Cover Story: Two Years of Steady repositioning and progress

Of STEADy REPOSITIONING AND PROGRESS

Two eventful years have gone by since the inception of the Udom Emmanuel administration in Akwa Ibom State. The hallmark of these 24 months has been a wide gamut of completed, on-going and nascent people-oriented programmes and projects, which is steadily yielding Akwa Ibom’s copious potentials as the state continues to transform from “the land of promise” to “the land of fulfillment.” Akwa Ibom State is now in her 30th year as a geo-political entity, and the last two of these years have been actively geared towards steering on the right course to maximally fulfill this promise. The last of these two years have witnessed a gradual process of strategically repositioning the State to take its rightful pride of place in Nigeria and in the world at large.

By imo-owo Mbede

They have also involved refocusing present and future generations of indigenes to fulfil their full potentials and take their place in history.

The last two years have engendered renewed belief and a sense of pride in the identity Akwa Ibom – as a people and as a State. Innate virtues of industriousness, illustriousness and entrepreneurship have been reawakened, as the people have risen massively to embrace legitimate hard work as against indolence, dependence on government and servitude. These have been occasioned by Dakkada, a programme for attitudinal rebirth in the land, initiated by the Governor of the State.

This mental and attitudinal reorientation has triggered assertiveness, deliberate, creative and productive action amongst the populace towards wealth-creation and selfsufficiency.

The Government has not only encouraged the people to embrace optimal productivity and greatness, it has taken the front seat in the drive to support them in the attainment of these noble virtues. Its policies, programmes and projects – solitary and collaborative (with indigenous and foreign investors) – have been targeted at the maximization of the vast human and natural endowments in the State for economic manumission.

Akwa Ibom remains a haven for existing and potential investors as massive fertile land and surrounding waters and accruing auxiliary benefits are being harnessed by the Government for an enhanced local economy and sustained relevance in the global economic equation. This has been achieved through the prioritization of agriculture and industrialization. As the largest producer of Crude Oil in the country, Akwa Ibom has been the backbone of Nigeria’s Oil-dependent economy. Interestingly, the state is also leading Nigeria’s renewed focus on Agriculture and modern industrialization.

Akwa Ibom has been the backbone of Nigeria’s Oil-dependent economy, and is now leading the country’s renewed focus on Agriculture and modern industrialization.

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1 Akwa Ibom is repositioning as one of the top producers of Cocoa in Nigeria

2 The state now hosts the first poultry hatchery in the East of the country.

3 Entrepreneurship is pursued with renewed vigour by the youth.

In the last two years however, there has been a paradigm shift. The large-scale production of Cocoa and Coconut – “gold-mines” in their own right considering their value in the international market – as well as other cash and food crops in the state, has been the order of the day. These have been necessitated by the need to fortify Akwa Ibom’s revenueearning status by augmenting the state and nation’s income stream.

Given its natural draught which does not require perennial dredging, the waterfront at Ibaka, with a capacity to accommodate bigger ocean vessels than any other port in Nigeria, prepares to host Ibom Deep Seaport and Industrial City, going by programmes initiated in the last two years. With a Jetty under construction at Ikot Abasi to support prospective ancillary services, Akwa Ibom’s coastal location is being deliberately maximized for the first time in her history – and indeed in the history of Nigeria – as it shapes up to become an unprecedented hub for international commerce and industrial activities.

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In preparation for these prospected economic activities, and in line with the Governor, Udom Emmanuel’s promise of multifaceted infrastructural consolidation, massive infrastructure has been put in place – especially in the form of a strategic network of roads and in power generation and supply (averaging 16 hours a day). Palpable progress in infrastructure is also evident in Education, Healthcare, Transport, Sports and Security in these past two years as the Governor’s promise has seen explicit expression in the massive provision of essential amenities in every sector, in both the rural crannies and urban centres across the state.

Government efforts in the two years just past is therefore clearly setting the tone for Akwa Ibom’s evolution from a consumer economy to one which will have the eyes of the world market fixated on it for a wide range of products and services. This will empower the people in addition to boosting the Nigeria’s economic revival and leading the country’s foray into modern and sustained industrialization.

3 1 Several new people-oriented projects have been executed and commissioned in the last 24 months.

2 Sports development guarantees the country an endless supply of athletes.

3 Infrastructure like good roads, is key to all round development.

4 Improved power has been instrumental to the progress witnessed so far.

The many exploits of Akwa Ibomites across the world in the academia, sports, entertainment and numerous other spheres, points to the State’s hitherto untapped rich human potentials. To sustain this, manpower development has been prioritized these past two years through ample educational and capacity-building programmes at every level, funded by the state Government. These educational empowerment, capacitybuilding and motivational programmes are not only to churn out a competent pool of hands who will ensure sustained proper management of economic and industrial investments, but also an endless supply of confident citizens who will excel anywhere in the world.

Akwa Ibom continues to yield its many and varied resources. The attendant progress from the application and judicious management of these resources – under the focused leadership of Mr Udom Emmanuel – are sure to culminate in the envisioned industrial destination awash with wealth and opportunities, and more.