Governor Udom Emmanuel, the Senate Minority Leader, Chief Godswill Akpabio, Chief Don Etiebet and other distinguished citizens of Akwa Ibom State are to be honoured at this year’s Ati Annang International Convention holding in London.
According to a release by the association’s International PRO, Mfon Iwok, “the convention, which would hold on the 22nd and 23rd of July at the Hilton Paddington Hotel in central London would attract dignitaries from all over the world. The event is a collaborative effort between Ati Annang chapters in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom on one hand and the International Executive Committee on the other. The theme is ‘Addressing Africa’s Development needs.”
A programme of event released by the Convention Planning Committee says the convention will start with a reception in the evening of July 22nd. The following morning, there will be a symposium at which Senator Akpabio will present a keynote address on: Addressing Africa’s Infrastructure Deficit: The Akwa Ibom Model. The Chairman of the session would be Emmanuel Enoidem, a law lecturer and Akwa Ibom State’s Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Investment.
A banquet and fundraising dinner would take place in the evening of July 23. Governor Emmanuel who would be the special guest of honour will speak on the government’s campaign to build an industrial economy in Akwa Ibom state. His deputy, Mr Moses Ekpo, would be the guest of honour. The evening session would be chaired by Paul Usoro, SAN, one of Nigeria’s foremost lawyers and Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
The evening banquet would also be used to raise funds for the social programmes of the Foundation. These include the establishment of Ati Annang Mobile Clinic that will help provide grassroots’ healthcare services to the people; Ati Annang Skill Acquisition Centre for the empowerment of youths, and as well as Computer Centres to prepare children for entrance examinations like JAMB. The projects are designed to complement government efforts in these directions.
In a statement jointly signed by the International President, Rt. Hon. (Sir) Udo Kierian Akpan, Secretary General, Dr. Gloria Inyang and Chairperson, Diaspora Convention Planning Committee, Uduak Olufemi, Ati Annang Foundation said His Excellency, Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel would be honoured for his motivational style of leadership in the last one year in office. The statement particularly noted the ongoing industrialization programme spread across the state, completion of a world class secretariat annex, construction and commissioning of roads across the state and empowerment of thousands of youths through his pet project, AKEES.
Ati Annang Foundation commended the governor’s economic policy drive to transform Akwa Ibom State into Nigeria’s industrial hub. While assuring the governor of the Foundation’s unalloyed loyalty and support, the Foundation prayed God to continue to give the governor the needed grace to do more for the people of Akwa Ibom State.
Speaking earlier, the International President, Rt. Hon.Sir. Udo Kierian Akpan noted that the 2016 International Convention of Ati Annang Foundation will be the first of its kind as all sons and daughters of Annang resident in United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom/Ireland and other part of Europe have pulled their resources together to host this special convention in London.
He noted that the event would have in attendance, European Political/Business Leaders, Diplomats, Development Agencies, Top Civil Servants and Civil Society Leaders. He said the event, which would showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Annangs would also serve as a platform to share ideas on how best to support the continuous growth and development of Akwa Ibom State in particular, Nigeria and Africa in general.
ATI ANNANG is a socio-cultural Association of the Annang people with the aim of collectively defining, articulating and implementing the goals and ideals of Annang ethnic destiny within the context of the Annang Diaspora and the Nigerian ethno-centered nation state. It is run by an international executive committee with chapters in Nigeria, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.
