Support Groups Helmsman Discloses Implementation Stage in the Support Group Directorate

Support Groups Helmsman Discloses Implementation Stage in the Support Group Directorate

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Support Groups, Pastor Samuel Edet, Ph.D, has disclosed during the Arise Update radio programme on Comfort 95.1 FM that they are in their implementation stage.

The one-hour radio programme from the Ministry of Information focused on matters that recently arose in the Support Group Directorate.

Pastor Edet revealed that there is transparency in the Support Group Directorate as nothing is hidden, noting that Gov. Umo Eno had promised to eliminate godfatherism and reach out to the downtrodden.

He further hinted that people didn’t understand the mode of implementation since the Support Group Directorate has reached its implementation stage.

“If it comes outside Gov. Umo Eno’s promise during the election, I would say it’s strange because the governor has said he would eliminate godfatherism when he becomes the Governor.”

He recalled that on September 1, 2025, when the second edition of Glory Summit was held, all the Group Heads turned up for the summit.

The SSA on Support Groups maintained that support groups had existed before now, as supporters were essential only during elections, but it was Gov. Umo Eno that brought a paradigm shift by calling for the partnership with the support group heads, which involves profiling of its members.

While emphasizing the Governor’s desire for members of support Groups to benefit equally as well as their group heads, Pastor Edet revealed that the Governor is in the implementation stage of his promise, which can be seen in the group portal.

“The group members can’t meet with the Governor daily, but since they are profiled, he can reach out to them directly and not through the group heads because the members are equally important since they voted for him.” He said.

The Support Group helmsman expressed displeasure that some group members have not visited the dashboard, which has been updated to include beneficiaries’ details, and the list of people who have benefited from each organisation, including their pictures.

“The Governor is sincere, and he is reaching out to the downliners as promised.”

He noted that most group heads spreading malicious content on the internet were not profiled by the Support Group Directorate, noting that information provided by group members of each group was profiled by their respective group heads.

“Information is the key. We explained all these to them during the Glory Summit, and they were happy.” He noted.

While reflecting on the progress of Gov. Umo Eno in the last two years, Pastor Edet announced that the Support Groups are increasing daily with 2,881 Group Heads and about 200,000 Group Members.

He hinted that the Support Groups are involved in the training of people in the rural communities, as the Support Group Directorate doesn’t run any group for individual group heads, but rather the Support Group Directorate works with them and reports to the Governor.

“We don’t run groups for Group Heads, but when profiling is done, it helps us to know the sincerity and genuineness of the Group Head.” He said.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Support Groups emphasized that the grants provided by the government for the group members have brought about a multiple multiplier effect in the family of the individual as well as the community.

He frowned upon group members who cross-carpeted from one support group to another, noting that the profiling process at the Support Group Directorate is transparent, which does not allow a member to belong to two different groups.

The SSA on Support Groups hinted that the Support Group Directorate does not create Support Groups for individuals; rather, Support Groups are created by individuals and open to both indigenes and non-indigenes who reside within the State.