Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has announced an increase in bursary payment  from the current N50,000 to N200,000 for all students, except those studying Medicine, Law and Engineering who will receive N250,000 yearly.

Governor Eno made this known in Uyo during the 2026 ignite Conference held  at Ibom Hall, Uyo, the  State capital.

He said the new bursary regime would come into effect if he is victorious at the Governorship elections scheduled for February, 2027 and sworn into Office for a second term.

He also advised youths, who would benefit from the N50 million Ibom Ignite grant to deploy it judiciously as seed funds for transformation of their businesses, lives and society.

The governor noted that irrespective of the amount given, a serious entrepreneur must be disciplined enough to always deploy business funds diligently and judiciously to achieve set objectives.

“Take the seed, plant and groom it religiously to accomplish your set business goal to turn-around your enterprise and live for the best,” he said.

The governor noted that his greatest satisfaction in this first tenure of his administration was building over 500 Compassionate Homes for the less privileged across the 31 Local Government Areas of the State.

“For each of the beneficiaries of the Compassionate Homes, N500,000 is equally given as a business grant to help them start off something for their sustenance and improved living,” he said.

He promised to build an additional 1,000 Compassionate Homes accompanied with the usual business grant in all the Wards of the State when elected for a second term.

He specifically mentioned the trainings received by youths at the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Center, Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Centre, Ibom LED, and at the newly-completed youth development centres across the State.

Governor Eno said he is committed to ensuring a better future for the youth, adding that besides sustaining the free and compulsory education for primary and secondary schools, the increase in the bursary provision for those in public tertiary institutions is to enable them handle their tuition fees with less difficulties.

Earlier in his presentation on the theme: “Change Your Thinking, Change Your Future”, Maxwell Ubah, the Guest Speaker and Chief Executive Officer of Strategy House Limited, urged young people to change their thought pattern for economic growth and social relevance, stressing that wealth is not created in external environment, but in the mind.