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The Akwa Ibom State Government has keyed into the National Human Capital Development (HDP) Intervention Programme aimed at improving the lives of additional 24 million under five years old children to become more healthy, educated and productive by 2030.
The Programme which implementation is supervised by the office of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, directed by the National Economic Council (NEC), is focusing on three major areas of Education, Health and Labour. This development was made known when the Hon Commissioner, Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning, Prof. Victor Inoka and other members of the State Council for HCD Core Working Group, the Commissioner of Education, Prof. Nse Essien, and Commissioner, for Health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong, represented by Dr. Iboro Udo hosted members of National Core Working Group from Abuja, in the conference room of the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning, in Uyo, the State capital.
Prof. Victor Inoka who is the State Chairman of Council for the CWG, also had in attendance, the Focal Person, Mr. Uduak Isaac, as, well, as the management staff of MLMP, who all welcome the visitors and commended the HCD initiative.
Briefing the visitors, the Commissioners enumerated some of the programmes of their Ministries that contribute to the HCD of the State, such as, free and compulsory education, provision of infrastructure and free medical services to the children and the aged, and training of the people, especially, the youth for productive engagement, among others.
The team was informed that the State Governor, His Excellency, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel gives priority to programmes for human capital development of the State and do made it part and parcel of the 5 points Agenda of the first term administration, as well, the expanded 8 points of the Completion Agenda of his second term. These include, wealth and Job creation, Infrastructural development, Political, inclusion and Industrial renaissance, as well, Aviation development, Ibaka Deep Seaport development, and Rural Areas and Riverine Areas development. With emphasis on employment creation, human capital development.
Responding the lead Person, Core Working Group (CWG) of the HCD, Yosola Akinbi, on behalf of her entourage, expressed appreciation to the State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel and Government functionaries for the warm welcome accorded them. Introducing the programme, the State Focal Person, Uduak Isaac, and Yosola Akinbi said the intervention became imperative in view of Nigeria’s ranking as a country with low human capital development by the United Nations. She stated the intervention is a pilot scheme for selected States which include Akwa Ibom State.
Their visit culminated into stakeholders HCD Engagement Session at Ibom hall, Ibb way, Uyo, for interactive meeting with people of the State. The advocacy was to create awareness and enlighten the people to be involved in the process of re-engineering, reinventing an industrious future for the benefit of the society.
The Stakeholders meeting was graced by eminent persons as University Dons, top Government functionaries, Captain of industries, Medical professionals, Labour leaders, and Civil Society groups, across gender.
Presenting a vote of thanks, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning, Dr. (Mrs) Valerie Obot, thanked Government, the visitors and stakeholders for honouring invitation. The team later paid homage to the Paramount Ruler of Uyo LGA, HRM, Edidem Sylvanus Effiong Okon, who expressed appreciation to the team, the progamme, and gave his royal blessings.
