Contribute To Akwa Ibom State’s Development – Oku Ibom Ibibio Urges Indigenes In Diaspora
NSIT UBIUM
The Oku Ibom Ibibio and Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Council of Chiefs, His Eminence, Ntenyin (Dr.) Solomon Daniel Etuk has called on Akwa Ibom indigenes in Diaspora to offer support towards the development of their roots.
The premier royal monarch, who was a special guest on the occasion of the 17th National Convention of the Ubium Development Association (UDA), held in the United States of America, July 23 to July 24, 2021, noted that it will be through collective participation and love of indigenes that our communities and the state in general would achieve desirable developments.
Ntenyin Etuk implored them “as patriots to support the drive of wooing investors to Akwa Ibom State”, saying that the “foreign direct investment as we have started seeing, especially under the present administration in the state, will boost our economy, offer employment opportunities to school leavers as well as curb youth restiveness.”
He, however, lauded indigenes of the state in the Diaspora who have often carried out free medical outreaches in various communities in Akwa Ibom, and acknowledged that such “services have been quite beneficial as it complements the efforts of government and other institutions in taking Medicare to the grassroots.”
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“We encourage such benevolent deeds and urge that same be extended to cover education and other social services,” he added.
Ntenyin Etuk, who is also the Paramount Ruler of Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, reassured Ubium indigenes in Diaspora that “the traditional institution in Akwa Ibom State remains very committed to issues of development in furtherance of its role as the custodian of the culture and heritage of the people.”
He said, “As chairman, Akwa Ibom State Council of Chiefs and member of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), I have in consort with co-royal fathers continued to proffer best strategies to engender peaceful co-existence and harmony in the state and beyond.”
The Oku Ibom Ibibio took time to update the conference on the developmental strides back home and sought their active involvement.
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“Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel -led administration apart from other spheres of commendable development efforts, has enhanced air transportation in Akwa Ibom State through the establishment of Ibom Air, which is now flying across various parts of Nigeria with regional and continental reach in focus. Today, flight services in and out of Akwa Ibom State and other operational routes have been made easy, he stated.”
Ntenyin Etuk also recalled the heroic activities of our forebears and the very foundation of our current state and exploits, stressing that present generations must also set legacies that will last for eternity.
“As you know, we are rooted in a robust and sublime ancestry. Our forebears were men and women of great foresights, industry and love for one another. The visionary and impactful activities of Ibibio Union in the early 1920s and thereafter in terms of commerce, education and agitation for the reorganisation of the Nigerian polity as a federation of states, have remained indelible in our history. It is out of that committed communal pursuit that our beloved Akwa Ibom State came forth in 1987.
“Our forebears foresaw the ‘today’ that we have and worked for it. It is therefore incumbent on us to foresee a vibrant ‘tomorrow’ for ourselves, our children and the generations yet unborn. No matter what manner of comfort we may experience now, we must be really concerned about our future especially with the economic and insecurity challenges that we now have in our country.
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The monarch also informed the conference that Akwa Ibom State Council of Chiefs under his leadership in a bid to stem the tide of insecurity has established synergy with the Akwa Ibom State Police Command in various spheres including surveillance and intelligence gathering and urged them to render material assistance to the police as security is everyone’s responsibility.
The convention tagged, ‘Promoting Diaspora-Ubium People’s Partnerships for Purposeful and Sustainable Community Development’, with a sub-theme, ‘Everyone Has a Role to Play’, ended on Sunday, July 25, 2021, with a thanksgiving service.
