The Director General, Greater Calabar City Development Authority Comr Kingsley lta Asanye lkpeme as part of his resolves to enhance entrepreneurship and leadership development among the youth of Eniong Abatim community in particular and in extension, Cross River State, is sponsoring skills acquisition training in partnership with Offiong lkpeme Foundation.
Speaking during the official opening ceremony of the one month training exercise (billed from 2nd August, 2021 to 1st September, 2021) held on 2nd August, 2021 at the Offiong Ikpeme Foundation N0. 80 Uwanse street, Calabar, lkpeme welcome the participants/beneficiaries and stated that the scheme is part of his contribution to humanity noting that the best investment is human capacity development. Speaking further, he opined that this is a wake up call aimed at reorientating the youth mindsets towards being future employers of labour, self reliant and wealth creators instead of being Job seekers or depending on white collar jobs.
Ikpeme stated that the exercise is apt as it is coming when Abatims (of North Western Calabar) are preparing for Eniong Abatim summit slated for 14th August, 2021 at the Hope Waddell Training Institution Calabar by 10am.
He commended the participants for embracing and taking advantage of the golden opportunity and further advised them to shun conducts which are inimical to the image of their family and society while undergoing the training and thereafter.
It would be recalled that, comr. Kingsley lkpeme who is also the chairman of Odukpani Leadership Academy on the 3rd of July, 2021 played host to Eniong Abatim indigenes and friends at ground zero, where he promised sponsoring the youth of Eniong Abatim community in skills acquisition training and offering of scholarships to indigents but brilliant students of Eniong Abatim community extraction.
In his speech shortly before declaring the skill acquisition training open, the chairman of the occasion and chairman Eniong Abatim community, *Elder Dr. David Okon JP,*ably represented by Hon. Moses Akpatre, commended comr. Kingsley lkpeme and Offiong lkpeme Foundation for the initiative in coming together to organize this training exercise which is geared towards building human capital development. He stressed that this is the best time to train and orientate the youth as they are still young in their prime and open to learning. He advised the youth on the need for financial diversification as the reality today encourages more than one stream of income in a family.
In her remark Lady, Prof. Robito Ekpiken advised the youth that the future belongs to them and they must make conscious efforts to develop their capacity in order to compete favourably in 21st century and emerging economic dynamics.
She applauded the initiators of the training and calls for mentoring of the youth by the elders as a way of reducing deviance among the youth who constitute the active force in the society.
The University Don urged the youth to always acknowledge God in all their endeavors.
Also speaking, the board chairman of Greater Calabar City Development Authority Mr Bassey Effiom, chairman National Youth Council of Nigeria CRS Chapter: comrade Dan Obo, DSO Odukpani LGA: Mr. Ita Ekanem, president Nacriss World Wide :Comrade Ovat Peter, commended the organisers of the training exercise, urged the trainees to be serious with the training exercise for a better result, they said such program will contribute immensely in eradicating the monster of youth unemployment, restiveness and other deviant behaviors from the society.
In his vote of thanks, Mr. Offiong lkpeme CEO of Offiong lkpeme Foundation thanked God for his benevolence for the successful opening of the skills acquisition training and expressed appreciation to all who attended the event despite their tight schedule. He said the Offiong lkpeme Foundation is a vision to empower the society through entrepreneuship, change the narrative by making people self reliant and call on all to take advantage of the foundation and develop their skills as he is determined to continually add value to the society.
He also commended the co-sponsor of the programme, Kingsley lkpeme for the partnership and call for more of such in the nearest future.
Offiong informed that by saturday, 7th August, 2021 there would be exhibition of the products made by the newly admitted trainees at Etaval hotel calabar by 2pm in order to inspire and challenge them.
Also In attendance were: Mr. Patrick Nyong:SA Chieftency Affair’s Odukpani LGA, Pastor Echeri Echeri, Chairman Eniong Youth Council :Comr Victor Asuquo Effiong, Mr. Echeri Ekpenyong, gentlemen of the press, friends, trainees and instructors. The event featured official opening of the exercise, questions and answers session, inspection of already made products, group photographs entertainment, etc.
The skills acquisition training shall feature training on the following:
* Cake and Pastries
* Shoe and bag making
* Cosmetology
* Make over and Gele
* Fashion Designing
* Hair and wig making
* Fascination making, etc.
This is such a wonderful opportunity that every youth in Cross river and beyond should seem fit not to lose