We’re empowering A’Ibom youths for future –Nsikak Tom, Project Co-ordinator

Nsikak Tom Udo, Project Co-ordinator, Ibom Future Event.

Nsikak Tom Udom is the Project Co-ordinator of Ibom Future Event, the organizer, Ibom Future Awards. Recently, he shed more light on the forthcoming Ibom Youths Future Awards Convention.

Enjoy...

Can we meet you Sir?
Nsikak Tom Udo is a young Chattered Accountant and Project Co-ordinator of Ibom Future Convention.

What led to the setting up of Ibom Future Events?

In the spirit of Dakkada, I led a team of Young passionate Akwa Ibom young experts and professionals that have always wished to have a real platform to contribute their quota and make a huge impact toward the socio economic development of Akwa Ibom State. It’s an Akwa Ibom Youth Brand organisation with strong Akwa Ibom roots that will fully bring the wishes and aspiration of our Young Experts and professionals worldwide into fruition. Ibom Future Events is a fully fledged Youth strategy and Media firm that seeks to inform, equip, inspire and empower Akwa Ibom Young minds by using a team of highly motivated individuals that are dedicated to professionalism, integrity, excellence and who are driven by the fear of God and passion for changing and molding lives of Akwa Ibom Youth. This we do through our numerous youth capacity building programmes that cuts across the length and breadth of Akwa Ibom State. We observed that Akwa Ibom State has the largest number of professionals and young professionals  in the south south region of Nigeria but we are not adequately making use of the skills of these  professionals and the young professionals toward a sustainable development of Akwa Ibom State. We also found out that Government cannot be everywhere and there is need for Private sector led organisations like ours to participate in the collective enterprise of empowering and building of capacities of Akwa Ibom State youths both at home and the diaspora. With Ibom Future Convention and Ibom Future Awards, we have successfully put together a premium event for Akwa Ibom State youths worldwide to be hosted in Uyo that our youths will be proud of. Ibom Future Convention (Celebrating and Inspiring Akwa Ibom Youth)  seeks to bring all Akwa Ibom youth from all walks of life worldwide to discuss and proffer solutions to problems limiting The Akwa Ibom Youth from attaining the height of their potentials. The event inspires these youngminds to become good ambassadors of Akwa Ibom State, Niger Delta and Nigeria at large. Ibom Future Convention brings together Akwa Ibom youths from all over the world thereby promoting internal tourism in Akwa Ibom State.Its a huge event and platform that gives Akwa Ibom Youths world wide a reason to come home and be a part of the great transformation currently going on in Akwa Ibom State. As a leader and Project coordinator of the event I wake up every morning persistent and committed to building a truly Akwa Ibom Youth Event that will make a tangible difference that is sustainable and long lasting.

Why Do You think the capacities of Akwa Ibom Top Professionals and Young Professionals are not being utilised and why is there need to tap their potentials?

Thank You.Tapping and utilising potentials of professionals does not stop at just recognising and appointing them into Government but it should go beyond that.Akwa State has the best brains both at home and the  Diaspora.These brains should be sought after to come transfer knowledge through capacity building to young Akwa ibomites as these capacity building will go a long way to help our Youths be independent and equip them with the skills and knowledge to face Twenty First century challenges..For instance we have professionals that are great Cartoonist like Mike Asuquo the renowned Nigerian Cartoonist, it will not be a bad idea if he is engaged to train a cross section of Final Year Creative Art students in all institutions in Akwa Ibom State the art of cartooning and 3D design/Animation in a specially designed capacity training programme.This is where Ibom Future Comes in. We have the likes of Mr Usen Udoh,the current Chief Human Resource Manager of Dangote Group and immediate past MD of Accenture,Nigeria is one of the most sought after ICT experts in Africa having garnered so much experience in Harvard University.Having a technocrat like this dissect practical ICT fundamentals to Final Year students of Electrical Electronics,Computer Science,and physics in Akwa Ibom State will help build capacities of these young Akwa Ibomites to stand as entrepreneurs.We have young graduates in Electrical Electronics and lots more and my question is that how many of them can repair Pressing Iron or rather cell Phones but we come across many youths around Nigeria making a good living repairing phones.We will also facilitate Legal Practice capacity building programmes for our Law students in University of Uyo and lots more, this we will do through some of the Law student Chambers and other platforms. We are currently in talks with some Akwa Ibom State Senior Lawyers /Senior Advocates of Nigeria and the response so far is favourable.We have planned to also bring in Partners of reputable multinational accounting firms like Price Waters coopers,KPMG,Akintola Williams and Delloite,Ernest and Young to build capacities of Accounting students in all institutions in Akwa Ibom State.Likewise Engineering.Now let’s shift to Akwa Ibom State Youths.We have Uffot Ekong an Akwa Ibom Youth that emerged the best Graduating student in far away Tokai University in Japan,built an electrical Car with two patents under his name and solved an Electrical Electronics problem that could not be solved. He is currently with Nissan in Japan.If  this young man dissects Practical Electrical electronics  problems and research with a cross section of  Engineering students in Akwa Ibom State i guess a lot of capacities will be built here. Also we have Favor Ibok that emerged the best Graduating students in University of Lagos clinically outclassing other Nigerian students,she is currently with KPMG professionals a world class Accounting consulting  firm.Having Favor Ibok teach Accounting in final year class of one of Akwa Ibom State secondary schools make a huge impact.In the same vein we have Victor Ubong,a talent that emerged best graduating student in Covenant university in 2011,emerged best student in ICAN professional examination and  also with KPMG professionals.Having this young man dissect Accounting with our final students in high schools will help inspire greatness in our Youths.Again we have the likes of Dr Uwem Nseowo a Medical Doctor and former best Graduating medical doctor in Uniuyo with 7 individual awards and Edidiong Nseowo (Engr)  a Young Uniuyo First Class Engineer, these and many more are young and very sound Akwa Ibomites that we will key into our capacity building programmes to inspire our young ones. We have top professionals worldwide and its high time we tapped into what they have towards a sustainable development of Akwa Ibom State.In this regard Ibom Future Convention will not only gather the best of Akwa Ibom Youths worldwide to promote internal tourism but we will engage them positively towards the socio economic development of Akwa Ibom State thereby building the Akwa Ibom State we will all live to admire.

