A total of 155 students are to be sponsored by the Akwa Ibom State government for the take-off of the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre (DASAC), Ikot Ada Idem, in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area.
Already, the state government has inaugurated a 7-member governing council to direct affairs at the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre, with the core mandate of bringing professionalism to bear in the centre’s management.
The State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, performed the inauguration at Government House, Uyo, to signal the formal opening of the centre with the commencement of full academic activities.
Inaugurating the board, Governor Eno charged the members to show leadership and deliver on the mandate expected of them, stating that the government would hold them responsible for the success or failure of the centre.
He used the occasion to announce that the state government will sponsor five students from each of the 31 local government areas as pioneer students and advised the board to engage the services of versatile marketing professionals to project the school to generate revenue.
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The governor further stated that the centre will only enjoy government subsidies for one year, after which it should be able to sustain itself.
He said, “The government will sponsor five students from each local government area as pioneer students to provide the first set of students we want to work with. So you have to set up your computer-based exams for them.
“For everything we want to do now, we want to be very transparent. So you will set your computer-based exams, let the students write the exams, and pass. But I am sure that in each local government, you will find the number of students you want to become students at the school. Those should be your first in-takes,” he said.
As part of the terms of reference for the Governing Council, he cautioned strictly against playing politics in the management of the centre and encouraged the team to strive for success.
“Each of you has come with tremendous experience, particularly the Rector. Her work has left no one in doubt of her capability, particularly the last two books she has released. She has been chosen on merit, and we expect her to take charge and put together a great team to lay a solid foundation for the centre.
“We do not doubt that everything that we have in that centre, working with the University of Lagos, is what it takes to become a university of technology.” That’s why you have been selected,” he explained.
The Board has Obong Churchill Udoh as Chairman of the Governing Council, Professor Enoidem Usoro as Rector, Mr. Aniedi-Abasi Udofia, Registrar, Commissioner for Education, Commissioner for Labour and Manpower Planning, and Commissioner for Agriculture, as well as the chairman, Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation, AKICORP, as members.
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Accepting the responsibility on behalf of the team, the Chairman of the Governing Board, Obong Churchill Udoh, appreciated the Governor’s confidence in them and pledged to put in their best for the success of the centre.
On her part, the Rector, Professor Enoidem Usoro, commended the Governor for finding her worthy to serve, noting that though the task ahead is enormous, they were ready to surmount every hurdle and ensure that their responsibilities are effectively carried out in the interest of the people.
Leading a delegation from the University of Lagos, where the Centre has an affiliation, Professor Sunday Adebisi applauded Governor Eno for his leadership style and commitment to the growth and development of his people, assuring the necessary support for the Centre to grow and achieve its purpose of training world-class entrepreneurs.
The centre has state-of-the-art equipment to teach agribusiness, civil technologies, fashion and lifestyle business, and sports, among others.
