Operations at the Electric Meter Factory in the state will commence in January 2017 even as the Udom Emmanuel-led administration has concluded plans to start recruiting qualified personnel for further specialized trainings in the sector.
Governor Udom Emmanuel, who dropped the hint during the August edition of Government House Prayer Meeting, stated that his administration has concluded its financial obligation for the proposed Coconut Refinery and is also ready to engage the services of a human resources manager who can manage a large number of people in the factory.
The Governor said he is upbeat on his promise to industrialize Aka Ibom State and create more job opportunities for the people and enthused that, “I did not only promise people bread, but I also promise to teach them how to fish.”
Governor Emmanuel lamented the dearth of Mulcher machines in the southern part of the country, and announced plans by his government to acquire five new Mulchers for the state.
He called on interested indigenes with little experience in cranes and mowers to enroll through the Ministry of Investments, Commerce and Industries or the Foreign Direct Investment Bureau of his office so that they can be part of a training scheme in Italy.
The Governor, who also expressed satisfaction with the production of day old chicks at the Akwa Prime Hatchery, Mbiaya Uruan, condemned those who are busy condemning the hatchery project.
He advised the people of the state to embrace farming and buy their stocks at the hatchery, stating that his government took a giant leap on May 29 this year by initiating a pilot scheme that saw farmers who collected the day-old chicks harvesting giant birds for consumers in the state.
Governor Emmanuel advised against negative criticisms that tend to scare away potential investors in the state.
“Please let me say it from the pulpit this morning, people can attack the governor the way they like, please let them not write things that will actually scare away the investors we are bringing.”
He asserted that, “Money is a coward and it doesn’t go to where it does not feel secured,” and added that, “You can’t find money where you can’t find security or assurances of safety.”
The Governor also maintained that his government will take a cursory look at health facilities in the state, assuring that efforts will be channeled towards improving more secondary health care in more local government areas for the people.