Governor Eno tasks Akwa Ibom youths on entrepreneurship at Ignite Conference
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has urged youths in the state to take advantage of opportunities provided by his administration to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.
Speaking at the opening of the 2025 Ibom Ignite Conference, themed “Ignite to Accelerate”, held at the Ibom-LED Centre, Uyo, the governor said the initiative, which he started in 2017 as a church vision, was designed to inspire young people towards self-development.
Recounting his entrepreneurial journey, Eno noted that he began the Royalty Group in 1995 with only five rooms, describing himself as a “true Akwa Ibom brand.” He urged youths to pursue their dreams with passion, avoid distractions, and ignore naysayers.
“If you believe in a dream, live for it and avoid distractions. Don’t listen to people who say you can’t make it. The same people who criticize you today will applaud you when you succeed,” he said.
Governor Eno also emphasized the importance of good followership in achieving societal progress, noting that while leadership is vital, poor followership can hinder development. He urged participants not to waste the opportunities provided by the conference.
In his keynote address, CEO of Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services, Obafemi Banigbe, said Akwa Ibom has the potential to become Nigeria’s hub for technology, sports, agriculture, and economic growth, provided there is vision, human capital investment, and decisive action.
Also speaking, the General Secretary of Assemblies of God Nigeria, Rev. Dr. Godwin Akpan Amaowoh, advised youths to start small, grow steadily, and never forget those who supported them, while warning against wasting time, opportunities, and resources.
The two-day conference features a lineup of speakers including Deputy Country Director of Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, Obinaju Uchenna; Senior Special Assistant on Digital/New Media to the Presidency, O’tega Ogra; Rector of Dakadda Skills Acquisition Center, Prof. Enoidem Usoro; CEO of Corporate Shepherd Ltd, Idorenyen Enang; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Akparawa James Edet; and Guinness World Records holder, broadcaster and writer, George Iniabasi Essien, among others.
