20/10/2022
I'll Engage the Youths Systematically
for Growth - Afia
Engr. (Dr.) Ekereobong Afia, the Candidate representing The New Nigerian People's Party, (NNPP) in Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District for the upcoming general elections spoke with Uko Callistus, The Sensor Correspondent.
In this exclusive interview, Engr. (Dr.) Afia
talked about his lofty plans and vision
for the development of the people
and indeed, the youths of Eket Senatorial District.
Excerpts:
*Thank you so much for creating
time for this exclusive interview.
Before we proceed, kindly
introduce yourself for the benefit of
my readers.
📌 My name is Engr. (Dr.) Ekereobong
Afia. I hail from Nnung Oku Ekanem,
in Onna LGA, in the South Senatorial
District of Akwa lbom State. By
the grace of God, I am the New
Nigerian People's Party (NNPP)
Candidate for the Akwa lbom South
Senatorial District. I am a graduate of
Civil Engineering, and also have Masters Degree in Business Administration.
I have worked in EXxonMobil, a multinational Corporation, for over 27years and garnered indepth working experience in the Oil
and Gas sector of the economy. I offer myself to represent my people in this capacity as a Senator. After deep soul-searching moments, and having understudied the programmes most pertinent for effective Senatorial District
representation; I do not only think, but also strongly believe that I am most qualified, considering my years of experience
and exposure in the oil and gas industry to
represent the good people of Akwa
Ibom South Senatorial District, effectively and efficiently in the Red Chamber come 2023.
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*Sir, as you've clearly elaborated, you're
aspiring to represent the people of
Akwa lbom South Senatorial
District in the National Assembly
come 2023, please share with us:
What is the main drive behind this
aspiration?
📌The drive behind my aspiration is
service. That is the key word.
The propelling factor is that
Akwa lbom South Senatorial District,
popularly called, Eket Senatorial
District, is one of the major Oil producing
senatorial Districts in Nigeria. Infact, it is a known truth that we are the second largest
producers of Crude Oil in Nigeria.
But when you take an unbiased look at the issues affecting the Senatorial District, you'll agree with me that a lot needs to be done for us to be clearly represented, and identified as stakeholders; with potential and capacity in Nigeria. The examples can be obtained in
many areas; the economy, the people, the direction we are headed, and the rate of development has been misinterpreted. So, with my experience in the Oil and Gas
sector, I know that, I have the capacity to change the way things are done presently in the senatorial District. My vision is to put into the right perspective; blueprints for economic growth, thereby creating resources for human empowerment, and as a spill-over effect, to drive the emancipation of the our people.
Those are the major drives for me:
the burning passion to serve, vested in the aspiration to represent the good people of Eket Senatorial District in the Red Chamber come 2023. I am seeking this opportunity, to secure an enabling platform to contribute my quota for the development and growth of our
Senatorial District, and indeed, our great people.
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*Sir, you're saying in effect, that your aspiration is an emancipation movement for the people of Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District. Have you taken time to understudy
the causes of ineffective representation and underdevelopment in the Senatorial
District, despite being a major oil producing area in NIgeria, before you
set out on this journey?
📌 With due respect to all the Senators that have represented us in the previous years, why we are where we are today, is because of the nature of the politics of Oil and Gas in Nigeria.
We need a representative that has vested and educated knowledge in the Oil and Gas sector,
to be the bridge for the people, in the areas they should benefit from the resources that come from their area. This is key to human cm socio-economic development of the
Senatorial District.
Another thing is, being able to draw
up a programme, that can quickly pull
out, from the way things are being done now, to a more engaging approach, where people will be given the opportunity and made to
participate at the center, not only waiting
and depending on the government to
bring development and economic empowerment to the people.
So, effectively, if l am in Abuja, representing the Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District, I will
be able to link up the people of Eket Senatorial District to various Ministries where our oil money is being spent, to impact developmental processes. By so doing, I, along with like-minded patriots will be able
to draw in economic programmes,that will create economic revolution in Eket Senatorial District.
Apart from that, as a Federal Government legislator, it will be my primary responsibility and duty to showcase Eket Senatorial District to the World, through our Country Nigeria and beyond. In collaboration with other lawmakers, and with a view to socio-economic growth, we will be able to lobby for, and bring back developments that
will be beneficial to Nigeria, via Akwa lbom State in general, and Eket Senatorial District.
There are areas that we have developmental
potentials lying untapped. For instance, enormous human resources comprising of graduates with industrial potential; like Marine Base Engineers, Lawyers etc; Aquatic
resources and diverse natural
resources remain largely untapped and underutilized. These areas have been
neglected for a while, but, if we as a
people sit down and look at what we
have, begin to showcase what we
have and tap the available
resources from the national
government, then in the next few
years, you will see that, we will be in
the right track towards developing
our economic base. For instance, the
beach site, that is laying unattended across the Senatorial District has a very viable
tourism potential, that will be beneficial to
the Federal Government and the
State. As seen in other countries with economies driven by tourism, it is a huge source of revenue generation that has the potential to drive foreign trade and capital investors. Essentially, someone needs to
channel this to the Federal
Government and be able to make a proposal wherein the *Ibeno Beach* will be
captured as one of the tourist
attraction sites in Nigeria. This
project alone if approved, can bring
major development to the Senatorial
District. This is just to mention but
few from our bounty of
developmental, visionary and credible plans for the good people of Eket Senatorial
District. These are projects that remain on the top burner and with time, a lot more energy will be invested in discussion on this subject
matter.
