Gov Udom Implementing SDGs, Says Umo Eno

The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, Pastor Umo Eno, has said that Governor Udom Emmanuel was passionate about the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the State.

The commissioner stated this yesterday, when he received members of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), on inspection of some SDGs projects in Akwa Ibom.

Pastor Uno said that one of the things the Completion Agenda championed by Governor Emmanuel focused on was food security, adding that the governor has set different machineries on motion to achieve the set objectives and ensure sustainability.

According to him, Akwa Ibom State government is approaching agriculture from a different perspective to ensure food sufficiency and security, adding that the constitution of the technical Committee on Agriculture and Food Sufficiency, and the Directorate of Agric Investments are strategic moves towards attaining the goals.

The commissioner reiterated that it is a fundamental objective of the Governor Emmanuel-led administration to ensure that 80 per cent of food consumed in the state is produced internally.

He said that the state’s agric committee made up of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Technical Committee on Agriculture and Food Sufficiency, and the Directorate of Agric Investments ably chaired by the Hon. Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Glory Edet, was working together to achieve food security.

The commissioner maintained that although he is the Executive Director of Agric Investments, it will be of immense benefit for the NIPSS team to visit the Commissioner for Agriculture who according to him, will talk in details on SDGs 2 while he will dwell on Goals 6 as the Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources. In the area of water and sanitation, the commissioner said that his ministry was well on track and currently collaborating with the federal government for the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme to end open defecation.

“In fact, our governor is very passionate about ensuring that the Sustainable Development Goals are met in all its ramifications. Right now, the government is also reviewing its Water Bill to have acceptable water law and policy,” he said.

Earlier in his remarks, the state Coordinator and leader of the team, Dr. Jacob Tsado, said NIPSS was the apex policy, research and training institution in Nigeria, which among other engagements, undertakes policy research into all areas of national life.

He said the Institute was a general purpose research institute with the mandate to look into any and every issue that concerns Nigeria, and currently studying on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Dr. Tsado said the study was ongoing in six states of the federation representing the six geopolitical zones, and with specific interest in goals number two (food security) and six (Water and Sanitation) of the 17 SDGs, which according to him are critical goals affecting people at the grassroot level.

Other members of the team included; Dr. Theophilus Danjuma, Mr. Joseph Itse, Henry C. Ukwoma, Salifu A. Momoh, Ugbenu Oke, and Panti Ibrahim Ibrahim.

Highpoint of the meeting was the interaction of the NIPSS with Directors in the Ministry of Lands and Water Resources and managers of allied bodies including Akwa Ibom Water Company Limited, and Akwa Ibom State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (AKRUWATSAN).

Meanwhile, as part of his avowed commitment to entrepreneurship development and to continuously impact and strategically support youth development in Akwa Ibom State and beyond, Eno flagged off training programme for selected youths of Nsit Ubium Local Government Area.

The youths who were carefully selected from all the 11 wards in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, will be trained in catering, fashion design and other areas of interest for six months with sponsorship including transportation allowance by the commissioner.

Flagging off the programme, the commissioner stated that he was more comfortable with teaching people how to fish than giving them fish, adding that giving handouts to young people may not last for long, but knowledge acquired could transcend generations.

According to him, “this is the best gift I can give to you. The best gift is not sharing money to you but to teach you how to get a life. My style is to help you to earn a living for life, and then support others.

“I have been an entrepreneur all my life and I have provided jobs for people and a platform for people to grow and earn a living. If we all keep begging, we won’t get anywhere. So it’s best for you to get focused and develop yourself for greatness.

“As an entrepreneur, my style is to help people earn a living on a sustainable basis rather than share money everyday and encourage laziness.

“I started my business in Akwa Ibom in 1997 with five rooms. So growth is possible where there is commitment. I don’t have much to say but please be very very committed to the training. Every month I will provide you with transportation.

“If you are committed to this training, you will not lack what to eat. I am committed to this training program because I am investing in people that will help others tomorrow. I am happy doing this than to share the money on the street where people may even fight and kill themselves,” he added.

One of the beneficiaries, Effanga Ernest Godwin expressed excitement at the opportunity offered them by Pastor Umo Eno, saying he had always wanted to be a caterer but could not sign up for the training due to lack of funds.

In his words, “I am so happy and I want to thank the Honourable Commissioner for the initiative, wisdom and love for his brothers, sisters, sons and daughters. I want to thank God for the wisdom God has given him to sponsor this training.”