What will Akwa Ibom Youths benefit from congregating at Ibom Future Convention Season Five?

At Ibom Future Convention our Youths converge to celebrate the triumph of Akwa Ibom Youths worldwide. To celebrate the Victory of hope for a better future. The inspired hope that there is a divine promise which binds us together in cords of love and brotherhood. The Inspired hope that renews our faith in the Akwa Ibom dream. We also converge to discuss and proffer solutions to problems limiting The Akwa Ibom Youth from attaining the height of their potentials.At Ibom Future Convention Akwa Ibom State Youths will converge worldwide to share ideas,best business practices and carry out peer review  amongst themselves. We will  unleash a full blown arsenal of inspirers both Akwa Ibom Professionals Par Excellence/Captains of Industry and Young professionals worldwide from all sectors of the economy that will engage the minds of Akwa Ibom Young people. This will help build in Akwa Ibom Youths an army of intellectual giants, young entrepreneurs, Youths to be envied, young men and women in pursuit of vision with unquenchable passion that are set to take the world by storm .This is definitely a  historic paradigm shift convention. We  plan to support some start up businesses owned by Akwa Ibom state Youths with some financial grants.we also plan through a specially designed exhibition ground to showcase innovations,inventions, Products and research of Akwa Ibom State Youths worldwide to Akwa Ibom people and the world.The huge support we have gotten for this event is exciting and we hope to break further grounds this year by completely reinventing the concept of youth Empowerment and development in Akwa Ibom State.

Ibom Future is an Akwa Ibom Youth Brand Organisation.How do you intend to promote and Illuminate Akwa Ibom Youth Brand to Nigerians, Africans and the world?

There is a unit in the current administration that is in charge of branding of Akwa Ibom State,but as i have said earlier government alone cannot do everything in Akwa Ibom State hence the need for NGOs,Associations, and Private firms like Ibom Future to come in independently and deliberately to support this branding effort. Recently i posted on social media our social media(online) publicity add  of  Ibom Future Award and an Igbo friend of mine commented that ‘’he wished he were from Akwa Ibom State’’.I was shocked but deep inside of me I was glad that Akwa Ibom Youth Branding effort is working magic. I use this opportunity to call on every stakeholder in Akwa Ibom State project to key into the strategic marketing of Akwa Ibom State Youth brand so as to further create a positive identity of Akwa Ibom Youths that inspires hope, confidence and pride.

How have you and your team managed to engage the best of Akwa Ibom Technocrats worldwide to participate in the convention?

