By Solomon OKPO
More than 5,000 constituents of Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District have registered for the forthcoming phase of Senator Ekong Sampson’s Empowerment Programme.
The registration, which commenced over a month ago, officially closed on August 20, 2025, after drawing massive participation across the district in three categories: students, business owners, and trainees.
According to the Empowerment Committee, beneficiaries will be chosen through a detailed needs assessment exercise to ensure transparency and fairness. The approach, the committee emphasized, is aimed at identifying genuine cases and delivering impactful support to individuals and communities.
Senator Sampson, who chairs the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, has repeatedly reaffirmed his resolve to uplift the people of Akwa Ibom South through empowerment-driven socio-economic and human capital development.
It would be recalled that within his first six months in office, precisely on January 24, 2024, the Senator launched his maiden empowerment briefing where over 1,000 constituents benefitted from cars, equipment, business grants, scholarships, medical assistance, and cash support.
The Ekong Sampson Empowerment Programme (ESEP), which dates back to 2004, has been credited with life-changing interventions in business support, education, and employment for nearly two decades. Building on that legacy, the forthcoming Phase II of his empowerment series is expected to feature an expanded range of opportunities and a larger pool of beneficiaries.
Chairman of the Empowerment Committee, Hon. Ini Ikott, a former state lawmaker, alongside Secretary Engr. Benedict Edenseting, expressed appreciation to constituents for their interest. They assured that the process will remain credible and transparent, adding that further details of the empowerment will be communicated soon.
