Senior Special Assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel on Technical Matters and Due Process, Elder Ufot Ebong, has revealed that the administration will flag off a tooth pick and pencil manufacturing company in the state towards the end of November 2016.
Elder Ebong, who is also the Coordinator of Akwa Ibom Enterprise and Employment Scheme (AKEES), gave the hint yesterday during a Press Conference to open a month long special accountability programme of AKEES, projected under a campaign tagged #AkeesSoFar.
“The container bringing the machinery has just arrived Tin Can Island”, Ebong announced.
Elder Ebong, while reeling out a rundown list of few of the businesses impacted by AKEES, picked out a particular enterprise started by young Akwa Ibom people under AKEES that charges N3000 per year to polish shoes for individuals.
He said that although the amount they charged was friendly, they have the capacity to sign up over 100,000 beneficiaries of their service, which would make them millionaires in an ingenious business initiative.
“My aim is that whenever there is a political rally in the state, Akwa Ibom youths will not be present. When I’m asked, I will say, they are too busy to come. They are at work. And that is what the Governor wants.”
He noted that Governor Udom is encouraging SMEs by initiating policies and programmes targeted at engendering the development of the non-oil sectors where SMEs are dominant players.
Facts on ground indicate that AKEES, which is a brain child of the Governor, and was initiated soon after resuming office mid 2015, has recorded resounding success in enabling the start-up and reinforcement of over 85 businesses in the State, with over 1500 gainfully employed.
Some activities scheduled to for the AKEES even include an ICT training programme on the 31st of October 2016 at the Onyeama Ogechukwu Hall, University of Uyo by 10am and a mini-trade fair to showcase businesses tagged AKEES BUSINESS FAIR.
TOOTHPICK, PENCIL FACTORY TO KICK-OFF BEFORE DECEMBER 2016 – UFOT EBONG
