…Hails Gov Emmanuel for creating enabling environment for private sector
… 366 Fed govt N-Power beneficiaries to commence training on various skills
By Mfonobong Ukpong
A private Polytechnic, Southern Atlantic Polytechnic located along airport road in Uyo, has been granted license by the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE. The approval was granted two weeks ago.
Proprietor of the Polytechnic, Pastor Bassey James dropped the hint, Thursday while conducting this reporter round the facility.
The Polytechnic which is sited on a 35hectare of land crisscrossing Uruan, Ibesikpo Asutan and Nsit-Atai offers various programmes with focus on entrepreneurship, skills, leadership development and engineering courses.
Already, the Federal government through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs has selected the Polytechnic as a centre in the South-South for the training of youths in various skills under the N-Power programme. A total of 366 N-Power beneficiaries will commence their training at the Polytechnic in two weeks time.
Speaking with this reporter on Thursday, Pastor James appreciated Governor Udom Emmanuel for creating the enabling environment for the private sector to thrive in the state. He also hailed President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Minister of Humanitarian Affairs for approving his Polytechnic as one of the training centres in Nigeria for the N-Power programme.
James who is a Pastor at Royal House of Grace Ministries, Lagos said as an Akwa Ibom person who means well for his State, he decided to invest in the education sector in his home State with focus on Polytechnic education, noting that Polytechnic education plays a vital role in human resource development of a country by creating skilled manpower, enhancing industrial productivity and improving the quality of life.
“I ventured into Polytechnic education to compliment efforts of the state and federal government. We believe that the federal government and the State alone cannot fund education, hence the private sector must partner the government in creating alternatives and opportunities for those willing to embrace Polytechnic education.
Pastor James announced that he has acquired more land and has put more facilities on ground preparatory to the commencement of Southern Atlantic University, and commenced foreign partners who are involved in the project.
“This is a unique institution. Our focus is on entrepreneurship development, skills and leadership training. We have facilities for shoe making, soap production, ICT programmes, software development and many more. We have 13 programmes on board.
“We believe government alone cannot do it. Let me thank Governor Udom Emmanuel for giving enabling environment to promote education and entrepreneurship. We are working very hard to ensure the commencement of Southern Atlantic University, because our foreign partners are interested in developing Akwa Ibom State”
“Governor Udom Emmanuel has transformed the face of governance with his policies, programmes and projects. We believe we must build synergy to create the enabling environment for seven million Akwa Ibom people. There must be that symbiotic, deliberate and concise leadership effort if we must build the Akwa Ibom of our dream”.
