Senator Sampson Trains Youths, Women on ICT, Empowers Over 1000 Constituents on Skills Development
By Dennis Udoma, Uyo
Senator representing Eket Senatorial District of Akwa Ibom State, Ekong Sampson has trained several youths and women as well as empowered 1000 indigenes from the District.
The training and empowerment programmes, which were done in phases by the National Citizens Center, Abuja covered mining, tailoring, confectionery, advocacy and Information, Communication and Technology (ICT).
It is aimed at deepening capacity, enhancing skills and productivity of the participants from the District.
Speaking at a one-day training of youths and women in ICT and Effective Media Communication for his constituents in Uyo, Senator Sampson who was represented by former Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chris Abasi-eyo expressed profound appreciation to the media and people for the support and robust collaboration so far, saying the media have been major partner in progress.
According to him, “let me kindly use this opportunity to express my profound appreciation to you and indeed, the entire people of Akwa Ibom South for your continuous support, and collaboration. The media has been a major partner in progress.
“Today is the third day of the ongoing training and empowerment in different specialties that I facilitated for indigenes of Akwa Ibom South. Over 1000 people are expected to be accommodated in the training programmes which cover mining, tailoring, confectionery, advocacy, ICT, among others. The training is in phases.
“These training programmes, which will be periodic, come in fulfilment of my commitment to deepening human capacity development, enhance skills set and productivity of our people in Akwa Ibom South. I will continue to facilitate and support training and retraining of Akwa Ibom South indigenes, to sharpen them for the demands of the 21st century workforce and employability.
“It is noteworthy to mention that my commitment to taking Akwa Ibom South to Nigeria, and Nigeria to Akwa Ibom South, as well as offering effective representation has been steadily on course. I have remained very focused on my dual mandates of legislative business and oversight constituency engagements, ensuring that both the formal and informal aspects of my representation are well taken care of.
“Education and human capacity development have formed major thrusts of my legislative advocacy, due to their importance in the development of a people.
“It is in pursuance of this objective that I have sponsored a number of high impact Bills and Motions. Some of the Bills include Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi, (Establishment Bill), which has already passed Second Reading. The Bill is to give legislative filip and legal protection to the university.
“At the same time, I am working earnestly for the take-off of the University of Maritime Studies, Oron. I have also sponsored a Bill for the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre in Akwa Ibom South and a Bill for the establishment of Federal University of Medical Sciences in Eket.
“These key institutions and infrastructure will revolutionize our senatorial district educationally, and the health sector provide jobs for our people.
“Indeed, a tripod of university education spread across the Senatorial District will be a great boost to education for our people.
“As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, I have equally sponsored a Bill for the establishment of the Nigeria Solid Minerals Development Corporation. The Bill, when passed, will help reform the nation’s mining sector and engender great economic growth for Nigeria. I equally have a number of other strategic Bills and Motions filed to be taken for legislative consideration,” he said.
Senator Sampson further noted that, he was liaising with the state government on issues of solid minerals development as Senate Committee Chairman, on how Akwa Ibom richly blessed in mineral resources, can tap into the various opportunities offered by the federal government.
He said as a measure to connect with the people, he has opened a Constituency Office in Eket within his first 100 days in office and contact offices in Ikot Abasi and Oron, while in February this year, he hosted a major empowerment programme in Eket where he offered support to over 700 constituents in education, businesses and vehicles to others adding that, plans have been put in place for the second tranche of empowerment scheme for more beneficiaries.
Chairman on the occasion, Emeritus – Professor Des Wilson charged the participants to open up their minds to learn new things that will enhance their capacity to work in entirely new world of communication complexities.
He said though, journalism practice may be challenging owing to how politics or governance is presented by leaders by luring the media to do their bids, advised that journalists should continue to show patriotism in their duties by abiding on the insight gained from the workshop.
Others who also presented papers at the workshop included the Dean, Faculty of Communication Studies, University of Uyo, Prof. Peter Esuh, Dr. Abasifreke Idiong of the Department of Communication Arts, UNIUYO and Dr. Udeme Nnana of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua.
