Newsfront Online …Telling the Public as it is
……As Consultants commend State Government for plans to Kickstart the school in April
By Ephraim Okpongette
All is Set for the commencement of training in the Akwa Ibom State Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre, (DASAC), Ikot Adaidem in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area .
The first batch which will commence training in April is expected to accommodate
500 students in seven faculties.
The disclosure was made known by Gov. Udom Emmanuel during an assessment and inspection of facilities by a delegation of Consultants from the University of Lagos Entrepreneurial Skills Development Centre, Lagos.
Gov. Emmanuel who was represented by the Commissioner for Labour and Manpower Planning, Elder Aniefiok Nkom affirmed the state government ‘s preparedness to benchmark standard in the administration of the school which informed the decision to partner with a reputable institution in achieving best practice and professionalism.
“His Excellency has mandated us to liaise with the Consultants to get the best hands who would put out modules for staffing, for the smooth management of the centre. In the next one week, we will know the progress, and from what we have seen on ground, we believe that in April, the school should start”.
Gov. Emmanuel expressed delight over the execution of the project according to specification, noting that the school would be ready for inauguration in April. The Delegation examined facilities and equipment at the various faculties, departments and units of the institution and made adjustments and recommendations.
Earlier, Governor Emmanuel who hosted the visitors in government house, Uyo expressed delight at their visit. Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, said that the establishment of the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre was borne out of the desire to create wealth, provide employment opportunities, alleviate poverty from the mammoth crowd of unskilled and unemployed youths in order to equip them with proficiency in skills and certification and make them useful to themselves and the society.
According to the Governor, “The Objective of the Skills centre is to serve as a source of economic manpower and boost Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMES), for the people, Change of mindset of the citizens and Public and Private partnership (PPP), for the success of the center”. He called for total support and cooperation from the team especially on Training the Trainers programme and Technology transfer.
Responding, the Lead Consultant, Professor Sunday Adebisi, who is the Director, University of Lagos Entrepreneurial Skills Development Centre, commended the Governor for his vision and people oriented programmes implemented for the development of the people, particularly, the establishment of the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre (DASAC) for training of the citizens.
Prof. Adebisi, stated that the University of Lagos is appreciative of the positive collaboration and hence released a total of seven Professors, heading various departments in key areas of study to come for a first hand assessment and inspection, promising to contribute their best for the upliftment of the centre.
Sited on a large expanse of green land, the Centre “DASAC” once an abandoned institution for decades has been revived, turned around for good in line with the Dakkada philosophy, as an industrial estate to feed the State, nay, the Nation
Taking the visitors and Journalists around, the massive and well laid out edifice, the Commissioner for Labour and Manpower Planning, Elder Aniefiok Nkom accompanied by the Project Consultant, Mr. Churchill Udo (Westgate) and Coordinator of the Centre, Mr. Steve Ubiam, introduced the different faculties, departments, units and services.
DASAC, has a hospital unit to serve the centre and its environs, hostel accommodation for students and Staff quarters. A river for dredging of sand for industrial blocks molding of 6,000 daily capacity, water supply for centre. Agriculture/Food Security, Animal husbandry, construction of ponds for fisheries, Poultry of 35,000 capacity, with hatcheries, Piggeries and Cattle ranch.
Others are; Wood work, Welding and fabrication, Plumbing, Fashion designing, Information and Communication Technology, (ICT) and Computer with 100 seating capacity. Industrial kitchen for bakery and mechanic Workshop among others.
Commenting, after assessment of the facilities, Prof. Abiola Sanni, (SAN), Prof.Sunday Ojolo, Dr. Chika Yinka-Banjo and Dr. Atinuke Lano-Maduagu, as well Ade Akitoye and Amb. Adeniyi Sola all expressed appreciation to Governor Emmanuel for committing huge financial resources and infrastructure to bring such magnificent scheme back to operation.
The scholars pledged to provide professional expertise to stimulate the chain value of the Centre, through curriculum development, train the trainers scheme, and other services as may be required for the success of the Centre to contribute to the sustainable growth and development of the state.
Other government officials on the tour were, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning, Mr. Nicholas Effiong, Director of Administration, Mr. Uduak Bassey, Head of Department, Manpower Planning, Mr. Patrick Ekong, SA to Governor on ICT, Mr. Richard, and Assistant Director of Information, MLMP, Mr. Ephraim Okpongette, among others.
