UYO
A new grassroots empowerment programme has been launched by the Patience Umo Eno Golden Initiative For All, (GIFA).
It is called,”GIFA At Your Doorstep”, aimed at supporting aspiring entrepreneurs and helping existing small-scale business owners to expand their ventures through the provision of business tools, equipment and financial support.
The initiative, which takes empowerment items directly to beneficiaries at their homes or business locations, is designed to remove barriers to economic growth while promoting self-reliance among residents of Akwa Ibom .
Beneficiaries of the programme were selected from hundreds of entries submitted in response to a Facebook post by GIFA inviting interested applicants to present proposals detailing the support they needed either to start or scale up their businesses.
Following a transparent selection process, 50 beneficiaries have been chosen.
The first phase of the distribution exercise commenced on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, with the GIFA team, led by Pastor Anne Abraham, visiting beneficiaries across different locations in the state.
In Itu Local Government Area, Promise Uwem received a brand-new sewing machine to support her tailoring business. Expressing profound appreciation to the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, and the GIFA team, saying although she possessed tailoring skills, she had been unable to practice because she lacked a sewing machine.
An emotional Uwem described the gift as life-changing, noting that it would enable her to earn a living and provide for herself.
Also in Itu, Enobong Michael, a fresh graduate of Business Administration from the Heritage Polytechnic, Eket, was presented with 2,000 plastic bottles to kick-start her packaging supply business.
In her application, Enobong had explained that producers of tiger nut drink, zobo and other locally made beverages often travelled long distances to purchase plastic bottles for packaging, creating a business opportunity she hoped to fill if supported.
Overwhelmed with emotion, she revealed that she had expected to receive only about 100 bottles and was brought to tears when she was presented with 2,000.
“I have never received a gift of this magnitude before,” she said, expressing heartfelt gratitude to Lady Obareki and GIFA for believing in her dream.
The team later proceeded to Uyo, where Ukeme Isaiah received a cash grant of ₦50,000 to strengthen her existing business.
She thanked GIFA for the timely intervention, describing it as a major boost to her enterprise.
In another act of generosity, the team made an unscheduled stop at Itam Market, where they randomly selected Patience Enobong, a mobile food vendor, and presented her with ₦50,000 to support her business.
Visibly excited, she appreciated the the office for the unexpected assistance.
Another beneficiary, Esther Jeremiah, who operates a cake and confectionery business along Nepa line, Uyo had identified the lack of an oven as the major challenge limiting the growth of her enterprise.
In response, GIFA presented her with a gas cooker fitted with an oven, providing the equipment needed to expand her production capacity.
The exercise continues as the GIFA team moves around to the addresses provided, delivering essential empowerment items, supporting small businesses.