As part of constituency projects, Hon. Unyime Idem, the member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, has splashed multi-million Naira projects in the Akwa Ibom State University and some public schools in the area.
The first-term legislator who initiated and completed the projects announced this Monday during the inauguration of well-furnished 300-seater capacity six-classroom block lecture hall with VIP toilet, 50-seater capacity E Learning centre with full complement of VSAT internet facility, computer tables and swing chairs at Akwa Ibom State University, Obio Akpa Campus in Oruk Anam.
Idem further announced completion and inauguration of seven six-classroom blocks with VIP toilets, six E-learning centres containing 250 computer sets, internet facilities, generating sets and alternative energy sources in some public secondary schools in the federal constituency.
Others include E-Learning Centre at Community High School, Usung Atiat, Ukanafun, E-Learning Centre at Afaha High School, Ikot Udombang, Ukanafun; E-Learning Centre at Community Secondary School, Urua Ekpaenang, Ukanafun; E-Learning Centre at Community Secondary School, Mbiakot, Oruk Anam; and E-Learning Centre at Community Secondary School, Ikot Esenam, Oruk Anam LGA.
Twin six Classroom blocks with VIP Toilet at Community High School, Usung Atiat, Ukanafun; six classroom block with VIP Toilet at Government Secondary School, Ikot Oku Usung, Ukanafun; six classroom block with VIP toilet at Model Secondary School, Obio Akpa, Oruk Anam, and six classroom block with VIP toilet at Government Primary School, Ikot Otoiwuo, Ukanafun are also provided.
The rest are two classroom block with VIP toilet at Urban High School, Ikot Akpan Essien, Oruk Anam; six classroom block with VIP toilet at Migrant Farmers Primary School, Ikot Akpan Nsek, Oruk Anam; and six classroom block with VIP toilet at Methodist Primary School, Ikot Akpan Udo, Oruk Anam.
The Ukanafun/Oruk Anam representative said ‘‘Education is not just a preparation for life; it is life itself. It helps people become better citizens, helps people be gainfully employed as well as help people to be able to differentiate between what is good and what is bad. Education helps us grow, develop and shape our society.’’
According to him, ‘‘the value of education is enormous and government needs to do more to improve the quality of education. These include providing critical infrastructure, teaching and non-teaching resources and the right learning environment for students to optimally reap the benefits of education as a national resource. It is the need to support government, and further enhance the importance of education that prompted me to donate these projects to Akwa Ibom State University.’’
Idem who is the Peoples Democratic Party candidate for a second term in 2023 urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the facilities and take advantage of the numerous benefits they have to offer, noting ‘‘Let me assure the management of the state University of my continuous support in achieving its education mandate.’’
The representative of the state governor, Aniefiok Nkom thanked Idem for providing and spreading the projects across his federal constituency.
Nkom who is also the state Commissioner for Manpower, Planning and Labour said ‘‘When you give a community quality education, you expose the people to better life.’’
He lauded Governor Udom Emmanuel for believing in education by not allowing lecturers in state university to join their counterparts in Association of Staff Universities Union in the ongoing strike.
The state Commissioner for Education, Mrs Idongesit Etiebet commended the Ukanafun/Oruk Anam representative for providing the projects in the University, and urged other political office holders to emulate Idem by ensuring their constituents enjoy the dividends of democracy.
A one-time member for Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency, Obong Eno Akpan who also was Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources applauded the House of Representatives member for the show of quality representation in attracting projects to his Federal Constituency.
Earlier, Professor Nse Essien, the university’s Vice Chancellor, had said unlike some politicians providing bicycles and cars for their constituents, Idem has provided true empowerment projects, according to him, would stand the test of time as true investment.
Professor Essien thanked Idem for his kind gesture in remembering to give back to his constituency and pledged to make good use of the facilities.
