Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno PhD, has encouraged the youths of the State, to strive for excellence, competence and capability, saying that these attributes will encourage him to identify with and work with such people.
He stressed that jobs are available in the State for people who are documented on the official portals of the State, but would however, be given on competence not connection or favoritism.
The Governor made this known Wednesday, during the commissioning of the Model Primary School, in Uko-Oyukim, Oron local government area.
Speaking on the Procurement Construction Portal, he said: “We are opening up Procurement Construction Portal, so we can encourage our young people who have requisite qualifications and antecedents, they can help us open the frontiers of construction in Akwa Ibom.
“We hope everyone will go to the portal. If you are not on that portal, even if you’re my mother that has gone to be with the Lord, I can’t help you. That is the portal we use so that statistics can be very clear.
“We are using simple questions in line with the procurement law of Akwa Ibom State, we are not about doing trial and error because we are in a hurry. I am not dealing with you on the basis of where you come from. I am dealing with you on the basis of your deliverable.
“So please, for our young people, we are not shipping out jobs, the few we will give to outsiders who have capacity, but 90% of the job is for us here” he stated.
While lauding Mr Ukeme Peter, a young man whose company handled the building of the school project, Governor Eno said the young contractor was an example he wished others could emulate.
Speaking also during the commissioning, the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Akon Eyakenyi lauded Governor Eno, describing him as a visionary leader who is passionate about education and has a clear foresight for the future.
She emphasized that Governor Eno truly understands the value of education, which is why he pursued his academic journey diligently, affirming that laying a solid educational foundation is the key to unlocking future academic achievements.
“Your Excellency, you are a man that sees into the future. You are a man that loves education and that is why you had to go through all the levels to have a PhD.
“And with that, sir, you know that the foundation starts from the primary school, that when the foundation is properly laid, the other levels will excel.
According to the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ubong Umoh, “The Model Primary School, Uko-Oyukim is an edifice that is a world-class example of what primary educational cradle should look like”.
Mr. Umoh mentioned that the building comprises 19 well-polished classroom blocks to take care of 495 students, an ICT lab, a fully furnished library, head teacher’s office and waiting area, an auditorium, an ultra-modern football field, among others.
Delivering his welcome remarks, the Chairman of Oron LGA Mr Okon Enweme appreciated Governor Umo Eno for transforming Uko-Oyukim primary school, adding that the school has given a facelift to the whole community.
“We thank you for changing this place. This is old Uko-Oyukim, those that have been out of this place for 3 years, if they enter this place, they will know that this is no longer the old Uko-Oyukim. Your Excellency, I thank you for doing this for the Oron people. God bless you” he said.
