Unyime Idem: Skills Education, Empowerment, Panacea for Unemployment
The Deputy Chairman Communications Committee in the House of Representatives, Hon. Unyime Idem has stated that skills Education and entrepreneurship were the panacea for youth unemployment in the Country as education for certificate alone cannot address the problem.
Hon Idem was speaking during his constituency briefing, opening of 1000 Seater Skills Acquisition Centre and 14 Life touching projects he initiated for the people of Ukanafun/OrukAnam Federal Constituency.
Idem said that the world is getting over-crowded with the alarming increase in population of young graduates who desire a promising future with the hope of hand-picking already made jobs . He said a situation where their hopes fail to materialise they become vulnerable because they skills to get themselves gainfully employed.
The Entrepreneur turned Politician said the recognition of the pivotal role of skills acquisition and empowerment necessitated him to seek to develop capacity of 5000 youth of his constituency for self employment as part of efforts to check societal ills.
He hinted that government cannot offer 100% employment to its citizens even in developed countries as a greater percentage of employment comes from the private sector.
Hon.Idem who stressed the need for people to back up their educational certificates with life enhancing skills for self-employability , decried a situation where some people after years of graduation roam the streets searching for jobs, arguing that the only way to tackle the unemployment problem in Nigeria is for people to rely on skills and empowerment which he said stimulated his desire to empower his constituents.
Idem who doled out various empowerment packages to 1000 youths in 26 different life enhancing skills during the first phase of the exercise earmarked for 5000 urged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the materials and establish small-scale businesses to change their fortunes.
The Lawmaker posited that persons who are meaningfully engaged productively, readily purges themseves of unproductive engagement because constituting public nuisance may stem from idleness .
He advised that people should be empowered with skills that will enable them to combat hunger while also moulding them to be independent individuals and employers of labour.
Idem, pleaded with those who have not been able to benefit from the first phase of the empowerment to be patient, saying the second and subsequent phases of the programme will take care of them.
“I promise to do my best to categorise the empowerment to accommodate the interests of Elders, Traditional Rulers , Religious leaders and it will go round. Today, I have decided to commence with youth and women” Idem stressed.
Apart from providing seed capital, business support, Scholarship, 5 Cars, 5 Mini Buses, 85 Motorbikes, Hon Idem also trained youths in welding , carpentry, masonry, baking and confectionery, painting, Tiling, electricals among others.
While promising to empower the remaining 4000 from December 2021 to December 2023 , The Usung Atiat Born National Lawmaker thanked constituents for their support so far and solicited continuous cooperation and understanding for him to do more.
The event elicited positive reactions from various attendees including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamela who said “when a man performs like this he should be encouraged” and acknowledged the contribution of Hon. Idem “in and out” of the floor of the house.
Gbajabiamila, who Spoke through the Chairman Akwa Ibom State Caucus in the National Assembly and member Representing Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency, Hon. Charles Uduyork advised the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the items to transform their living standards.
The wife of the Akwa Ibom State Governor , Dr Martha Udom Emmanuel represented by the Deputy Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly , Princess Felicia Bassey commended Idem for empowering his constituents describing it as a hallmark of effective representation.
A former House of Representatives member and the political leader of Ukanafun, Obong Eno Akpan , who was the chairman on the occasion said ” one year ago during the inauguration of the empowerment programme for 5000 youth, Hon Idem told us that this year he will gather his constituents again to perform this sacred responsibility to his people .
I am deeply touched that he has not disappointed his people and I want to urge the beneficiaries of the empowerment to make judicious use of the items in order to justify its essence. God bless our Son ,Hon. Unyime Idem.
The Chairman of Ukanafun Local Government , Pastor Godwin Inyieng could not hide his joy: “Hon. Unyime Idem, I am proud of you because you have redefined representation, it is true that when the righteous is on the throne the people rejoice , you have done well Sir. Indeed, Ukanafun is in for the best of times 44 years after its creation.
you have done well. I want to thank the beneficiaries and advise them to put to good use the equipment given them .
let me use this opportunity to remind the youth that greater things needed in the local government is peace, when the local government experiences peace development will thrive.”
The immediate past Organising Secretary of the Akwa Ibom State PDP and the Political leader of Southern Ukanafun, Obong Saturday Akpan said ” Idem is a man of good heart, with a humble background he understands grassroots leadership”.
Elder Aniekan Akpan, Commissioner One, Local Government Service Commission who served as the Director General of UnyimeAbasi Campaign Organization was full of joy that he presented a man whose unique selling points are unbeatable.
His Words : Hon.Unyime Idem has done well in the house and at home and I stand tall that he has not disappointed the people and he won’t.
According to the Ukanafun Chapter Chairman of the PDP, Mr Godwin Ekpe The Lawmaker is a man ‘who sees ahead of time and he has silenced critics who thought that would not be able to perform having come from the private sector , today he has shown us capacity, and accountability “.
The President of OrukAnam Leadership Forum and a former State Lawmaker, Chief Sunday Okoko described Idem as ” a man sent by God to salvage the people of the federal constituency from legislative backwardness and ineffective representation, hence he should be supported to go for a second term’.
Another Speaker and a former House of Representatives member, Obong Soni Udom made a brief and catchy remark ” One good term deserves another” and laced his presentation with songs eulogizing Hon Idem.
The Chairman of OrukAnam Local Government , Hon. Kingsley Frank , Member Representing OrukAnam State Constituency in the House of Assembly, Sir Udo Kerian Akpan, his Ukanafun State Constituency Counterpart, Dr Charity Ido, Mrs Idongesit Etiebet, SA on Protocol to Governor Emmanuel, Evangelist Emem Udom, among other personalities averred that hon Idem has done well and advised the beneficiaries of the scheme to use it for self and development of the Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency in particular and Akwa Ibom in general.
Some of the Beneficiaries applauded the Lawmaker for keeping to his words of training and empowering them even as they promised to use the offer to change their living conditions.
