By Bassey Nkponam
UYO
The Akwa Ibom governor has constituted a seven-man governing council of the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre (DASAC) Ikot Adaidem in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, with the lead consultant of DASAC, Obong Churchill Udoh, as chairman of the governing council.
The board has the deputy vice chancellor of the University of Uyo, Professor Enoidem Usoro; Rector, Mr Aniedi-Abasi Udofia, registrar, while commissioners for education, Mrs Idongesit Etiebet; labour and manpower planning, Mr Aniefiok Isaac Nkom; agriculture and rural development, Dr Offiong Offor; and the managing director of Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation (AKICORP), Pastor Imoabasi Jacob, serve as members.
The DASAC, which is affiliated to the University of Lagos, has state-of- the art equipment to teach agric-business, civil-technologies; fashion and lifestyle business, and sports among other courses.
Inaugurating the board, Monday, at the State Executive Chambers, Governor’s Office, Uyo, to signal the formal opening of the centre, the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno, urged them to bring their professionalism to bear by ensuring that the centre in future can transit to a university of technology.
Eno charged them to show leadership and deliver on the mandate expected of them, as they would be held accountable by government for the success or failure of the centre, announcing the decision of the state government to sponsorship 155 students from the 31 local government areas, with five from each local government, as pioneer students.
He enjoined the board to engage the services of versatile marketing professionals to project and market the centre to be able to generate revenue as government would supports the centre through subvention for a period of one year, after which it should be able to sustain itself.
Eno noted that the sponsoring of the 155 youths by government as pioneer students is to provide the first set of students the centre requires to work with, stressing the need for the council to set a computer-based examination for them, to get the required people.
“For everything we want to do now, we want to be very transparent. So you will set your computer-based exams, let the students write the exams and pass. But I am sure in each local government you will find the number that you want to become students in the school. Those should be your first in-takes”.
The state chief executive officer cautioned the board against playing politics in the management of the centre.
“Each of you have come with tremendous experience, particularly the rector. Her work has left no one in doubt of her capability, particularly the last two books she has released. She has been chosen on merit and we expect her to take charge and put together a great team to lay a solid foundation for the centre.
“We have no doubt that everything that we have in that centre, working with the University of Lagos, we have what it takes to become a university of technology. That’s why you have been selected”.
Responding on behalf of the board, chairman of the governing council, Obong Churchill Udoh, appreciated the governor for the confidence reposed in them and pledged to put in their best for the success of the centre.
Also, the rector, Professor Enoidem Usoro, commended Eno for finding her worthy to serve, noting that though the task ahead is enormous, they were ready to surmount every hurdle and ensure that their responsibilities are effectively carried out in the interest of the people.
The leader of the delegation from the University of Lagos where the centre is affiliated to, Professor Sunday Adebisi, applauded Eno for his leadership style and commitment to the growth and development of his people, assuring of the necessary support for the centre to grow and achieve its purpose of training world-class entrepreneurs.
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