The Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Akwa Ibom State, Comrade Ini Ememobong has partnered the Departments of Communication Arts and History & International Studies, University of Uyo for staff development, research and documentation.
Ini Ememobong announced the partnership during advocacy visits to the the two Departments.
At the Department of Communication Arts, the Commissioner said the society stands to benefit immensely from the collaboration between the ministry and the Department.
Comrade Ememobong listed areas of collaboration to include internship, regular trainings and workshops to keep sustain standard and ethics of the journalism profession, and sponsorship of relevant research works which could serve as a guide to policy formulation and implementation by the State Government.
He announced a cash prize of fifty thousand naira (₦50,000) each to two best male and female graduating students in each of the classes in the department every session and pledged to support post graduate works as well as financial support to the department as Post-Covid-19 palliative.
The Head, Department of Communication Arts, Dr Nsikan-Abasi Nkaña thanked Comrade Ini Ememobong for being the first commissioner for Information in the state to visit the department.
He submitted that the initiative of the advocacy visit by the commissioner gives him out as a square peg in a square hole, and pledged the department’s readiness to reciprocate the gesture in the gown – town mutual relationship.
Professors Desmond Wilson, Nkereuwem Udoakah, Ashong Ashong, Peter Esuh who spoke differently said the visit will hatch greatness for the fertilization of power and ideas.
They commended the Commissioner for coming to Communication Arts Department which is the parent of over sixty percent of the workforce of the staff of the Ministry of Information & Strategy, Akwa Ibom and described Comrade Ini Ememobong as a pacesetter.
At the Department of History & International Studies, the Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong struck collaboration between the ministry and the department for the documentation of the history of Akwa Ibom State using the local government areas as the focal point, as well as the profiling of the intellectual resources of Akwa Ibom State origin.
According to him, such compendium will be a reference material for government to fall back on whenever the need arises.
He also promised to sponsor purposeful research works for the development and progress of Akwa Ibom State.
Head of Department, History & International Studies, Dr Nkereuwem Edemekong said the partnership with the department signposts development as according to him, history is the bedrock of development.
Dr Edemekong described Comrade Ememobong as an ambassador of the department of History and expressed hope that with his antecedents, he will surely do well.
The department later prayed for the Commissioner and made presentations to him.
The Commissioner was accompanied to the advocacy visits by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Inyang Jameson, represented by the Director of Information, Akparawa James Edet and other directors of the ministry.