Akwa Ibom State Captains of Industries have seen our platform as consistent as we have consistently gathered nothing less than 2,500 Akwa Ibom Youths together for the past Five Years. We continually set new targets and standards. Our antecedents speak volume of us and that’s why they give us the support whenever we request for such. Ibom Future Convention thank God for the rare opportunity to have hosted the likes of Mrs Mfon Usoro (OOM), Managing Partner of Paul Usoro and Co, former DG of NIMASA, and Current Secretary General of Abuja MOU, Mr Usen Udoh, Former Managing Director, Accenture Nigeria, currently Director, Human Resource Officer, Dangote Group, Mr Udom Inoyo, Executive Director, Human Resource, Mobil Nigeria, Mosunsola O.O Nkanga (Mrs.) MNIM, ACIPM, AIPAN, Cdr Nseobong Akpabio, MON, amnipr, Assistant Corp Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corp., Mr Sam Bassey, Managing Director, Leverage Investments Limited currently the Special Representative to The Governor of Akwa Ibom State(Lagos),Ini onuk a female Lead Consultant/CEO of ThistlePraxis Consulting Limited (TPC),a 2008 Draper Hills Fellow on Democracy and Development at Stanford University California and an alumni of the Harvard Business School Executive Management Program, Mr Joseph Johnson Etem, Liason Officer, Akwa Ibom State Liason Office, Lagos, Mr Okon Iyanam, Chairman Bond Services , Engr. Larry Esin, an Engineer and Harvard Trained Economist, Chancellor of Akpabio Centre for Leadership Development, Pastor Bassey James, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, a great professional, immediate past Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government, presently the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom state. They are all illustrious sons and daughters of Akwa Ibom State and have all graced our events are willing to come back.

Ibom Future Introduced a new event into Ibom Future Convention which is Ibom Future Awards. Can you enlighten us more about Ibom Future Awards?

Ibom Future Event is building a new world and exploring some very interesting concepts and we look forward to sharing these concepts with Akwa Ibom Youths worldwide. Ibom Future Awards (Live Televised) is an Akwa Ibom Youth mentorship initiative that identifies and mentors outstanding Akwa Ibom Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs from all walks of live worldwide that are capable of championing Akwa Ibom State industrialization. The event which is to be hosted on the second day of Ibom Future Convention will feature Akwa Ibom Young Professionals/Entrepreneurs nominated for different categories of Akwa Ibom State Youth biggest Prize (Award) and a further Exposure of all the nominees to practical business/professional mentorship by Akwa Ibom State technocrats, professionals par excellence and captains of industry through Award endowment as it affects their field of endeavor. At Ibom Future Awards we will see Akwa Ibom young professionals/Entrepreneurs dine with Akwa Ibom State technocrats, professionals par excellence and captains of industry and many more. Ibom Future Awards is strictly a black tie and evening gown dress event. The most Sought after Akwa Ibom Youth Award for Hard work and excellence will recognise, honor and celebrate Young Akwa Ibomites, game changers that are inspiring their peers and who are trail blazers in their various fields of endeavour. Ibom Future Awards is the first of its kind and its borne out of the need to fill a gaping hole in our society. We cannot wait for the world to celebrate and promote us; we must do it ourselves and by so doing, we create a ripple effect of empowerment so each Young professional and Entrepreneur (Medical Doctor, Media Practitioner, Legal Practitioner, Fashion Designer, Engineer, Finance Expert, Actor, Actress, Musician, Poet, Writer and lots more) from Akwa Ibom State and around the world will know that there is  light at the end of the tunnel forcing them to aim higher for the best and be just the best. This day of Ibom Future Award is a day to honour Akwa Ibom Youths and senior citizens of Akwa Ibom State, Akwa Ibom Professionals par Excellence and captains of industry will honour our Youths by only sticking to our Dress code of a Black tie and Evening Gown. looool!

What are the categories of Ibom Future Awards?

We have distinguished twenty different unique Award Categories to recognise honour and celebrate the finest of Akwa Ibom Young entrepreneurs and professionals. Most interesting, we are also trying to discourage Youths whose desire is to sit tight on the corridors of power as if life offers nothing else outside of it. Do you have what it takes to be one of the Top Five Akwa Ibom Youths in any profession? This Award event will produce the Top five Akwa Ibom State Youths in different fields of Endeavour, these Top Five Youths will have access to individual and corporate job referrals from top Akwa Ibom State personalities world wide as it affects their  profession. I can vividly recall how many times I have been called upon by Akwa Ibom Chief Executive Officers of blue chip companies to send numbers of Akwa Ibom persons that builds and manages a website, Software Expert, a classy photographers, Lawyers, Journalist, Finance Experts and lots more. It took time before I get one for them. With an Award event like this it’s so easy to identify the best for referrals. The Twenty Award categories carefully carved out are: Ibom Future Youth Prize in Legal Practice, Ibom Future Youth Prize in Medicine, Ibom Future Youth Prize in Engineering, Ibom Future Youth Prize in Media, Ibom Future Youth Prize in Finance, Ibom Future Youth Prize in Leadership, Ibom Future Startup Entreprenuer (Female), Ibom Future Startup Entreprenuer (male), Ibom Future Youth Prize in Fashion, Ibom Future Youth Prize in Creative Photography, Ibom Future Youth Prize in Music, Ibom Future Youth Prize in Movie, Ibom Future Youth Prize in Art, Entertainment and culture, Ibom Future Youth Prize in Community service, Ibom Future Youth Prize in Maritime, Ibom Future Youth Prize in Sport, Ibom Future Youth Prize in ICT, Ibom Future Youth Prize in Leadership, Ibom Future Company CSR of the Year. Nominations for Awards can be made by E-mail, through our official facebook page ‘’Ibom Future Convention’’ and our official website ‘’www. ibomfutureconvention.org’’.

