A COMMUNIQUE RELEASED AT THE END OF THE 19TH OBONG SAMPSON UDO ETUK LECTURE
A COMMUNIQUE RELEASED AT THE END OF THE 19TH OBONG SAMPSON UDO ETUK LECTURE, DINNER AND EXCELLENCE AWARDS CEREMONY HELD ON SATURDAY, 7TH NOVEMBER, 2015 BY MBOHO MKPARAWA IBIBIO AT UDO UDOMA HOUSE, UYO
The 19th edition in the series of the biennial lectures organized by Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, a Pan-Ibibio Socio-cultural organization, in memory of the First National President of the legendary Ibibio Union established in 1928 was proclaimed open by the Grand Patron of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio (MMI) Air Marshal (Rtd) Elder Nsikak Eduok, CFR.
The theme of the 2015 Lecture being REPOSITIONING AKWA IBOM STATE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: IMPERATIVES FOR ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION AND INDUSTRIALIZATION was delivered by Professor Sunday W. Petters, FAS, a scientist and an internationally acclaimed scholar par excellence. The lecture session chaired by Mr. Akan Okon, Honourable Commissioner for Finance in Akwa Ibom State Government was followed by intensive discussions, deliberations and resolutions which are as follow:
- Previous leaders in Akwa Ibom State have always understood the right philosophy, blueprints and policy thrust for industrialization.
- Industrialization requires substantial technical expertise and capital which come through foreign partnership.
- Industrialization has always happened through active collaboration amongst the government, the private sector, the citizens and partners.
- Industrialization has always been a product of deliberate planning and execution of certain enabling environments of safety and security, physical infrastructure for land, sea and air transportation, hospitality and leisure as well as stable and reliable power supply.
- Industrialization culture requires policy stability that protects the medium and long term interests of investors.
- Industrialization can be emulated from successful examples such as the South East Asian third world Nations of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Asian Tigers of South Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong.
- The right foundation and framework has been put in place by preceding governments in Akwa Ibom State and the next right step to take at this time is to embrace industrialization.
- The present Government of Mr. Udom Emmanuel has shown a clear understanding of the indispensability of industrialization and has taken the right steps in the right direction and need to be totally supported by all and sundry in order to succeed in this direction.
- There is no better time than now with the global economic recession biting harder and holding no real promise of imminent recovery.
- Diversification and industrialization are the twin imperatives for not only Akwa Ibom State’s survival but that of the Nation State Nigeria.
- Industrialization, like any other meaningful development efforts can only happen in an atmosphere of equity, justice and equal opportunities.
- That Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, an off-shoot of the Ibibio Union has done well enough in emphasizing above principles of natural justice in the State akin to her founding fathers who ensured same in the distribution of the six scholarship opportunities to two qualified candidates each from present day Uyo, Ikot Ekpene and Eket Senatorial districts in much the same manner that the Governorship of the State has evolved in the post-military democratic dispensation since 1999.
Finally attendees rose satisfied that the aims and objectives of this year’s lecture were fully met and adjourned to the 2017 edition.
Akparawa (Elder) Monday Etokakpan, FCIL, JP Akparawa James Edet, NPOM
International President Secretary General