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BRIEF ON AKWA IBOM STATE
LIFE ENHANCEMENT AGENCY INTRODUCTION
The Akwa Ibom State Life Enhancement Agency came
into existence in April 2000 following approval of a Memo by the
Honourable Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development to
Executive Council in December, 1999 on its establishment. It
existed as a programme till November 2001 when the State House
of Assembly passed the Bill for the establishment of the Agency,
which was signed into Law by His Executive Governor on 10th
December, 2001.
Initially, the programme was supervised by an
Interministerial Committee on Poverty Alleviation. Upon becoming
an Agency, the First Board of Trustees was inaugurated on 4th
September, 2002 to give policy direction as stipulated by the
Law to the Agency. On 7th October, 2003 the Second
and present Board Trustees was inaugurated. It is a 13 – Member
Board with His Excellency as the Chairman.
VISION: The Agency
has a vision of eradicating poverty, ultimate amongst indigenes
of the State.
MISSION: The mission
is to enhance the living standard of the people through
sustainable poverty reduction policies, strategies and
programmes.
KEY OBJECTIVE: To
formulate and implement policies, strategies and programmes for
reducing and eventually eradicating poverty the enhancing the
living standard of Akwa Ibom people.
FUNCTIONS: Its
functions include:
(i) advising
the State Government on ways and means of alleviating poverty
among the people.
(ii)
Identifying and training skilled,
unskilled and unemployed persons to
reduce unemployment and improve income generation.
(iii) Boosting
food production through distribution of agricultural inputs to
farmers, co-operative societies and individuals.
(iv) Providing
equipment and material support to viable small scale
enterprises, cooperative societies/groups and individuals in
Agriculture,
Industry and Commerce.
(v) Organizing
seminars and workshops for beneficiaries on managing their
businesses.
(vi) Building
and equipping skill acquisition centers and also supporting
existing functional skill acquisition and literacy centers
(vii) Sourcing
for financial assistance and contribution from Federal, State
and Local Governments as well as from the organized private
sector, for poverty reduction activities.
(viii) Streamlining
and rationalizing poverty reduction programmes and schemes in
order to revamp the State’s Economy and enhance the life of the
people.
(ix) Sensitizing,
advocating and empowering the people to increase productivity
and thereby promoting private sector growth.
(x) Researching,
documenting and publishing where necessary information on the
poverty programmes of the State.
(xi) Running
workshops/seminars/training for beneficiaries of Life
Enhancement Programme.
(xii)
Any other function as may be
identified to reduce poverty in the State.
ACTIVITIES/ACHIEVEMENTS:
(i) Boosting
food production through provision of agricultural inputs
farmers, cooperative societies and sundry persons in the State.
(ii) Producing
the poverty profile of Akwa Ibom State, Local Government by
Local Government Area.
(iii) Providing
equipment support at 50% subsidy to skilled but unestablished
persons as well as fishing equipment to fishing groups in the
riverine areas.
(iv) Identifying,
training and empowering graduate of Skill Development Training.
(v) Providing
relief package to disaster affected persons at Ikot Offiong,
Kaduna Riot Victims and Libyan Evacuees.
(vi) Providing
empowerment to small and medium scale Entrepreneur (SME).
(vii) Exposing
beneficiaries to Trade Fairs with a view to providing them with
opportunities to showcase and advertise their products.
(viii) Building
and equipping a Skill Development Centre at Nsit Ubium.
(ix)
Monitoring and evaluating projects
and programmes of the Agency.
FUTURE PLANS:
The Akwa Ibom State Life Enhancement Agency has
the plan of achieving the following
(i) Opening
of the Skill Development Centre at Nsit Ubium for business.
(ii) Provision
of equipment support to graduates of Skill Development Training.
(iii) Building
of Skill Development Centres at Eket, Ikot Ekpene and Uyo
Senatorial Districts.
(iv) Sourcing
for Funds from the Federal Government, Donor Agencies,
Multi-National Organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations, in
and outside the State to achieve its objectives.
(v) Providing
micro-start to self help groups.
(vi) Co-ordination
of Skill Development Centres in the State.
(vii) Opening
of registration centers for the unskilled/unemployed in the
state.
(viii)
Creating greater awareness on the
activities of the Agency.
(ix)
Investing in capital markets.
(x) Co-ordination
of Poverty Alleviation activities in the State.
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