The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Technical Matters and Due Process, Elder Ufot Ebong has identified the Akwa Ibom Entreprise and Employment Scheme (AKEES) as one of the laudable achievements of Governor Udom Emmanuel in Akwa Ibom State.
The Governor’s Aide stated this on Wednesday, during an inspection tour to AKEES facilities in the State, undertaken by the State Ministry of Information and Strategy.
Represented by his Aide on Media, Mr. Ekemini James, Elder Ebong who doubles as Dean College of Personal Aides (COPA) to the Governor, said AKEES is one of Udom’s initiative aimed at reawakening the spirit of enterprise among youths in the State.
At the Toothpick and Pencil Factory, he said the establishment has helped in the reduction of unemployment among young people in the State, adding that it has boosted the job creation policy of the present administration.
Ebong said by positively engaging youths, the Factory has further reduced youth restiveness and unemployment and urged the people of the State to take good advantage of the firm by applying as distributors in the Factory.
The General Manager of AKEES Toothpick and Pencil Factory, Mr.Bassey Moses said that the Factory has sold over over 2 million pieces of pencils within and outside the State, but however pointed out that they are in need of more suppliers and distributors.
While explaining some challenges faced by the Factory, he said, “the only problem we have now is the issue of branding as most people who buy our pencils cannot identify our products. Of the 150 sleeves we imported from China, only one of them had AKEES named on it while the remaining 149 sleeves had cartoon characters like BEN 10, Hannah Montana and Dora the Explorer.
“It is hard to differentiate between our products with others but if you look keenly you will discover the difference because our pencils are made from recycled newspapers while others are made of wood. Another distinct feature is that, the lead of pencils made by AKEES is thicker (2.5mm) than the usual ones (1.5mm)”, Bassey said.
When the Team made a stopover at Ubong Nkanga Graphics Centre, Oron Road, the Governor’s Aide disclosed that there are over 85 of such Small and Medium Scale businesses set up by AKEES across the State, and thanked the Press Team of the Information Ministry for taking out time to tour the facilities.
At 10,000 hectares AKEES tomatoes plantation at Okobo, Elder Ufot Ebong expressed hope that the Farm will further boost the agricultural revolution of the State Government, stressing that the current administration under Governor Emmanuel is poised to reducing the cost of food commodities in the State.
The Farm’s Consultant, Mr Brezhnev Langwa told the team that they were currently on Land preparation, revealing that the farm will employ about 120 youths and produce more than 200 tons of tomatoes after 70days.
The tour which featured interactive session with the Press Team was led by the Ministry’s Acting Director of Strategy, Mrs Grace Akpan.
