TheHILL | EDUCATION | AUG.30.
Excitement and jubilation rented the air at the Obio Akpa campus of Akwa Ibom State University, Oruk Anam Local Government Area on Monday as the member representing Oruk Anam/Ukanafun Federal Constituency in the National Assembly; Hon. Unyime Idem, donated a 300-seater capacity 6 classroom lecture hall and 50-seater capacity e-Learning centre to the State owned University.
The facilities which were handed over to the management of the University, brought joy and praises from the State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, who was special guest at the event, top government functionaries, Royal fathers and Oruk Anam/Ukanafun constituents, among others, to the lawmaker.
Addressing the people, the State Chief Executive hinted that education was an integral part of his Completion Agenda and applauded Hon. Idem, for his contribution and collaboration to promote the important sector.
Represented by the Commissioner for Labour and Manpower Planning, Mr. Aniefiok Nkom, the governor explained that his Government was committed to delivering all-inclusive, quality education at all levels in a conducive environment for learning aided by technology.
He applauded the Federal lawmaker for providing the facilities in other to promote positive learning outcomes, maintaining that the lecture hall and the state-of-the-art e-learning centre will support the raising of the next generation of ICT compliant leaders who would help advance the course of humanity.
On her part, the State Commissioner for Education; Mrs Idongesit Etiebet, noted that Hon Idem was emulating the governor, whom she described as “the most education friendly governor in the Country,” stressing that the Emmanuel administration has given special attention to education more than any other government in Nigeria.
Assuring that the conscious effort of the National Assemblyman will not be in vain, the Education boss encouraged students of the school to make good use of the donated items.
“I thank Hon. Unyime Idem for this excellent and well- thought out gift. He has explained to us that it was not enough to build the lecture hall, thus the need to also provide the massive e-Learning centre as part of his contribution to the Governor’s digitization of education in the State. This will bring a remarkable change in the well-being of our student in this university.
“I charge the management and Students of AKSU to judiciously utilize the e-learning centre and ensure that the buildings are well secured and preserved for continuous use so as to motivate my dear brother; Idem and others to do more,” she stated.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Nse Essien, Paramount Rulers of Oruk Anam and Ukanafun LGAs, political heavyweights including the political leader of Ukanafun; Obong Eno Akpan, Chairman, Ukanafun Local Government Council, Hon Godwin Inyieng, PDP stakeholder in Oruk Anam and Board Chairman; Chief Sunny Udom, PDP House of Assembly candidate for Oruk Anam State Constituency, Prince Sampson Idiong, a former Chairman of Oruk Anam, Atuekong Ubong Idiong, among others, equally applauded the donor, describing his performance at the National Assembly as uncommon in the history of the Federal Constituency.
Earlier, the man of the moment, Hon. Unyime Idem, informed that the donated items were his “little way of contributing to the completion agenda of Governor Udom Emmanuel and the promotion of knowledge.”
Idem, who is the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Communications, used the occasion to enumerate no fewer than twelve (12) similar projects he has built and handed over to various schools across the two Local Government Areas of Ukanafun and Oruk Anam.
The highlights of the occasion were the official handing over of the well-furnished 300 seater capacity 6 classroom block lecture hall with VIP toilet, 50-seater capacity e-Learning centre with full complement of VSAT internet facility, computer tables and swing chairs to the State owned University.
In an exclusive chat with TheHILL, shortly after the ceremony, a student of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Brian Edemekong, expressed delight to Hon. Idem, adding, “I promise not only to help in making good use of the facilities, I will also maintain and take good care of them.”
