The Akwa Ibom Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (AK-CARES) Programme, has highlighted its notable achievements as the Nigeria CARES (NG-CARES) TV Documentary Team visited the State as part of its nationwide documentation exercise, featuring field tours to select project sites to capture the programme’s impact.
Receiving the delegation at the ministry’s conference room, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning and Chairman of the State CARES Steering Committee (SCSC), Dr. Nsikan Nkan, applauded the national assignment, and conveyed the goodwill of Governor Umo Eno, while commending the Federal CARES Support Unit (FCSU) in ensuring effective implementation of the initiative across the country.
Dr. Nkan noted that the State embraced the NG-CARES Programme because its objectives align with the State’s developmental priorities under the ARISE Agenda. He emphasised that the programme’s direct impact on households and communities underscores the State government’s commitment to inclusive growth and resilience building.
He further acknowledged the support of the Federal Government, the World Bank, and the Heads of the Delivery Platforms (DPs), which collaboration, he said, has been instrumental to the successful rollout of AK-CARES interventions.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Offiong Offor, praised the gains recorded in the agricultural component of AK-CARES. She stated that the support in inputs and productive assets has significantly boosted farmers’ productivity and enhanced livelihoods across the State. Offor also lauded the partnership between the Ministry of Agriculture and FADAMA under NG-CARES for revitalising agricultural activities.
The South-South Team Lead and National Coordinator of FADAMA, Dr. AbdulRahman Balarabe, expressed satisfaction with the State’s implementation level. He noted that after three to four years of programme rollout, it was important to assess its impact on the poor and vulnerable, adding that the documentary would highlight testimonies and measurable results from across Nigeria.
During the visit, the documentary crew held interviews with key stakeholders, including Hon. Emem Udom, Member representing Ukanafun State Constituency, who spoke on the programme’s benefits to local communities. The team also interacted with beneficiaries and inspected project sites to capture real-time evidence of success stories.
The visit formed part of preparations for a national television documentary being produced by the Federal CARES Support Unit (FCSU) as the NG-CARES 1.0 Programme winds down, and planning for NG-CARES 2.0 begins.
