EXCITEMENT IN NSIT ATAI AS GOV ENO UNVEILS YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has described the ARISE Youth Development Centre at Odot, headquarters of Nsit Atai Local Government Area, as a strategic intervention designed to equip young people with practical skills, entrepreneurship opportunities and pathways to self-reliance.
Governor Eno stated this on Wednesday while commissioning the facility, as youths from across the local government turned out in large numbers to celebrate the project.
Represented by the State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Obong Stephen Ntukekpo, the Governor said his administration’s ARISE Agenda was focused on empowering citizens and creating a brighter future for the younger generation.
He emphasized that youth development should go beyond conventional academic education to include practical skills, digital competencies, entrepreneurship and other opportunities that would enable young people to become self-reliant.
Speaking at the event, Obong Ntukekpo commended the Governor for providing young people with opportunities to acquire digital skills, as well as other vocational and entrepreneurial skills.
He said the initiative would contribute to the development of a skilled workforce capable of supporting the State’s aspiration to become a solid industrial hub.
In his welcome remarks, the Chairman of Nsit Atai Local Government Area, Hon. Anthony Nyong, expressed the appreciation of the people of the area to Governor Eno for siting the centre in the council headquarters and for the various development projects executed across the local government.
Nyong recalled that the Governor had recently visited the local government to inaugurate a Model Primary School at Ikot Akpabio, and would in the same vein return on Saturday to commission another road project in Ikot Essien community.
He pledged the continued support of the local government to the administration.
In a project overview, the Commissioner for Youth Development, Dr. Ekerette Ekanem, described the facility as a demonstration of the Governor’s commitment to youth development and human capital investment.
He explained that the centre was conceptualised as a hub where youths could acquire practical skills and develop entrepreneurial capacity for self-reliance.
Dr. Ekanem commended the contractor for delivering the project according to specification and disclosed that the State Government had so far trained more than 4,000 youths in various skills.
In their goodwill messages, a representative of the Nsit Atai youths, Comrade Kingsley Akpan, thanked Governor Eno for investing in human capital development and assured that the youths would maximise the opportunities provided by the centre.
The member representing Uyo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Mark Esset, acknowledged the various development projects executed by the administration in the area and urged the people to appreciate and support the Governor’s development efforts.
A member of the State executive council from the local government, Princess Emem Ibanga who is the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs also thanked the Governor for his interventions in the local government.
She listed the Chairman’s Lodge, road projects, the recently commissioned Model Primary School at Ikot Akpabio, and ARISE Compassionate Homes established across the 10 wards for vulnerable persons among the projects executed by the administration.
Princess Ibanga said the Youth Development Centre had further expanded opportunities for young people in the local government and provided them with a platform to build a productive future.
The member representing Nsit Atai State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Aniefiok Attah, commended the Governor for what he described as judicious utilisation of the State’s resources.
The Chief Executive Officer of Eminence Oil, Obong Emmanuel Okon, also commended the Governor for investing in the youths and acknowledged other development projects undertaken by the State Government in Nsit Atai.
Speaking on behalf of the leaders and elders of the local government, Hon. Lawrence Udosen thanked the Governor for his commitment to project implementation, describing the commissioning as a day of renewed hope for the youths of Nsit Atai.
Representing the traditional institution, the Paramount Ruler of Nsit Atai, Edidiem Prophet Peter Okon Effiong, thanked Governor Eno for spreading people-oriented projects across the area. He urged the youths to make productive use of the centre, protect the facility from vandalism and avoid acts capable of jeopardising their future.
The event was attended by members of the State Executive Council, led by the Dean of Commissioners, Mkpisong Frank Archibong; local government chairmen; aides to the Governor; former Commissioner for Agriculture, Prof. Trenchiard Ibia, royal fathers, elders, women and youths.