UFOT EKONG LAUNCHES EDUCATIONAL PROJECT IN UYO

* Donates 10,000 Branded Exercise Books to Support Dakkada Initiative

The Akwa Ibom State Brand Ambassador and Mathematics record holder at Tokai University in Japan, Ufot Ekong launches his educational project in Uyo and donate 10,000 branded exercise book to selected schools in Akwa Ibom State in support of the Dakkada Initiative of Akwa Ibom State Government. Ekong made the presentation of the exercise book in a Press Conference he organized at Government Press Center, Uyo to launch his project tagged " UFOT EKONG EDUCATIONAL PROJECT IBOM."

Ufot in his Press Conference Speech thanked the government of Akwa Ibom State for initiating the Dakkada Project as a wake up call for Akwa Ibom people to stand up and be counted as people who are excelling in their chosen career and individual endeavours. He mentioned that the only African doctor in Japan is from Akwa Ibom State and therefore urged the people to rise up and make the state proud.

Speaking further, Ufot said while he strongly identified with the Dakkada Project is because it changes the mindset and orientation of Akwa Ibom people especially the youth not to sit down and complain but to make meaningful contribution to the society.

"Dakkada is not just a word, it is a mindset, a culture, a way of thinking, understanding that there is no time to sit down and complain or get depressed, rather a time where we must struggle that in future our children may say "Thank You" for the state you helped create for us.

"Today, I'm not here to only sensitize the Dakkada Agenda but am here to do something I have thought, prayed and decided to do. I will be launching the first project of "Ufot Ekong Educational Project Ibom." The main objective of this project is to inspire, encourage and motivate Akwa Ibomites to rise to the faith of greatness and excel wherever they find themselves. This project is also to motivate Akwa Ibomites to give back to their local communities and the state at large.

"This year, I will be donating 10,000 exercise books with the dakkada creed written behind them to selected secondary schools across the three (3) senatorial districts in the state. I want the students to read it, understand it, and make it part of them."

Ufot Ekong who was accompanied to the Press Conference by his mother, Mrs Aniekan Ekong and siblings Dr. Ndifreke and Isabella Ekong commended the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Deacon Udom Emmanuel who he addressed as the "Captain of Industrialization (COI) for his investment in education and his commitment to industrialize the state and create jobs for the teeming youths. He therefore call on other Akwa Ibomites across the globe to think about contributing their quota to the development of the state as government alone cannot do everything for its citizenry. Ufot Ekong who submitted that he personally funded the Educational Project as his own way of contributing to the state promised to partner in other areas for the the development of Akwa Ibom State.

In his response, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Marketing and Brand Management, Mr Sam Edoho thanked Ufot for such a laudable project and for making Akwa Ibom people proud with his academic feat. He said that Ufot Ekong is a product of Dakkada Project and urged Akwa Ibom people to emulate him. The SSA commended the governor for launching the Dakkada Initiative as a clarion call for the people of the state to rise up and take action for their life. He submitted that they are working on a documentary of Ufot Ekong as a model for others and call on the people of the state to always defend what they have.

One of the principal of the beneficiaries secondary school, Barr. Henry Ekanem poured encomium on Ufot Ekong for making the state proud in his academic pursuit and advised Akwa Ibom students to emulate him as a role model. Barr. Ekanem thanked the governor for embarking on Dakkada Initiative as it is already yielding positive in the likes of Ufot Ekong. He added that teachers have received their salaries as when due and other entitlements therefore promised that they will reciprocate the gesture of Akwa Ibom State Government.
The Commissioner for Education, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Akpan who represented the governor thanked Ufot Ekong for being a worthy Ambassador of the state and advised students in the state to emulate him so that one day they can replicate his gesture by making positive contribution to the society. The Commissioner used the medium to reaffirm government commitment to Free and Compulsory Education Policy in the state. He added that the governor has already released N235 million to Free and Compulsory Education and has also recorded remarkable improvement in funding of education in the state. He specifically mentioned the training of teachers in partnership with Lead Africa and ExxonMobil and emphasized strongly that qualitative and basic education is a must for every child.

He commended Ufot Ekong for such great feat in far away Japan and urged him to continue to make Akwa Ibom State proud as an Ambassador at large.

Ufot Ekong made official presentation of the exercise book to the governor through the Commissioner for Education, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Akpan and some selected secondary school who were at the event. Those in attendance were the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Elder Akpan Solomon, Special Assistant to the governor on Education Monitoring, Mrs Idongesit Etiebet, Special Assistant to the governor on News Media, Meflyn Anwana, ANCOPPS Chairman, Mr. Livinus Odion. Others are Director, Secondary and Higher Education, Mercy Edet, Akparawa Udeme Udofia, principals of selected schools and students.