Women Affairs Commissioner Offers Skill Training for 20 Youths in Esit Eket
…As YPP, APC Collapse Structure into PDP
The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr Ini Adiakpan has offered to train 20 youths of Esit Eket Local Government Area in various skills.
The Commissioner said her gesture is in support of the ARISE Agenda of her boss, Governor Umo Eno.
Dr Adiakpan made the offer on Monday at Ekpene Obo, Ward 1, Esit Eket Local Government Area during the formal reception of over 300 defectors from the Young Progressive Party, YPP, and the All Progressives Congress, APC into the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The beneficiaries who are mostly those who defected will be trained in fashion designing, welding, wood works and other sundry technical skills. She further appealed to all to return to the farm in line with the Governor ‘s directive to boost food production and reduction of food prices.
She noted “In conformity with the ARISE Agenda of His Excellency, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, I welcome the defectors with skills acquisition for those who will be interested in welding, fashion designing, wood works and other trades.
“The next phase of the skills acquisition programme will be extended to youths of other Wards in Esit Eket but for now let’s start at home”.
The Commissioner said that a modality for the selection of beneficiaries will be put in place as soon as possible.
Dr Adiakpan who is the political leader of Ward 1, Esit Eket and the founder of Adiakpan Education Foundation for Indigent students of Esit Eket studying in tertiary institutions across the country, welcomed and advised the defectors to feel at home in PDP as she will use her privileges in government to ensure that they do not lose out from the State Government’s numerous empowerment programmes.
Earlier, the Chapter Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Esit Eket, Elder Eddy Etangkanga in company of the Ward Chairman Mr Assam James formally received the defectors from both the YPP and APC.
Etangkanga said, “The Peoples Democratic Party is a very large umbrella that can accommodate everybody in Akwa Ibom State and the hospitality in the party is second to none, so, you are welcome back to your former party because I know that almost all of you were members of PDP”.
He assured them of equal opportunities in the distribution of the dividends of good governance under Governor Umo Eno.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Mr Mark Monday said they decided to return to the PDP due to what they described as Governor Umo Eno’s people-oriented policies and programs and the life-touching personal efforts of Dr Ini Adiakpan.
He said Dr Adiakpan has consistently assisted many youths and women, mostly widows and the vulnerable, in various ways, in Esit Eket across party lines.
He commended Governor Umo Eno for his ARISE Agenda programmes and called on him to facilitate the establishment of at least one industry in Esit Eket to employ the teeming unemployed youths in the area.
Mr. Monday pledged the total loyalty of the defectors to the Peoples Democratic Party and the administration of Governor Umo Eno.
Present during the event included Hon Cobb Johnny Akpan, Apostle Sunday Joshua, DSP David Edoho (Rtd), Mr. Ekanem John,Mr Solomon Nse, a frontline aspirant as Councilor of the Ward, Mr Anietie Ekpo, Ward secretary and major party stakeholders among others.