Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has reiterated his commitment to human capacity development especially in the areas of business education and entrepreneurial development.
Hel made the commitment Friday, at the certification dinner/induction ceremony for the 4th batch of participants in the Akwa Ibom State Youths Entrepreneurial Development Programme tagged ‘My Entrepreneurship Goals Programme’ (MEGP).
The Governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Trade and Investments, Prince Ukpong Akpabio, said through the Akwa Ibom State Youths Entrepreneurial Development Programme, the State Government has demonstrated its readiness to properly equip her citizens with entrepreneurial skills to enable them to play in the big leagues of business and enterprise.
The Governor also hinted that the State Government will continue with the MEGP training beyond the 4th batch to get more Akwa Ibom young people trained and empowered.
Winners of the MEGP, MSME pitch deck were also announced and presented with their prizes.
Earlier in his remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Marketing and Brand Management, Mr Ime Uwah, lauded the State Governor for his passion for youths’ development, and entrepreneurial education, epitomized in the conceptualization and execution of the Akwa Ibom State Youths Entrepreneurial Development Programme.
Uwah said through the Programme, young entrepreneurs in the State have been trained,given access to mentoring and the right business networks.
The governor’s aide also said that through the Project Based Assistances(PBA) offered to alumni of the programme, the burdens of registration and certifications, small equipments financing as well as sundry inventory supports have been lifted off the shoulders of young entrepreneurs.
He congratulated the 4th batch of graduands for their resilience and tenacity, while urging them to see their membership of the MEGP Alumni Network as a gold mine of opportunities, even as they join the categories of business owners who are self-reliant, and willing to learn, unlearn, and relearn.
Delivering a goodwill message at the event, the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt Honourable Aniekan Bassey, commended the Governor for his numerous investments in enterprise development, noting that the youths in particular and the society at large are direct beneficiaries of these investments.
The speaker, who was represented by the member representing Nsit Atai State constituency, Elder Mark Esset said that the Assembly will do its part to ensure that the Akwa Ibom State Youths Entrepreneurial Development Programme outlives the Udom Emmanuel administration.
This, he said will be done by enacting relevant legislations to institutionalize the programme. The Speaker also hinted that the Akwa Ibom State Youths Development Funds Bill (AKYDF), will be revisited to review grey areas and ensure its passage and assent by the Governor.
This, according to the Speaker will ensure that youths are empowered beyond mere rhetorics.
Other goodwill messages were received at the event from the Commissioner for Education, Mrs Idongesit Etiebiet, and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Matters, Mr Aniefiok Wilson Iwa–udofia.
Highpoint of the event was the certification of 200 trainees in the 4th batch of the MEGP, and their subsequent induction into the alumni network.
Winners of the MEGP, MSME pitch deck were also announced and presented with their prizes.
Special guests at the event including the Speaker, AKHA, member representing Nsit Attai State constituency, Honourable Commissioner for Education, as well as Honourable Commissioner for trade and investment also took turns to endow various categories of participants and winners with cash prizes.
In their interaction with newsmen, participants in the 4th batch of the Akwa Ibom State Youths Entrepreneurial Development Programme, expressed gratitude to the State Government, as well as facilitators and members of faculty, for what they termed 12 weeks of intense and incisive entrepreneurial education. They promised to deploy knowledge gained at the programme in their respective businesses to ensure optimal productivity.
