem, positioning the Ukanafun/Oruk Anam initiative as a national model for other public office holders to emulate, stating it demonstrates the nobility of politics when it delivers hope and dignity.
Earlier, the Akwa Ibom Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, thanked Shettima for his consistent support to the state and urged beneficiaries to invest the funds responsibly for sustainable growth.