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Okay Sir. Thank you so much for
taking time to talk extensively on
what you're aspiring to do differently
to improve the human cum
socio-economic development in Eket
Senatorial District. You made a mention of Youth Empowerment. Let me ask you to state categorically, your plans and the areas, you intend to engage the youths, who roughly
form about 70% of the population of
people in the Akwa lbom South
Senatorial District?
📌 I have a couple of plans for the youths. First and foremost, I will create a database to identify the number of active youths in the Senatorial District, find
out the impact creating platforms that are accessible and then train the youths based on available opportunities you want them to benefit from.
The Senatorial District boasts of a huge pool of learned and industrious youths, but the niggling questions have remained; Where are
they economically? What potential
do they have? Can you equate them
with the youths that we have in other cities;
Lagos, Warri or Port Harcourt?
So, there is a lot that needs to be
done, to fire the youths up and
position them for better economic fortunes.
As I said earlier, I will begin by identifying the number of youths in
the Senatorial District, and I will group them into categories; the ones that
can be easily engaged, those to be
trained, those that need
reorientation etc. Once, we are
able to identify that, I will be able to
create programmes, that will have a trickle down effect, diffusing and improving the mental outlook of every youth
in the Senatorial District. It is when you are able to identify this and have
this systemic categorization that one will be hopeful of having effective achievement in
engaging the youths. But where you
just initiate a youth empowerment
scheme, without outlining the basics, being able to identify the issues, categorizing them,
and you begin to look at youths
everywhere, it is likely that definitely, one will not achieve meaningful progress. Our goals should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. So, we will identify the number of youths, categorize them,
those that require training will be trained; to be trained, the specific pool that need to be
engaged in areas of specialty, like
entrepreneurship, skill development etc, will be engaged. We do not intend to
just initiate an open programme, we will
have a close-end programme, a monitoring team with oversight functions; that will
monitor, attest and assign those
people who are advancing in knowledge acquisition, and
place them where they will be most suited. We will not only train and allow them to go, we will source for, and secure gainful employment for them.
Where one wishes to be an entrepreneur, we will advise, train and source for support funds. In this way, they can get established in their desired areas of strength, become gainfully employed, and be able to compete in
the open market. That is exactly what we are going to do differently, in
order to effectively engage and position our youths for a better
future. A systematic engagement and approach to issues of repositioning the
youths is what I am going to do.
I
don't believe in buying motorcycles
for anyone who does not have the
flair, interest or passion to become a motorcyclist. I am a disciple of human capital development. I believe in engaging the youths based on what they want to do, while
providing mentorship, so that we can
bring out the best in our youths.
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Sir, I must say that, you certainly
have beautiful and lofty plans for youths
reformation. To bring an end to this
interview, do you have a message for
the people of Eket Senatorial District
concerning the upcoming general
elections in 2023?
📌 My message for the good people of
Akwa lbom South Senatorial District is simple, clear and factual. I would say this is not the time for the electorates to walk the old beaten path of political business as it was before. Nigerians have come of age, and must be able to make a preferred choice based on competency, capacity and character. They must be willing to let these ideals supercede any other pecuniary consideration. It is
not good judgment to employ a driver that lacks social skills, has no driving license, and
cannot drive; just because he is next-in-line to be rewarded for loyalty. (handsome, tall, huge and can command influence).
If we want to develop Eket Senatorial District, we should be able to identify, and support those whose competency is not in question, representatives who are prepared to deliver good dividends on the job of
representing the people. It is therefore needful for the people of Eket Senatorial District to come together and join the movement called, the New Nigeria Mission for Eket prosperity. Your focus should not be on the Party, but on a thorough assessment and competence of the person you want to represent you in the Red Chamber come 2023. It is in the people's power, good conscience, and for a better future, to send the best hands, not *a square peg in a round hole* sort of individual; one who will go to there, source for, and bring back prosperity,
than to send an emissary who does not
have the interest of the people at
heart. So, my message for the people
of Eket Senatorial District, is to look
out for people are competent. With all humility and sense of purpose, I
also believe that, I am most qualified
for this job. I will offer my people sterling service, and be a worthy ambassador. If you give me your vote, you're not going to regret it. I say that with all amount of seriousness, because you will be part and parcel of the
impending, sweeping development that is about to manifest in Eket Senatorial District. It is a matter of great importance therefore, that the people of Eket Senatorial District have this in mind, as we are gearing up for the all important Senatorial election come 2023.
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Thank you so much Sir, for finding time
out of your busy schedule to send a
message through us; The Sensor
Newspapers, to the good people of
Eket Senatorial District. Please
accept the best of regards from us,
as we look forward to speak with you
some other time.
