TheHILL | BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 8
It was all cheers, praises, smiles, commendations and eulogies as captains of industry and commerce, friends,politicians, colleagues and kinsmen thronged Rubies Bar, Nto Usung Lane, in the ancient Raffia City of Ikot Ekpene Saturday, September 4, to witness the investiture on VKS Group Human Resources Manager, Mr. Ndianabasi Isong, with the prestigious United Nations Worldskills Extramiles Gold Service Medal 2021.
This was in recognition of his massive investments in youth skills development, in line with the subsisting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030, which proposes the two goals of Education and Skills for employment.
In his speech, worldskills Nigeria Senior Knowledge Executive, Dr. Sarai Drake, said her group was delighted to see individuals outside Government taking initiatives to reinvigorate and disrupt society with provocative will of change and actions.
Dr Drake informed that the UN group was impressed by the news on and recommendations of Mr. Ndianabasi Isong’s nomination especially from the artisan community in regards to grassroots youth skills development and empowerment within his very community, and applauded Mr. Isong for his thoughtfulness, commitment, generosity and job well done.
She intimated that the United Nations General Assembly in December 18, 2014, had adopted a resolution, declaring July 15 of every year as World Youth Skills Day and that the event commemoration flag off was first observed in July 15, 2015 at various centres by different institutions globally, acknowledging the strategic importance to accept skills development as a primary means of enabling young people to transit smoothly to work.
On the essence of the award, Dr Sarai Drake stressed that it is intended to raise skills ambassadors who are major stakeholders in various industries, create awareness and legislations for skills development, create strong institution for regulations and registration of activities of Artisans, provide supports to train ten thousand(10,000) young school leavers and under graduates on industries, support skills to work transition and global market as well as enhance global capacity and patronage for “Made in Nigeria products” and services.
“The nomination was made within the zones by various affiliate primary society groups. Therefore you were nominated by the National Artisan, Traders and Allied Technicians Association (Natata) and ratified by 28 Congress yes votes and 13 Hall of Fame members votes within Uyo, Calabar, Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo and Abia Zone, while Anambra and Imo States were the null votes,” she informed.
The Senior Knowledge Executive urged the recipient, Mr. Ndiana Isong, to use the ambassadorial platform to further encourage and support development in his home town especially at this period of socio-economic regional recovery.
Also speaking, Head, Social Services of Women in Enterprise, Mrs. Blessing Bright eulogized the recipient, Mr. Ndianabasi Isong in her goodwill message, for his love for his people, stressing that her group has been a major beneficiary of Mr. Isong’s milk of human kindness.
She expressed confidence and hope that the award will further engender more commitment and contribution in the overall interest of ordinary people in our various communities.
Responding, the UN Gold Medal recipient, Mr. Ndianabasi Isong thanked God basically for the enablement to be of service to humanity and the
United Nations World skills Extramiles for promptly recognizing his little contributions in communal service provision stressing, that he was taken aback.
He said he did not lobby or paid for the recognition and was until a few days ago struggling with the reality that he was to be accorded such honour.
He revealed that his only joy was not really the award it self but the lives touched by his minute contributions and pledged his determination to do more for the benefits of his people even as he thanked his amiable wife, for all her support, encouragement and drive in ensuring that he thought beyond self.
Goodwill messages were presented by Citizens Voices Int’l Director of Medical Services, Dr. Elijah Ukpong, Pastor Akan Ita, Isong’s family member, Public Relations Officer of AKSU and a representative of VKS Construction, Mr. Obinna Nwoke.
Mr isong is currently the Group Human Resources Manager of VKS Nigeria Construction Ltd, an internationally recognized firm presently undertaking numerous projects in Russia,Georgia, Turkey, Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Gambia, Libya, Congo and Gabon.
Highpoint of the event was the presentation of the UN coveted medal to Mr. Ndiana Isong.
Have any useful information for us? Send to, [email protected] or WhatsApp; 08022878104
