Ukanafun, Akwa Ibom – Hon. Unyime Idem, Member of the House of Representatives, has officially launched a training programme for 1,000 beneficiaries of the ARISE N1B Grant, part of the Renewed Hope/ARISE Agenda One Billion Naira (₦1B) Family-Based Business Initiative. The initiative aims to empower grassroots entrepreneurs and stimulate economic growth in Ukanafun Local Government Area.
The training, sponsored by Hon. Idem and held at the Unyime Idem Empowerment Centre, 3 Barracks Road, provided participants with practical skills in palm oil production, poultry, fishery, piggery, and other small-scale businesses. Beneficiaries also attended sessions on 21st-century agriculture, entrepreneurship, business mindset, and financial record management, essential tools for building sustainable businesses.
Addressing the participants, Hon. Idem drew inspiration from the biblical parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14–30), urging them to invest their ARISE N1B Grant wisely. He emphasized that poverty is often the result of poor utilization of opportunities, not background, and encouraged beneficiaries to multiply their grants for long-term success.
“I will be satisfied if at least 40 percent of you use the ARISE N1B Grant effectively, emerge millionaires, and elevate the profile of our federal constituency,” Hon. Idem said. Sharing his personal journey, he recounted starting business at age 14 with ₦45,000, building his parents’ first mud-and-thatch house, and eventually growing his ventures to billions of naira, earning recognition as Nigeria’s best telecoms partner for five consecutive years.
To motivate successful entrepreneurs further, Hon. Idem promised additional empowerment packages for beneficiaries whose businesses multiply, emphasizing that the ARISE N1B Grant is to be invested for growth rather than shared.
At the conclusion of the training, beneficiaries received their cheques and began cashing them, marking the start of their journey as empowered entrepreneurs under the ARISE N1B Grant initiative.
Hon. Unyime Idem writes on his facebook:
The programme highlights Hon. Unyime Idem’s commitment to youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, and sustainable economic development, providing both the skills and capital necessary for thriving businesses in Akwa Ibom State.
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