Self-Development In A Challenging Economy

By Etuk Victor

Self-development, according to Prof. Idara Akpabio is simply the process of learning new things and building new skills that help increase chances of success, achieving set goals, and manifesting dreams. As life progresses, one is bound to face a variety of circumstances, changing environments, and new roles that require adaptation and change where applicable. A personal development plan helps to handle the pressures that come with continuous changes and challenges so that one is well-equipped to excel in all areas of life.

Prof. Idara Akpabio, the guest lecturer during the 2023 matriculation ceremony at Peace Institute of Management and Technology bared these thoughts and challenged the audience and students to be creative, think and act like imitators in order to carve a niche for themselves and create innovation for the public good. Prof. Akpabio the former Dean, Faculty of Science, past Chairman, Committee of Deans, University of Uyo spoke on the topic, ‘Knowledge Management And Self Development In A Challenging Economy’ described ‘self’ as a real person while an ‘ideal self’ as imaginary and expected success to achieve in the nearest future explained that one needs to be selfish to achieve his ideal self by adapting series of strategies to achieve the goal through personal development before thinking of helping other people. The erudite scholar recommended AI (Artificial intelligence) to his audience as the aim of knowledge management, “AI is basically used in the world and to ease stress in all aspects of life including, educational, healthcare, social media, agriculture, voice assistant, e-commerce, robotics lifestyle etc. With the use of AI, all virtual issues of life challenged by the economy can be solved.”

Prof. Akpabio further challenged his audience to be creative, with the knowledge acquired with the help of AI, students and citizens can be able to live independently knowing fully well that venturing into art or selling products will be easier with the help of social media platforms, to add value to the society as well as create a fortune for themselves while solving the unemployment question, being willing to think of new ideas and work hard, yet they start by copying others. “Let the knowledge acquired in your period of learning be translated into wisdom and understanding for the ultimate benefit of yourself and mankind. Let’s work smartly not hard. ”

Peace Institute of Management and Technology (An Innovative Polytechnic) was established in 2016, located at Abak Urban Kilometer four, Mbarakom Abak in Abak local government area of Akwa Ibom State has since its establishment played a tremendous role in reducing illiteracy in the community. As part of the institution’s corporate social responsibilities to the operational community and in line with its Motto, “knowledge for empowerment”, a patriarch, Apostle Efefiong Udosen from Uruan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State had a dream of establishing an educational Institution where knowledge is transferred from one generation to another, the institute has met up basic requirements hence it’s license and accreditation by Federal Ministry of Education as well as National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the new birth of development.

The Institution is focused on its mission of providing a “suitable environment for academic and moral development that will guarantee the production of globally competitive graduates for societal benefit and self-reliance at affordable school fees”, emboldened by its Vision as an “academic center of excellence that will provide an enabling environment for students to maximize their potentials in their chosen course of study and build intellectual development for the benefit of the society.

Present at the epochal ceremony were among others, Prof. Udosen P. E., Rector/Head of Administration, Peace Poly; Dr. Emmanuel Inokon, Dean of Studies, Peace Poly; Ass. Prof. Uduak Utibe, Facilitator, PGDE NTI/Uniport Programme; Dr. Ette Emmanuel E., Facilitator, PGDE NTI/Uniport Programme; Dr. Akpan Mathew J., Facilitator, PGDE NTI/Uniport Programme; Comr. Samuel Essien, Dean, Students Affairs, Peace Poly; Mrs. Idorenyin Udoudo, Acting Registrar, Peace Poly; Mr. Aniekan Johnson, Deputy Registrar; Dr. Joseph Udo, Dean Post Graduate School; Mr. John Ndianabasi, Ag ICT Director and all staff and students of the institution with some of their parents. Other guests that were present at the event were the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Abak and the representative of the Commanding Officer (CO), Nigerian Army, Ibagwa, Abak.