Ibom Industrial City: Don’t Discourage Any Investors, Former SSG Tells Uda Youths

The immediate past Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, has advised the youth of the Uda Community not to be an instrument of illegality to disturb the Ibom Industrial City in Uda and the Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

Dr. Ekuwem gave the charge in his remarks in Ibaka as Father of the Day at the inauguration of the new Executive of Uda Community Youth Development Organisation (UCYDO), the apex youth body in Uda Community, Mbo Local Government Area.

He explained that many people “do not understand what Ibom Industrial City is. The city is about the Uda community; parts of Enwang and Effiat are in Mbo, but 80 percent of the city is in Uda. This is one of the motivating reasons why I am here to urge you (Uda youth) and charge your preparedness to take maximum advantage of the projects through your readiness to be peaceful and organised or risk losing out on the opportunities.”

The former SSG, who advised the youth to prepare and be ready for the benefits about to accrue from Ibom Industrial City, pointed out that the Samsung industry in South Korea’s investment in Ibaka maritime shores is worth 1.4 billion dollars.

He averred that money is a coward and does not go where there is insecurity; money can only stay where there is relative peace, not in a place where there is disarray, hostility, and violence.

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Ekuwem, who expressed his delight in the inaugural speech of the president of the Uda Community Youth Development Organisation, Deacon Daniel Udombo, about the youth’s eagerness to partner with investors and create an enabling peaceful environment, proclaimed that the development coming to Mbo and Oro Nation through Uda is enormous.

The former SSG reminded the youths and the people of Mbo of the speech of the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, during the flagging off of the dualized road in Mbo.

He stressed the need for the youth to be competent in the knowledge of the maritime industry to key into the industrial evolution of Akwa Ibom State in Mbo.

In his remarks, the former President General of the Oron Union, Engr. Asuquo Inuikim, who notified the youth that development loves peaceful ambience, admonished the youth to seek peace among themselves, and the entire community at large.

“God has enabled you to come together in unity and have a new youth executive, I want your cooperation with the investors of various projects, like the Ibom Solutions Hub in Ibaka, for them to come in and dwell in a peaceful environment,” Chief Obon insisted.

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Also speaking, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Uda Community Youth Development Organisation, Chief (Barr.) Edet Atada, expressed his gratitude to God Almighty for the successful transition of governance from his tenure as a pioneer president of Uda youth to the present.

Chief Atada counselled the president to carry all the youths of the community along in the scheme of things and work with all youth presidents of villages in Uda, Mbo, Oro Nation, and Akwa Ibom in general for peaceful coexistence.

He urged the youth to behave responsibly while urging the new president and his Exco to work together in consultation, saying their tenure will be applauded for the amount of peace and development brought to the Uda people.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Occasion, Mr. Bassey Ediette, who is the CEO of B-Flux Nig Ltd., pleaded with the elders to be more open to the youth, be accommodating, and show dexterity in their actions to be copied by the youth.

Ediette, while encouraging the youths to be humble, expressed confidence that the new executive of Uda Youths will bring peace and development to the Uda community.

Thanking the immediate past President of Uda Youth, Comrade Edward Moses, for his successful tenure, Ediette also urged the former president to extend his wealth of experience to the new executive of Uda Youth.

In his inaugural speech, the President of the Uda Community Youth Development Organisation (UCYDO), Deacon Daniel Udombo, thanked the stakeholders, chiefs, elders of Uda, and the BoT chairman of the organisation for their sacrifices in ensuring the smooth transition of the Uda Youth Organisation.

Udombo, while seeking their continuous support, pledged to work tirelessly to build a more progressive and unified Uda.

“We will work on the already established synergy with the Nigeria Police Force and all other security agencies to combat crime and make Uda more peaceful and habitable for future investors,” he defended.

He assured that his leadership would mend and heal the youth in the community and give hands to the traditional fathers, elders, and women to effectively participate in the activities.

“We shall defend our histories, norms and traditions, boundaries, and every essence that makes us Uda, and defend from all forms of criminality,” he added.

The event had in attendance the Honorary Special Adviser to the Governor, Prince Chris Abasieyo; Paramount Ruler of Mbo Local Government Area, HRM Ogwong Okon Abang, represented by the Village Head of Amkprang Uda, Chief Okon Abang; Uda Council of Chiefs; former and serving president of Essu Nlap Oro, Ulap (Chief) Asukwo Enweme (aka Levile); and Ulap Bright Solution Uno.

Others were the President of the Oron Youth Movement (OYOM), Mr. Edet Eyo; businessmen and women in Oro Nation; the DPO; and security operatives in Mbo, among others.

The inaugurated officers who will pilot the affairs of Uda youth for the next four years are Deacon Daniel Udombo as President, Samuel Efanga as Vice President, and Comrade Anietie Esu, Secretary General.

Others are David Sunday, Treasurer; Daniel Etim, Financial Secretary; Esther Boniface, Director of Women Affairs; Daniel Inyang, Welfare Officer; Emmanuel Usoh, Auditor; Israel Abia, Public Relations Officer; and Peter Nkereuwem, as well as Anietie Ekpima, Director of Socials and Provost, respectively.