The Akwa Ibom State Government has pledged support to the Emerging Leaders Group on its development initiatives and contributions towards the growth of the state.
The pledge was made by the Commissioner for Information, Ini Ememobong, when he played host to the executive members of the group, along with his Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development counterpart, Dr. Offiong Offor, in the Conference Room of the Ministry of Information headquarters, Uyo.
Ememobong, who expressed delight at the insight demonstrated by the group in creating a centre point for young people to rally together for the purpose of development, observed that youths have always been propellers of great achievements.
He noted the passion and drive exhibited by the group, especially in the area of agriculture, towards the development of young people and commended the group for taking a bold step in keying into the Agricultural Revolution of Governor Umo Eno’s blueprint in their own way.
The Information Commissioner advised the Emerging Leaders to remain focused in ensuring that their efforts were economically and professionally motivated, and not anchored on politics, as development and politics do not correlate.
He assured the group of the Ministry’s collaboration and support through available media platforms for them to showcase their programmes.
On her part, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Offiong Offot, acknowledged the efforts of the Emerging Leaders Group for demonstrating that Agriculture is still the way forward towards the success of the ARISE Agenda.
Dr Offor maintained that it takes conviction for the group to initiate development through agriculture, which many young people see as the profession of the old and
encouraged the group to take their passion beyond the 2 hecters of land earmarked for their demonstration farm.
In his remarks, the team lead and National Coordinator of Emerging Leaders Group, Engr Bobby Ekanem, explained that the Group is a cluster of professional and skilled youths with determination to add value to different sectors of the state economy through increased participation and collaboration of their programmes.
He stated that their programmes were targeted towards fulfilling the ARISE Agenda of Governor Umo Eno, beginning with the Agricultural Revolution.
While enlisting the support of the Ministry of Information, for the propagation of their programmes as well as in discouraging laziness, Ekanem informed and invited the Commissioners to the flag off of their demonstration farm coming very soon.
