Akwa Ibom Positions Fishing Cooperatives As Gateway To Women’s Grants
State Push to Formalise Women in Fisheries
THE Akwa Ibom State Government has intensified efforts to organise women engaged in fishing and fish processing into registered cooperatives, in a move designed to unlock access to a ₦31 billion cooperative fund spread across the state’s 31 local government areas.
Speaking at a mobilisation and sensitisation programme in Uruan Local Government Area, Deputy Governor Akon Eyakenyi said the initiative would enable women in riverine communities to benefit directly from structured grants and support schemes.
Eyakenyi described Uruan as a strategic fishing hub, noting its location along the Cross River estuary and its strong trade links across the Niger Delta.
Linking Cooperatives to Economic Growth
According to the deputy governor, organising women into cooperatives would enhance hygienic fish processing practices, improve standards, and strengthen the agricultural value chain — from catch and storage to distribution and market access.
“Women who are into fishing can go into healthy processing. Through cooperatives, they can benefit from traders’ and farmers’ grants,” she said.
The initiative aligns with the agricultural ecosystem development agenda of Governor Umo Eno, which seeks to transition small-scale producers — particularly women — from subsistence operations into structured enterprises capable of attracting financing and scaling production.
By using registered cooperatives as channels for intervention, the government aims to ensure transparency and equitable distribution of funds across wards.
Civic Participation and Documentation
Officials at the event also emphasised the importance of civic engagement. Women were urged to obtain valid voter registration and Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), with the Commissioner for Women Affairs stressing the need for proper documentation, including National Identification Number registration, to facilitate seamless access to government programmes.
Other speakers, including local government and state officials, commended the women-focused policies of the administration, describing the cooperative model as a practical pathway to inclusive economic growth.
Strengthening the Fisheries Value Chain
Uruan is widely regarded as one of Akwa Ibom’s major fish-producing corridors, supplying fresh and smoked fish to markets within and beyond the state.
Government officials said formalising informal fish trading networks through cooperatives could significantly deepen women’s financial inclusion while reinforcing agriculture as a key pillar of the state’s economic diversification strategy.
If effectively implemented, the initiative could transform grassroots fishing activities into structured enterprises — unlocking funding, boosting incomes, and strengthening Akwa Ibom’s aquatic economy.
