Governor Udom Emmanuel has called on privileged Akwa Ibom indigenes in the state and in the Diaspora to partner his administration in the development of the state.
Emmanuel, who made the call during the second anniversary and graduation of trainees of the Ibom Development and Empowerment Assembly (IDEA) on Sunday in Uyo, said his government was eager of taking less privileged indigenes off the streets of Akwa Ibom.
The Governor, who was represented by Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, the Secretary to the State Government, said only through such partnership would the vision be accomplished.
He lauded the vision of the organisers of IDEA, saying it was in line with his administration’s policy to ensure that every Akwa Ibom child was taken off the street.
“IDEA is to take young men and women off the streets and this is what our administration is doing.What you are doing will grow to something great. We want collaboration in this regards.
“More often than not, Mrs Martha Udom, the Governor and his wife, gather orphans, widows and the under-privileged in the Banquet hall of Government House, Uyo, from their own personal funds to wipe away their tears and sorrows by empowering them regularly.
“Even the pet project of the Governor’s wife, FEYReP—Family Empowerment and Youth Re-orientation Programme- also falls in line with what we are doing here today, building houses for widows and also taking the less privileged off the streets, Governor Emmanuel has a great deal of commitment to this programme.”
Earlier in his remarks, Dr Markfre Ekefre, the Progenitor of IDEA, had said he was committed to vision and mission of IDEA which is to encourage entrepreneurship among the youths.
Ekefre said since the organisation was established two years ago, it has offered free training to students and empowered thousands of orphans, widows in the state and the needy.
He said the organisation recently paid the medical bill of some indigent patients in St Luke’s hospital, Anua, Uyo amounting to N2.8 million.
The organization, according to him, has offered free training to students and empowered, the widows, orphans and the needy, adding that 48 granduands who passed out were empowered with equipment estimated at more than N10 million.
