By Emmanuel Uffot
Akwa Ibom State Government has confirmed the integration of refugees from the state into Socio-economic Programmes and Activities in the state.
As the World awaits the 2023 Geneva Conference on Global Compact on Refugees, the Akwa Ibom State Government has confirmed total integration of Refugees in all its Socio-economic activities and programmes.
The deputy governor of the state, Senator ( Dr) Akon Eyakenyi disclosed this last Wednesday while declaring open a workshop on Global Compact on Refugees organised by the United High Commission for Refugees ( UNHCR).
She stressed that in the light of this, Refugees are granted free access to facilities and social amenities provided by government to indigenes in such areas like education, agriculture, healthcare, commerce, water supply and entrepreneurial development, among others.
The Deputy Governor
said programmes and policies of the state government were aligned to favour both indigenes and residents of the state, including refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs.
“Both the government and people of Akwa Ibom State have been very accommodating and hospitable to refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, because it is in our nature to love and accommodate strangers.”
She commended the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and its partners for working assiduously to make the world a better place, stressing that, the administration of Governor Umo Eno will continue to strengthen its relationship with UNHCR and other relevant agencies to improve the welfare of refugees in the state.
Earlier, the Associate Protection Officer, UNHCR Ogoja, Nigeria, Mr. Jonathan Darko, said the workshop was aimed at drawing a wide range of critical stakeholders for important deliberations on the implementation of the objectives of the GCR in Akwa Ibom State.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy Comrade Ini Ememobong acknowledged the necessity of the workshop geared towards solving human’s problem and opined that the quality of the discussions will be of great benefit to the advancement of the cause of Refugees in the State.
Ememobong appreciated the UNHCR for the good work done in the state and assured that the Ministry of information was ready to partner with the organization to create Public awareness to ensure that Refugees become a thing of the past.
Goodwill messages were received from the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Ini Adiakpan, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Offiong Offor, State Commandant of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in the state Mrs Obot Bassey, Comptroller of Immigration in Akwa Ibom State,CIS Francisca Dakat, as well as the Clan Head of Uquo Clan in Esit Eket LGA, HRH, Chief Etteudo Ikot.
