Senior special assistant (SSA) to the Akwa Ibom State Governor on Research and Documentations, Dr Essien Ndueso, has offered to bankroll eight indigent indigenes’ acquisition of broadcast skills at the Nigerian Broadcast Academy (NBA).
The governor’s aide handed the training grant worth N1.6 million to the beneficiaries at a brief ceremony at the Government House Press Centre, Uyo, the state capital. He charged them to be worthy ambassadors and demonstrate diligence, commitment, and devotion while at the NBA, Lagos.
The beneficiaries, Imaobong Akpantuen, Treasure Esop, Florence Essien, Utibe Johan, Ukpono Matthew, Mary Augustine Etim, Ubong Inyang, and Anthony Daniel, each received N200,000 to support their six-week professional broadcast training.
Ndueso said the gesture was not borne out of excessive wealth, but his deep passion for professionalism in journalism and a desire to see young Akwa Ibom people equipped with skills to contribute positively to the society.
He encouraged the beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity and give back to the state through excellence in their chosen career paths.
“The Akwa Ibom State governor has set a template in human capacity enhancement through the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre (DASAC) and the Ibom Leadership Entrepreneurial Development Centre.
“The essence is to equip people with the skills needed for the opportunities he is creating in the state,” he said.
The chairman of the state’s council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Nsibiet John, commended Ndueso for his commitment to youth empowerment and urged the beneficiaries to take their studies seriously, build meaningful networks and avoid seeing the grant as political patronage but as an invitation to contribute meaningfully to the society.
In addition to the N1.6 million grants, other dignitaries at the event, including Mr. Solomon Eyo, special assistant to the Governor on Multimedia and Web Management, Dr. Imoh Etim Udoh, personal assistant to the Governor on Research and Documentation and Mr. Emma Akpabio, personal assistant to the Governor on Media, announced personal cash donations of N100,000 each to encourage the beneficiaries.
