By Emmanuel Uffot
In line with his strive to achieve his completion agenda goal, the state government has inaugurated seven newly completed projects in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
The projects which were executed by Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration through inter-ministerial Direct Labour Scheme included, a lecture Auditorium and Demonstration Hall at the School of Nursing, Ikot Ekpene, Renovated Office Complex and Perimeter Fence/Gate house at Land Allocation Advisory Committee, Ikot Ekpene, renovated 4 classroom Block at Government Primary School, Ikot Ekpene, renovated 3 classroom Block at Primary School, Ikot Atasung and Perimetre Fence/Gatehouse at Urban Primary School. Ikot Ekpene.
While commissioning the projects, the governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Labour and Manpower Planning, Elder Aniefiok Nkom lauded the contributions of the School of Nursing to the Health sector in particular and the society in general and reiterated the resolve of government to upgrade some essential facilities in the school like the Library and Hostel accommodation.
“Let me assure you that His Excellency has approved that the inter-ministerial direct labour committee should put the library in a better state than what it used to be”. He called on the students to reciprocate the kind gesture of government by ensuring effective use of the facilities to justify the huge investment by government.
The Commissioner used the occasion to inform the people that Governor Emanuel who is education friendly is committed to providing qualitative education in the state, assuring that Government was also putting measures in place to guarantee smooth academic sessions without experiencing interruption of strikes in our schools especially the School of Nursing, College of Education, the State Polytechnic and Akwa Ibom State University among others.
Elder Nkom, commended the people of Ikot Ekpene Local Government, the Political Class, Party stakeholders, opinion leaders, Royal Fathers, Women groups and the youths for the support and cooperation given to the Governor.
He urged the people to take the frontline position in the next political dispensation the Governor Emmanuel, the PDP Gubernatorial candidate Pastor Umo Eno as well as all PDP candidates in the forth coming 2023 General election to ensure the continuation and sustenance of dividends of democracy.
Speaking at the occasion, the Chairman Ikot Ekpene Local Government Council Rt Hon Unyime Etim, together with the Member Representing Ikot Ekpene/ Obot Akara State Constituency in the House of Assembly Hon Jerry Otu and the political leader of Ikot Ekpene, Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien all expressed gratitude to Governor Emmanuel for his developmental strides in Ikot Ekpene and the state in general. They also commended the Commissioner Elder Nkom for his contributions towards the development of his people and society, and pledged their unalloyed support to the actualization of the Governor’s completion agenda as well as the candidacy of Pastor Eno.
Also speaking at the epoch-making event, the Senior Special Adviser on Inter- Ministerial Direct Labour Projects and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Elder Elijah Udoiyak extolled government for using the Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Scheme for the development of all the local government areas of the state, stressed that the scheme has not only facilitated effective and speedy completion of projects but has curb high cost of the projects.
Dignatories at the inauguration ceremony included the Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, Captain Iniobong Ekong (rtd), Secretary Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour, Dr Abasi Nte, the Principal School of Nursing Ikot Ekpene, Mrs Mfon Akpan, Director Hospital Management Board Dr Udo Umo, representative of Youth Caucus in the local government Pastor Uko, Party Representative Victor Etukudo, Councillors and Supervisors.
The commissioning of the projects in the local government is just among some of the projects lined up for commissioning ahead of the commemoration of the 35th Anniversary of the creation of Akwa Ibom State which comes up on September 23.
Although government is yet to released the timetable of events for the anniversary, but the Commissioner of Environment and Petroleum Resources Charles Udo said this year’s event which will be the last to be celebrated by Governor Emmanuel administration will be very elaborate with many people-oriented projects to be commission as part of activities for the event.
