In showing his profound appreciation to the youths of Akwa Ibom State, for maintaining peace in the state and opting out of the ongoing national protest, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, this morning, at a breakfast meeting with youths drawn from the thirty-one local government areas, representatives of the Arewa, Yoruba, Igbo, and Niger Delta communities, the students, labour leaders, market, and other segments, announced plans to hold an engagement forum in the next few weeks to specifically thank them and there unveil what is expected to be a regular welfare package for the youths across party lines.
The Governor, who was visibly pleased and elated by the faith and trust the youths have shown in his leadership of the state, announced plans to engage 200 youths from each of the local government areas, 50 from each of the four non-indigene groups, and others where he will engage them further on what efforts the government is making to improve their living conditions and seek their continuous cooperation and support for his administration.
“I am indeed very pleased and thankful to the Akwa Ibom youths. What you have done is to energize us more. The responsibility you have placed on our shoulders is huge and we will rise to it, because that’s what you elected us to do.
“If there is leadership, there must be followership and by what you have done, you have exhibited followership and we are deeply grateful.”
A committee to be led by Team Leads across the 31 local government areas, who will each select 200 youths in their respective local government areas for the planned engagement and welfare package, was announced by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah. Over six thousand youths are expected to benefit from this package.
“I expect the Team Leads to lead a very transparent process by collecting their bank details, NINs, etc. I also expect them to come up with a database of unemployed Akwa Ibom youths, so we may engage investors and others who desire to do business with our state and to inform them of the availability of trained manpower across professions and other ranks of artisans.
“We want to touch the lives of our youths, the great Akwa Ibom youths who have remained dedicated and supportive of our determined and avowed efforts to continuously work to improve their welfare. This process is to be carried out across party lines. The youths who listened to our plea not to join the protest are not just members of a particular political party but Akwa Ibom youths, and we appreciate them.”
The committee to arrange this engagement and work out the modalities is led by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, and the Team Leads comprise some members of the State Executive Council, the Senior Special Assistant for Youth Matters and Grassroots Mobilization, some Transition Committee Chairmen, labour, students, non-indigenes groups, traders, among others.
The entirety of the youth groups, who were led to the meeting by the Honourable Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Sir Monday Ebong Uko, heaped praises on the Governor for being a man of peace who, rather than “talking at us, is instead talking to us, engaging us, and assuring us that the government is working hard to make tomorrow better than today,” was the recurring theme of the majority of the speakers.
Led by the SSA on Youth Mobilization and Grassroots Mobilization respectively, Comrades Iniobong Akpan and Aniefiok Iwaudofia, the youths pledged their continuous support to the Governor.
The breakfast meeting was attended by critical stakeholders in the state: the Deputy Governor, Distinguished Senator Akon Eyakenyi, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, Chairman of the PDP, Akwa Ibom State, Elder Aniekan Akpan, Director General of the Campaign Organization, Chief Assam Assam, SAN, International President of the Maintain Peace Movement, Barrister Emmanuel Enoidem, SAN, Political Leader of Uyo Senatorial District, Distinguished Senator Effiong Bob, Political Adviser to the Governor, Dr. Godwin Ntukudeh, the State Commissioner of Police and other Service Commanders in the State, members of the State Executive Council, Transition Chairmen of local government councils, members of the State House of Assembly, Engineer Uwem Okoko of Hensek Integrated Services, and other critical stakeholders.
Ekerete Udoh
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
August 5, 2024
