Equipment at Ikono Youth Development Centre Intact, No Item Stolen — Dr Ekerette Ekanem

By Udeme Hosea

The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Youth Development, Dr Ekerette Ekanem, has debunked reports that equipment at the Ikono Youth Development Centre was being evacuated and stolen, saying all items remain intact.

He stated this on Wednesday during the Ministerial Briefing by MDAs at the Akpan Isemin Hall, Government House, Uyo, noting that he called the Chairman of Ikono LGA and personally visited the facility to confirm that nothing was moved, as the centres have been earmarked for training coming soon.

Dr Ekanem said the Ministry of Youth Development, created as a standalone ministry in September 2024, is determined to focus on building youths across the 31 Local Government Areas through human capital development, leadership, productive engagement and skills acquisition. He disclosed that youth development centres are being established state-wide with facilities ready white some nearing completion in several LGAs, while the first batch of 100 youths has commenced training at the Oron centre.

The Commissioner announced major skills and entrepreneurship programmes including the ARISE Tech Talent Accelerator Programme for digital skills and global certifications in Microsoft, Google and cyber security, and the ARISE Youth Skills Week where 25 and 50 youths won cash prizes in the first and second editions. He said 2,186 youths have graduated from DAKKADA Skill Acquisition Centre.

On grassroots leadership, Dr Ekanem said 620 members of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State chapter, have been elected and inaugurated, while verification of Village Youth Presidents across 2,272 gazetted villages is ongoing. He said 2,183 Presidents have been verified for presentation to security agencies for training and 594 youths engaged in community work. He explained that the Village Youth President initiative is to strengthen security at the grassroots, support intelligence gathering and provide employment, but stressed that their integration should not turn them to police operatives.

Dr Ekanem added that the ministry is taking anti-drug campaign to schools and communities, describing drug abuse as a serious menace, while listing other interventions to include increase of monthly allowance for Akwa Ibom indigenes serving under NYSC.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Umanah, amplifying the youth development strides, noted that the state government under Governor Umo Eno has improved youths access to quality education, provided massive skills acquisition to make them employable, revived school sports, improved youths access to credit facilities, grants , encouraged creativity and innovation through the creation of youth development centres and funded youth development programmes.

Umanah added that, bringing the youth presidents to governance is to strengthen the security apparatus in their respective villages and support intelligence gathering, assuring that the administration remains committed to expanding opportunities that will make Akwa Ibom youths productive, self-reliant and competitive.