•As Inuikim, Ntekim, ors get vote of confidence
Commendations have continued to trail the performance of the Mbo EMOIMEE Host Community Development Trust with stakeholders in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State passing a vote of confidence in the leadership and management of the Trust.
The commendation came during a stakeholders’ engagement of Mbo EMOIMEE held recently at the Civic Centre, Okobo Ebughu, Mbo LGA, where stakeholders reviewed the activities, interventions and development programmes of the Trust and made recommendations for their sustenance and improvement.
The meeting brought together traditional rulers, including all Clan Heads and members of the Forum of Village Heads; community leaders led by the Presidents General of the five communities; politicians, academics, youths, women representatives and other prominent stakeholders from across Mbo.
The Paramount Ruler of Mbo, His Royal Majesty Ogwong Okon Asukwo Abang, was represented at the engagement by the Clan Head of Uquong, His Royal Highness Etim Okon Abang.
In his presentation at the engagement, Engr Asuquo Inuikim Obon highlighted a number of interventions undertaken by the trust, particularly in education, youth and women empowerment, healthcare, solar street lighting, culture and sports.
On education, he said the trust had paid N400,000 scholarship funds to 200 undergraduate students in each of the 2024, 2025 and 2026 academic years.
He explained that the scholarship arrangement was designed to sustain beneficiaries from 200 Level until graduation, covering students across disciplines.
In the area of empowerment, Inuikim said 843 youths and women had been empowered, while another 100 youths and women had undergone skills-acquisition training, particularly in the oil and gas sector and other areas of enterprise.
He disclosed that EMOIMEE has intervened in healthcare by remodelling the primary health care in the five communities and also embarking on year free medical workshops.
He further called on other Host Community Development Trusts operating within Mbo LGA to collaborate with EMOIMEE in the interest of unity, collective development and the overall progress of the Mbo people.
In their separate remarks, the Head of management Committee, Chief Ulo Ante Uye; and the Secretary of the Advisory Committee, Chief Ita Ntekim, who welcomed participants to the meeting, educated them on the leadership structure of EMOIMEE and their different responsibilities, while urging the people to support the Trust to entrench enduring development in the area.
While speaking at the event, the former Secretary to the Government of Akwa Ibom State, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, drew attention to the need for greater information flow, transparency and constructive engagement between EMOIMEE and the people.
Dr Ekuwem expressed concern over the practice of petition writing against the leadership of EMOIMEE without adequate prior engagement.
He advocated dialogue and the use of appropriate channels for resolving grievances, while stressing the importance of keeping the people regularly informed about the trust’s activities, projects and progress.
Ekuwem also emphasised the need for the leadership of EMOIMEE to maintain continuous engagement with stakeholders, particularly in reviewing and updating the Community Development Plan periodically.
According to him, regular review of the plan would ensure that development initiatives remain responsive to the prevailing needs and aspirations of the people.
The Clan Head of Uquong, HRH Etim Okon Abang, who represented the Paramount Ruler of Mbo at the meeting, made a strong case for greater recognition of the traditional institution by relevant stakeholders in the oil and gas sector.
He called on Seplat Energy Producing Nigeria Unlimited, SEPNU, and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, to accord the traditional institution a prominent role in matters relating to community development and engagement.
He appealed to the stakeholders to recognise traditional institutions as critical foundations for communal peace, security, consultation, mobilisation and sustainable development.
He therefore called for the removal of bottlenecks hindering the integration of the Traditional Rulers Council, TRC, into the EMOIMEE HCDT Development Plan.
The meeting requested urgent support for the Traditional Rulers Council in the provision of administrative structures, furniture, office equipment and communication facilities, arguing that such support would strengthen its administrative capacity and enhance effective grassroots governance.
The engagement also received contributions from various segments of the Mbo community. Leading the reaction was Barrister Mmakim Antai who spoke on behalf of the women, while Elder Daniel Udombo represented the youths.
The incoming member of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Engr Okon Bassey, also joined other stakeholders in commending the development efforts of Mbo EMOIMEE.
At the end of the engagement, the stakeholders formally commended EMOIMEE for its commitment to the development and welfare of the people of Mbo.
They subsequently passed a vote of confidence in the leadership and management of Mbo EMOIMEE, urging the trust to sustain its performance and continue implementing programmes capable of transforming Mbo into a model of community development.
Among other prominent personalities at the event were former Pro-Chancellor of Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden, Prof Okon Eminue; former Commissioners, Crown Prince Chris Abasi Eyo and Chief Effiong Abia Esq, Dr Titus Antai, and other leaders and stakeholders.
