By Victor Essang
In a rapidly changing world where skills, creativity and innovation are becoming the driving forces of economic growth, the Akwa Ibom State Government has continued to place youth development at the centre of its development agenda.
The second edition of the ARISE Youth Skills Week, scheduled for August 24 and 25, 2026, with the theme, “Skills for a Shared Future,” is another reflection of the deliberate efforts of the Governor Umo Eno administration to prepare young people for the opportunities and challenges of the future.
Beyond a mere celebration of skills, the initiative represents a strategic intervention aimed at equipping young Akwa Ibomites with the knowledge, practical abilities and entrepreneurial mindset required to become self-reliant and contribute meaningfully to the State’s economy.
Announcing the programme in Uyo, the Commissioner for Youth Development, Dr. Ekerette Ekanem, described the initiative as a platform to promote skills acquisition, talent discovery, youth empowerment and entrepreneurship.
He noted that while the United Nations marks World Youth Skills Day annually, the State’s ARISE Youth Skills Week was designed to create a more practical and impactful avenue for young people to showcase their abilities, gain exposure and access opportunities that can transform their lives.
The youth development component of the ARISE Agenda places emphasis on human capital development, recognising that the greatest resource of any society is its people, especially its youthful population.
Since assuming office, Governor Umo Eno has consistently demonstrated that empowering young people with relevant skills remains central to achieving sustainable development.
One of the major steps towards achieving this vision is the establishment of Youth Development Centres across the 31 Local Government Areas of the State.
The centres are designed as hubs for creativity, innovation and enterprise development, providing young people with access to multipurpose halls, creative studios, internet facilities, digital libraries, entrepreneurial incubation spaces and conducive environments for learning and collaboration.
According to Ekanem, the centres are not just physical structures but strategic platforms created to help young people discover their talents, acquire practical skills and pursue productive ventures.
As part of activities marking the 2026 ARISE Youth Skills Week, the Commissioner further announced that the portal for the Youth Skills Week Pitch Competition had opened on Thursday, August 20.
He invited interested young people between the ages of 15 and 35 across the State to register and use the platform to showcase their skills, innovative ideas and talents.
Ekanem explained that the competition would provide an opportunity to identify promising youths, offer them the necessary guidance and support, and help transform their ideas into sustainable businesses.
He stressed that winners would be selected strictly on merit, adding that the initiative was designed to encourage creativity, entrepreneurship and self-reliance among young people.
The ARISE Youth Skills Week Pitch Competition is expected to further deepen the State’s commitment to youth empowerment by providing a platform for young innovators and entrepreneurs to present their ideas.
With registration open to youths between the ages of 15 and 35, the competition is designed to identify promising talents and provide them with the necessary guidance and support to convert ideas into viable businesses.
For many young people, access to mentorship, exposure and entrepreneurial support can make the difference between an idea remaining a dream and becoming a successful enterprise.
The initiative therefore represents a shift from traditional empowerment approaches towards building sustainable capacity among youths.
The Commissioner for Information, Hon. Elder Aniekan Umanah, Ph.D., while commending the programme, noted that youth development remains a critical component of the ARISE Agenda.
He highlighted several interventions of the administration, including bursary payments to students, payment of WAEC fees, youth grants and the training of over 2,000 youths at the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre.
These initiatives demonstrate a broader strategy aimed at ensuring that young people are not only beneficiaries of government programmes but active participants in the economic transformation of Akwa Ibom.
The ARISE Youth Skills Week has continued to attract commendation from stakeholders who believe that investing in youth development is key to securing the future of the State.
In their goodwill messages, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Matters, Mr. Joe William; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Local Media, Comrade Amos Etuk; and Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Nsibiet John, commended Governor Umo Eno for his sustained investment in youth development.
They noted that the Governor’s youth-focused initiatives have created opportunities for young people to acquire relevant skills, develop their talents and compete favourably with their counterparts across the country.
They further stressed the importance of sustained collaboration among government agencies, the media and other stakeholders in promoting programmes that empower young people and prepare them for leadership and economic opportunities.
For stakeholders in youth development, the ARISE Youth Skills Week offers a timely opportunity to discover and nurture talents capable of shaping the future.
The Ministry’s Consultant, Mr. Emmanuel Etukudo, emphasised that young people discovered through the programme could become future entrepreneurs, employers of labour and contributors to the growth of the State.
He also called for stronger collaboration between government, the media and youth-focused organisations in promoting opportunities and identifying emerging talents.
The ARISE Youth Skills Week is more than an annual event; it is a statement of commitment towards building a generation of skilled, innovative and productive young people.
Through sustained investment in skills development, entrepreneurship and talent empowerment, the Governor Umo Eno administration is positioning Akwa Ibom youths to compete favourably in a changing global economy.
As the State prepares for the 2026 edition, the message remains clear: the future belongs to those equipped with the right skills, and Akwa Ibom is deliberately preparing its youths for that future.
Discussion about this post