Any lobby for Award yet?

We have not opened nominations for Award categories yet, but Youths have already started nominating. It’s quite encouraging that our Youths believe in us to deliver. Concerning lobby, YES, there have been several lobbies for awards but the integrity of Ibom Future Award is what makes it truly an Award event. The surprises, the tears of Joy, memorable moments and acceptance remarks of those finally called as the winner of the different Award Categories. Yes, this is the passion behind it. Nigerians are fond of Award event where friends and cronies receive awards and are informed months to the event that they will win a particular award category. This is wrong. Anyone can win Ibom Future Award provided you are nominated or rather you nominate yourself for that category. You don’t have to be close to us to win. It doesn’t matter at all. The fact that any nominee for an Award emerges top five Akwa Ibom State youths in a particular field of endeavour is a great achievement that he or she ought to be proud of.

What system will be adopted for the voting process and declaring the winners?

There is an online voting system through our website and Facebook page which collects the phone numbers of voters and the votes are automatically counted. This way the public will see the pattern of votings. More importantly the in-house jury will make the final assessment and evaluation on Curriculum vitae and supplemental documentation/materials(additional Qualifications/certificates, newspaper articles, Journal Articles, Research, Innovation) submitted by all nominees of every award category using our core values of Fairness, Authenticity, Creativity, Excellence, integrity and transparency. The jury evaluation holds 60% while public voting’s hold 40%.

Who are the performers at Ibom Future Awards?

We plan to use this platform to showcase the huge talents of our Youths to the world. Akwa Ibom Youths should expect high energy music performances, world class Dance choreography from Akwa Ibom Youths worldwide. Some of Nigeria’s finest artist will also perform. We will not want to reveal so much now.

How do you fund this huge multi million Naira Project?

Thank You. First and foremost this project is not a political event. Infact we are apolitical. Ibom Future Convention, is a project for Akwa Ibom youths. We don’t see politics, tribe, colour or gender. As a matter of fact Personalities with different political views have graced our events infact Engr. Larry Esin and Mr. Okon Iyanam were both Akwa Ibom Gubernatorial candidates and they both graced our events in 2013, also in 2014 His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel Graced our event but as the Secretary to Akwa Ibom State government then. We are open to any youth lover that has the interest of youths at heart. We give equal opportunity to everybody and decisions are taken purely on merit and for the benefits of Akwa Ibom Young minds. Our funding and sponsorship is totally from the private sector. We have as our sponsors the likes of Equity Assurance Plc, Leverage Investments Plc, Airtel Telecommunication, and lots more. We are still open to more supports and sponsorships.

What is the secrete behind the success of Ibom Future Brand?

First of all we thank God. Our accomplishments for the past Five Years were not a singular effort. It was done through the collective love and labour of hundreds of thousands of Akwa Ibom Youths worldwide. A handful of them were well known. Most of them are hardworking anonymous young chaps who together constitute the backbone and great strength of this event. It was this collective effort that produced the phenomenon called Ibom Future Convention. We thank God for his grace. We work hard, we carry out research and highly dedicated in what we do. We do a lot of thinking and when we think we think outside of the box. We don’t just want to do a Youth event we are Producing a Youth empowerment Show. I am a Chartered Accountant and currently in Law school, I pay attention to every minute detail and our plans ensured we produce a lot of Youth content in our events over the years by engaging our audience in order to find out what they want and move towards that direction. In a nutshell our resourcefulness helped us stabilise, our resilience helped us survive and Our Vision kept us Focused.

Who are your partners?
Institutional partners in Ibom future Convention project are Royal Arts Academy, African hub /lounge ‘Afriville’,606 Music Label (Ketchup), Grand Empire Entertainment, Maximum Disturbance Entertainment, Nigerian Bank of Industry (To intimate Akwa Ibom Youths on how to access SME Funds), Corporate Affairs Commission (To intimate Akwa Ibom on the fast and easy process of registering a business name and its Advantages), Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation, British Council, Youth Alive Foundation  (YAF), Partnership Initiatives in Niger Delta (PIND), United State Agency for International Development (USAID), Small and Medium scale Enterprise Development of Nigeria (SMEDAN). Media Partners are Akwaibomvoice.com. www.connoisseur.com.ng, Nollywoodjobcapitals, Premium times, Cub Communications, Sound City, Hip TV, MTV, Colege Line TV. The office of the Director Brand Communication of Ibom Future Convention headed by Uwemedimo Essienowo is still open for more sponsors and partners.

In a simple sentence, leave a message for the numerous lovers of Ibom Future Convention worldwide?
In a sentence my message to our Youths is...Are you ready?