Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, has approved the release of N450 million as counterpart funding for the ‘Nigeria for Women Project’, a World Bank project targeted at empowering women in the state.
Eno announced this when he hosted a World Bank delegation led by the Country Director for Nigeria, Shudham Chaudhury, at the Government House in Uyo, on Thursday.
While reaffirming his administration’s readiness to partner in priority areas of agriculture and rural development, the governor said that the organisation’s vision was in line with his administration’s ‘ARISE Agenda’.
The governor assured that the state would make efforts to close gaps in the existing projects and explore more areas of partnership with the World Bank to benefit Akwa Ibom people.
“On the N450 million that was supposed to be contributed, I know I have given the approval and I can tell you that in the next one week, we will disburse it”, he said
Earlier, the World Bank Country Director, Chaudhury, said his visit was aimed at sharing knowledge with the state as well as giving the overview of World Bank’s effort and support to Nigeria in furthering the development of the nation and subnationals.
He expressed the World Bank’s commitment towards solving development challenges which, according to him, will lift Nigerians out of poverty.
He commended the governor over the rich content of the ARISE Agenda, describing it as attractive and result-oriented.