Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has called on corporate bodies and well-meaning organisations to partner in the execution of model schools, farms, markets, roads, health care facilities, and other laudable projects in the ARISE Agenda of his administration.
Governor Eno made the call yesterday when he led a delegation from Sterling Petrochemical and Fertiliser Limited, based in the Eastern Obolo Local Government Area, who embarked on a facility tour of the ongoing Petrochemicals construction of CKS Model Primary School, Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo.
During the delegation roundabout of the project, which is nearing completion, Governor Eno appealed to the company to adopt the laudable projects spelt out in the A.R.I.S.E. Agenda blueprint for execution, reasoning that such collaboration would fast-track development in rural communities to underscore the pivot of his administration’s blueprint.
“This is the management of Sterling Petrochemicals. They have a presentation to make to the government and members of the community where they operate in Eastern Obolo, and they are building a very large petrochemical plant in Akwa Ibom, so we’re partnering with the government to provide the enabling environment in the community for them to do their business.
“I used the opportunity to also ask them to support the ARISE agenda through their corporate social responsibility by adopting one of our projects in the area where they operate, whether it’s a model school, a health centre, or a market. We’d like to see them do something.
“They’ve done a lot, from what I know, in supporting the community. That should continue, but we’d also like them to take a bold step, and not just them; we would start with them.
“We’ll talk with other corporate organisations. Our people must be gainfully employed; our young people and our children must be well groomed because they represent the future, and I feel that as cooperative organisations come into the state, they key into what we’re doing for their names to be written in gold.
The governor, who acknowledged the modest contributions of the company in the development of their operational communities, was, however, emphatic that he was not soliciting funds for the projects but actual participation by the companies operating in the state in the A.R.I.S.E. Agenda project execution, stressing that the initiative will open doors of employment to the youth as well as grow the state economy.
“We’re not asking them to give us the money; we’re simply saying, look at the model we have put on the ground; adopt it as part of your corporate social responsibility. And I know Mr. Mohit here, and I had to bring him personally to see him. That’s what I mean by doing a model. People need to see what you’re talking about; you walk the talk, so that’s why we came here before we went into the meeting so he could make up his mind whether to do one, depending on what their management will decide.
“We are not putting them under pressure; we’re just appealing to them to please support us; let’s help our children; let’s help people in those local communities. As you all know, I’m a rural person; I want to develop the rural areas, and they are based in the rural areas. So I’m just asking for partnership; that’s why we’re here”. He explained.
The Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Mehit, acknowledged the giant strides of the Governor Umo Eno-led administration in the first few months of its tenure, describing the initiative as remarkable.
He said the company is committed to the realisation of the A.R.I.S.E. Agenda, which centres on development at the grassroots, assuring that the company would take up one of the projects for execution to enliven the social environment in their areas of operation.
Mr Mahit hinted that the company is undertaking projects at the Western and Eastern axes of Eastern Obolo LGA and would, as part of its corporate social responsibility, spread its development projects to other parts of the state by creating infrastructure.
“This government is less than six months old, and in less than six months, to see what His Excellency has been able to achieve in this model school is simply remarkable. We’re totally committed to His Excellency’s ARISE Agenda; we’re going to evaluate the projects that will come in each of the areas, and I assure His Excellency today and all Akwa Ibomites that we will take one of the projects in Akwa Ibom.
“Right now we are doing projects in Eastern Obolo, on the Western and Eastern axes of Eastern Obolo, but our footprint is across Akwa Ibom, and we commit that we will create development here, we will create infrastructure, and we will lift the social environment for Akwa Ibomites,” he assured.
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