In furtherance of his commitment to improving the living standards and livelihoods of his constituents, Senator Eteng Jonah Williams, representing Cross River Central Senatorial District, has empowered more than 160 market women across the district as part of efforts to strengthen small businesses and promote economic self reliance.
The empowerment programme, organised by the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, in collaboration with Aqil Transnational Ltd., concluded on Saturday, October 3, 2026, following a two day training programme facilitated by the Senator.
The initiative was designed to equip women engaged in small scale businesses with modern knowledge, practical skills and improved approaches to managing and expanding their enterprises.
The first phase of the programme was held at Hotel 45 Hall in Ikom Local Government Area, while the second phase took place at Ugep in Yakurr Local Government Area.
As part of the intervention, the organisers announced financial support of N100,000 for each of the more than 160 participating market women to enable them strengthen their businesses and improve their livelihoods.
Certificates of participation were also presented to the beneficiaries at the end of the training.
Speaking on behalf of Senator Eteng Williams, his Liaison Officer, Mr Ikoi Uket, popularly known as Ben Bruce, said the Senator remained committed to improving the socioeconomic wellbeing of his constituents through legislation, human capital development and empowerment programmes.
According to him, Senator Eteng had, over the past three years, consistently worked to deliver dividends of democracy beyond his primary legislative responsibilities.
“Over the last three years, Senator Eteng Williams has dutifully delivered the dividends of democracy in several areas and on multiple fronts, not just in the primary mandate of law making, but also in terms of life changing empowerment and endowment,” he said.
Uket said the Senator considered capacity building and support for small businesses important tools for reducing poverty and unemployment across the senatorial district.
He also urged the beneficiaries and other constituents to support the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the initiative aligned with efforts to build a stronger and more productive economy.
“I wish to remind us again that President Tinubu’s administration is doing a lot to build a resilient economy that will provide better and sustainable opportunities for all Nigerians. Reforms can be painful and difficult, but with patience, persistence and hard work, the gains will definitely come in bounties,” he said.
The latest intervention is part of Senator Eteng’s continuing efforts to promote women empowerment and support small scale businesses across Cross River Central.
In 2024, the Senator implemented a poultry empowerment scheme for women interested in starting or expanding poultry businesses. Beneficiaries received practical training, start up birds, feeds and financial assistance to establish their enterprises.
The Senator has consistently maintained that sustainable development goes beyond physical infrastructure, stressing the need to invest in people, strengthen livelihoods and create opportunities for constituents to become economically self reliant.
Some beneficiaries who spoke with journalists at the training venue expressed appreciation to the Senator for the initiative, describing it as timely and impactful.
They urged other elected representatives to emulate the initiative by investing more in human capital development and supporting small businesses in their constituencies.
The programme further underscores Senator Eteng Williams’ stated commitment to ensuring that his representation translates into tangible improvements in the livelihoods and economic wellbeing of the people of Cross River Central.