By Ekemini James
Vision
is said to be the capacity to see beyond one natural eyes; it is a composite
picture. Invariably, it serves as the signpost, pointing the way for all who
need to understand where a leader is and where he intends to go. Indeed, it has
the compelling ingredients that serves to inspire, motivate and engage people
offering leverage in the change process,from one administration to the other.
To
be gleaned from this is that leadership success always start with vision. There
is practically no way one cab separate vision from Leadership. This is why an
American Scholar Warren Gamaliel Bennis posited that "leadership is the
capacity to translate vision i to reality and that great things are
accomplished by talented people who believe they will accomplish them".
Governor
Udom Emmanuel no doubt exhibited these trappings of visionary leadership and
accentuated good governance by giving a new lease of life to Akwa Ibom State
and her people through giants strides that are hinged on Five point Agenda of
job creation, poverty alleviation, wealth creation, economic and political
inclusion and infrastructural consolidation and expansion.
Already
the wind of industrialization is blowing across the strata in the State as
evidenced in massive rehabitation of moribund industries, roads constructed,
youth empowerment through technical and vocational skills acquisition and
entrepreneurial training (AKEES), transformation of health sector as well as
investment in agriculture.
Interestingly,
his germane efforts and passion for good governance and leadership have not
only ranked him as the beat performing governor by the Leadership newspaper but
also a truly genuine leader of our time, strongly committed to eradicating
unemployment and poverty by getting the teeming youths off the street and into
work through his brainchild scheme - Akwa Ibom Enterprise and Employment Scheme
(AKEES) which was established to reawaken the spirit of enterprise; bringing
out the entrepreneurial spirit of an Akwa Ibom person through the Dakkada
creed.
In
2015 when he was elected governor of Akwa Ibom State, he observed that idleness
especially across the youth population was fast becoming a norms with the
attendant culture of begging and holding swag as a way of life.
The
scheme has the mandate to structure vocational skills acquisition as well as
boost entrepreneurial capacity through a robust enterprise development
programme, the government is using scheme to empower our teeming youths through
hands-on training packages.
When
the scheme was established, there were furry of reactions while some people say
it was another deceptive initiative by government to deceive the public others
taught it was all about white collar job.
AKEES
has worked to get young people off the streets and into organised work through
trainings, partnerships, franchise schemes, and targeted enterprise development
scheme. Today, the scheme represents a documentary of progress and resounding
success. AKEES, has leveraged on this global industrial exception and engage
our teeming youths positively through its platform, which covers a broad range
of SMEs, and common facilities.
Governor
Udom Emmanuel has also come with the crees and philosophy of greatness,
"Dakkada" which has changed the psyche of Akwa Ibom. This is why Udom
deserves our commendation and support. Just like the Senior Special Assistant
on Technical Matters and Due Process, Elder Ufot Ebong's view of the governor, he is
indeed, one to be studied. Here is one sane governor with a strong conviction
that entrepreneurial development can reposition Nigeria economically ,while
feeding its populace.
See more pictures below...
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