From Abraham Akpabio
LAGOS
A university don and former board member of Akwa Ibom Water Corporation and other concerned indigenes of Oruk Anam Local Government Area have called on indigenes of the area in particular to utilise their God given natural endowments and resources, creativity and development innovative ideas to foster economic growth and development of the area in particular, Akwa Ibom and Nigeria in general.
They made the call at the 2nd edition of Economic Summit organised by the Association of Oruk Anam Indigenes of Nigeria, Lagos, which took place at AKISCOM Secretariat, Yaba, Lagos, last Saturday, with a theme, “Oruk Anam Economic Growth, Exploiting the Rich Resources of a Local Government for Sustainable Development.”
Lead speaker and senior lecturer at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Dr. Arnold Udoka, explained that Oruk Anam was naturally endowed with human and natural resources but those resources are not judiciously utilised by the people in particular.
Udoka, an indigene of the area, who was represented by the chairman, Public Affairs Committee of AKISCOM, Lagos, Mr. Gabriel Edem, urged the people of the area to rise, see themselves as partners in progress and draw up an economic plan for the utilisation of their endowments so as to attain the good life, self esteem and worth and contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of the State in particular and country in general.
In his view, former member, board of directors of Akwa Ibom Water Corporation, Mr. Nsidibe Essien, who was particularabout the development of youths of the area, observed that building the next generation of good leaders and credible entrepreneurs would involve improving the quality of youths through critical thinking solutions.
He urged them to wake up, be resourceful, innovative and develop the spirit of hard work and “a can-do-mindset”.
He also urged government to create enabling environment for businesses to thrive, as well as empower more youths.
In his remark, chairman of Oruk Anam Local Government Area, Dr. Kingsley Frank, who said he was impressed aboutthe summit, assured of government partnership with the people of the area to bring about more positive development especially on empowering and re-empowering the people to harness more entrepreneurial ingenuities to solving problems related to employment, economic growth and boosting standard of living.
Frank, who was represented by the head, legislative arm of the council, Elder Sunday Akpan, added that it was high time the people change the negative narrative of life and be positive minded, hardworking and vibrant, reassuring thatgovernment will do everything to implement more policies that would enhance the growth of business activities especially in the area.
In his remark, the chairman on the occasion, Prince Victor Ezekiel, while commending the organisers of the event, enjoined the people to embrace creativity and utilise their natural endowments judiciously for the benefit of themselves, Akwa Ibom and Nigeria in general.
Earlier in his address, national president, Association of Oruk Anam Indigenes of Nigeria, Lagos, Apostle Raphael Elijah, said the economic summit was aimed at projecting the area to the world as an area with so much natural resources but yet untapped and unexploited aw well as creating a platform for business interactions and come up with an economic blueprint for business growth and development in Oruk Anam, among others.
Highpoints of the event was an official unveiling of Oruk Anam Co-operative and Investment Company, presentation of awards and certificates of recognition to individuals including the head of legislative arm of the council, Elder Sunday Akpan, for their immense contributions and services to humanity.
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