Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has proposed increasing the annual bursary for students in public tertiary institutions from ₦50,000 to ₦200,000, while students studying Medicine, Law and Engineering would receive ₦250,000.
Eno announced the proposal during a fireside chat at the Ibom Ignite 2026 Conference in Uyo, saying the increase would take effect if he wins the February 2027 governorship election and begins a second term.
The governor said the proposed adjustment was intended to ease students’ financial burden, while reaffirming his administration’s commitment to free and compulsory education at the primary and secondary school levels.
Eno also urged beneficiaries of the state’s ₦50 million Ibom Ignite business grant to invest the funds wisely, describing the grant as seed capital for sustainable business growth.
On social welfare, he disclosed that more than 500 Compassionate Homes had been built for vulnerable residents across the state’s 31 local government areas, with each beneficiary receiving a ₦500,000 business grant.
He added that, if re-elected, his administration would build another 1,000 Compassionate Homes and provide additional business grants across the state’s wards.
At the conference, speakers also encouraged young people to embrace innovative thinking, entrepreneurship and skills development as pathways to economic growth and self-reliance.
