…Ifot,
adjudge best AKISCOM president
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| L-R: AKISCOM President, Chief Elijah Ifot and His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel chating during the Foundation Laying ceremony in Lagos. |
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| L-R: AKISCOM President, Chief Elijah Ifot and His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel posing for photograph after he was crowned the Grand Patron of AKISCOM |
The event, which started at 1pm, attracted dignitaries from all walks of life. Indigenes of Akwa Ibom, from their home states and their counterparts’ residents in Lagos, trooped in large numbers to Adeniji-Durojaye Street, Surulere. The neighbourhood usually laid back, was turned into a busy enclave, with security personnel on ground to safeguard the venue towards a successful ceremony.
The epochal event was anchored by the trio of Raphael Edem (known as special MC to the Governor Udom) Nollywood actor Uwem Umoh, and Gabriel Isong, a Nollywood producer. These three wise sons of Akwa Ibom State ensured there was never a dull moment at the event. Nka Idorenyin Live Band, on a standby, thrilled the crowd with Efik and Ibibio renditions.
Governor Udom Emmanuel in his speech reiterated his desire and commitment to industrialize Akwa Ibom State, and harness the potential of the indigenes at home and in the Diaspora.
He said: “My administration, poised for greater development of the state, has embarked on life-changing programmes to restore the state’s economy through industrial activities.”
The Governor, who was conferred the grand patron of AKISCOM (Akwa Ibom State Community, Lagos), promised a donation of N50million towards the building of the AKISCOM Plaza. “It’s my desire to see AKISCOM erecting skyscrapers like those in Victoria Island in Lagos. We should always aim high,” he stated.
After the curtain raiser from the state government, donations poured in. Chairman of the occasion, Chief (Barr.) Asuquo A. Okpo donated N2m, while Prince Udom Ekpoudom, retired Deputy Inspector General of Police gave N1m. Obong Paul Ekpo, PDP chairman, Akwa Ibom State, donated N1m on behalf of the party and Mr. Udom Uko Inoyo, Executive Director, Exxon Mobil, made a donation of an undisclosed amount. Popular Nollywood actor-turned politician, Honourable Desmond Elliot of the Lagos State House of assembly, whose wife is from Akwa Ibom State, donated N300, 000. From Chief Edwin Igbokwe, husband of the late Lady of Songs, Christy Essien, came the sum of N1m. A sum of N800, 000 was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Usoro (SAN). Overall, N70m was realized at the ceremony.
One of the highlights of the event was the seven-year-old girl who recited the Dakkada creed offhandedly and was granted scholarship covering her study from primary school to the university by the governor. Ten other students from the 10 Federal Constituencies were awarded scholarships for their university education, courtesy of the Education Committee of AKISCOM.
The scholarship scheme was an initiative of Elijah Ifot, President of AKISCOM, with Elder Sam Bassey, Special Representative of Governor Udom Emmanuel in Lagos, as chairman of the committee.
Just as Governor Udom became the Grand Patron of AKISCOM, both Chief Asuquo Okpo and Dr. Barr. (Mrs.) Mfon Paul Usoro were proclaimed as patrons.
The governor, also called apostle of industrialization, performed the foundation-laying himself. He said work should begin in earnest as he is looking forward to commissioning the plaza in his first tenure in office.
AKISCOM President, Chief Elijah Ifot, whose tenure has witness tremendous positive impact and outstanding performances, assured that construction works will begin as soon as donations started coming in. He expressed his desire to see the plaza completed in one year.
Beside the successful foundation-laying milestone, Ifot is credited with other achievements, such as the empowering of women and youths as epitomised by his creating women and youth wings headed by Chief (Mrs.) Idongesit Ifot and Prince Akan Eduoku respectively, who have been working assiduously to bring together all the 31 local government areas in Lagos under one umbrella towards achieving set objectives.
The Ifot-led administration has been commended for efforts to concretise on unity, love and progress among Akwa Ibomites. So far, the administration has run an all-embracing system where there is no discrimination as per Ibibio, Oron or Annang. Rather everyone is encouraged to see others as brothers and sisters.
Many people believe that he might one day becomes the Governor of Akwa Ibom State pegging it on the fact that all the civilian governors who governed the state so far, came from Lagos.
The event was attended by the crème de la crème of Akwa Ibom State and Lagos ‘Big Boys’ including Secretary to the State Government, Sir Etekamba Umoren, Retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Prince Udom Ekpoudom, and former Commissioner for Investment, Commerce & Industry and former Dean, Forum of Commissioners, Barrister Emmanuel Moses Enoidem. Others were Barrister Paul Usoro (SAN), and his wife Dr. (Mrs.) Mfon Usoro, Lagos’ PDP Gubernatorial candidate in the 2015 election, Jimi Agbaje, Akwa Ibom State’s PDP Chairman, Obong Paul Ekpo, and Sir Val' Attah, Chairman, Local Government Service Commission. Also at the event were Mr. Udom Uko Inoyo, Executive Director, Exxon/Mobil, Akwa Ibom State Attorney General, Barrister Uwemedimo Nwoko, and Dr. Nse Udo Essien, the state’s Commissioner for Science & Technology.
Architect Ime Ekpo, Commissioner for Lands & Town Planning, and Mr. Charles Udo, Commissioner for Information & Strategy, were also in attendance.
Prominent Akwa Ibomites missing at the event were former governor and Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, present deputy governor of the state, Mr. Moses Frank Ekpo and speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. (Barr.) Onofiok Luke, among others.
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