Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has called on local government chairmen, corporate organizations, and other stakeholders in the State to key into the human capacity development component of the ARISE Agenda by sponsoring young people within their areas of operation to acquire skills at the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Center (DASAC).
Governor Eno made the call as a special guest at the maiden graduation ceremony of the center, located in Ikot Ada Idem, Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area.
The State Chief Executive stressed that local government councils should nominate at least ten trainees and sponsor their skills acquisition at the center.
He noted that his economic blueprint, the ARISE Agenda, places a strong emphasis on human capacity development, which is why DASAC was completed — to train youths and equip them with skills that would make them employers of labor rather than job seekers.
The Governor announced that his administration is prepared to adequately engage the trainees, pointing out that the center has successfully trained students in piggery, fisheries, ranch management, snailery, and other skills to drive agricultural development in the State.
He revealed plans to engage the trainees at the Ibom Model Farm, where they will apply their skills, adding that a similar job opportunity has been extended to graduates in other areas such as the School of Hospitality and Lifestyle Management, where trainees have acquired skills in fashion, catering, and related fields. These skills would be deployed at the planned Ibom Hotels in Abuja and Ibom Towers in Lagos.
“The School of Agriculture, where some graduands here have been trained in piggery, fisheries, ranch management, snailery, and other skills, aligns with our ongoing push to drive agricultural development in our State, which, thank God, is right on course.
“With the establishment of Ibom Model Farm in Nsit Ubium, which will serve as a center for both agricultural tourism and integrated farming, as well as other farms, we hope to utilize the skills of the graduands to advance our goal of ensuring food security for our people.
“We have created a stand-alone Ministry of Science and Digital Economy, and we hope the graduands will, in addition to setting up businesses in their areas of training, also work closely with the Ministry to apply their knowledge in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital marketing, networking, Microsoft fundamentals, and other fields,” he stated.
The Governor congratulated the 240 trainees on completing their programme as the first batch of graduands and commended the initiative of the immediate past Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, for conceptualizing the center with world-class structures.
He also thanked the management of the center and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Tolulope Ogunsola, for the strategic partnership the university has provided in curriculum development and called for the center to be upgraded to a diploma- or degree-awarding institution.
The Rector of the center, Prof. Enoidem Usoro, described the graduation ceremony as a significant milestone, having produced 240 pioneer trainees, and appreciated the Governor for his immense support, including sponsoring a significant number of students for specialized training and approving a stipend for the trainees.
The high point of the ceremony was an inspection of various products from the center by the Governor and special guests.
