DAKKADA CAMPAIGN ATTRACTS MORE SUPPORT IN IKOT EKPENE 
The awareness and mobilization campaign train in support of the state Government’s Dakkada initiative which commenced last week in Eket Federal Constituency on Wednesday moved to Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency.
The event, held at the Ikot Ekpene Local Government Council Hall, drew participation from royal fathers, stakeholders, youths and women from the three local government areas of Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim and Obot Akara Federal Constituency.
Setting the tone, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Marketing and Brand Management, Mr Samuel Edoho educated the 75 Ambassadors drawn from the three local government areas on the need to spread Governor Emmanuel’s lofty programmes to those who still have doubts about the genuine intention of the governor.
While highlighting the achievements of the administration, Mr Edoho reiterated the resolve of Governor Emmanuel to create wealth and job opportunities in the state and enjoined every son and daughter of Akwa Ibom to key into the initiative by being hardworking and creative in their chosen areas of specialization.
In a keynote speech at the occasion, the Commissioner for Special Duties, Engr Etido Inyang who was the Special Guest at the event said government was resolute in its intention to deliver on its election promises.
 He appreciated the Directorate of Marketing and Brand Management for taking the Dakkada message to the different parts of the state.
 The commissioner said Governor Emmanuel came to governance prepared and adequately equipped with an intended blueprint which he has promised to execute effectively for the benefit of the state.
 He said that through industrialization,the Akwa ibom story will be rewritten in with great emphasis on employment and wealth creation.
 Mr Udeme Ufot, an Akwa Ibom born advertising expert and the managing partner at multinational advertising agency SO&U admonished the people to always depend on their hands, their brain and God in turning their visions into reality.
 Mr Ufot said the philosophy of Dakkada was motivated by the need to empower the mindset of Akwa Ibomites on the need to wake up to the realization that nothing was actually impossible if we exploit our potentials.
 Special Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture, Mr Moses Armstrong, who spoke as a special guest said the current administration wants agriculture to be as prestigious and rewarding as any other noble profession and outlined the numerous government policies intended to support the resolve to include cocoa, rice and coconut plantations to be sited in the state for commercial purposes as well as intervention programmes meant to provide take-off grants for intended and interested agriculturists.
 He intimated the audience on the plan by government to liaise with Chinese investors to establish an integrated rice mill in Akwa Ibom State to boost production and also spoke of plans to set up a rice research institute in the state.
 Armstrong, a Nollywood star said the ceding of about 30% of the current budget by the Governor Udom Emmanuel administration to agriculture is enough evidence to buttress the determination of the administration to make agriculture a priority.
 The Special Assistant to the Governor on Education Monitoring, Mrs Idongesit Iboro who also spoke said the Udom Emmanuel administration has continued with the free and compulsory education scheme started by the immediate past state administration and added that in the Dakkada spirit, has even gone a notch higher by providing labtops to primary and secondary schools in the state.
 Another speaker who highlighted government’s plan was Mr Tony Onuk,the representative of AKEES, an intervention programme established to promote enterprise and job creation. He said this initiative is ongoing and is targetted at engaging over 10000 Akwa Ibomites in productive enterprise and gainful employment.
 The event also featured two Dakadda Ambassadors- Mr Edidiong Brenden and Mrs Umoh Tony Udoh who explained to the audience how they used photography and farming respectively to better their lot. They used the occasion to encourage young Akwa Ibomites to imbibe the culture of entrepreneurship and not wait endlessly for white collar jobs.
 Akuku Dr. Uwa Umo Adiaka, paramount ruler of Oruk Anam who spoke on behalf of royal fathers commended the state government for the creative idea of mind empowerment and assured of the support of tradition rulers to the success of the programme.
 The campaign which will go round the ten federal constituencies of the state seeks to deploy 500,000 ambassadors across the state within a year who will help further sensitize the generality of the populace about the Dakkada message and its necessity.
