Governor Udom with the Eagle Eye...

BY ANIEBIET ANTIA

Nigeria is currently confronting with a massive unemployment crisis.  Hundreds of thousands of university graduates are roaming the streets without jobs.

The rate of youth unemployment in the country is alarming. According to the “2012 National Baseline youth surety report “ 54 percent of Nigerian youths were unemployed in 2012.

Statistics from the federal Bureau of statistics shows that Nigeria has a youth population of 80 million, representing 60% of the total population of the country.  There are more young people in Nigeria today than any other segment of the population, and this comes with its peculiar social and economic implications.

In the Niger delta youth unemployment is even more severe.  In 2013, Bayelsa State had the highest unemployment rate of 38% of its employable population, while Akwa Ibom State had an unemployment rate of 36%, and River State, 32%.

The high unemployment rate of youths in Akwa Ibom State threatens economic growth because the resulting effect of unemployment such as perpetuation of violence and general insecurity threatens economic growth and development.

On this note, Deacon Udom Emmanuel needed a capable hands that will be able to share into his vision of diversifying the State economy to Agriculture thereby creating jobs and human capacity development.

In this  process, Mr. Armstrong Moses was discovered to monitor the Agricultural sector in the State has his Personal Assistant.

Barely two years in office, Mr.  Armstrong through his office has attracted oriented opportunities into the State to the farmers.

Speaking with the reporter,  Mr. Armstrong Moses on his first month in office undergo a Town Hall meeting tour across the 31 local government area with a mission to know the  challenges of farmers in the State an on how to tackle them.

Speaking further, the Honourable SA on Agricultural Monitoring noted that he has trained 150 graduate in each of the Senatorial District on vegetable groups cultivation and pest control, according to him  “Am making plans to trained 5,000 youths before  the end of Deacon Udom Emmanuel first term in office.

Armstrong noted that, the programme is designed for beneficiaries to major in tomatoes,  onions, cabbage, carrot, lettuce, and cucumber cultivation, among others.

Speaking on the mode of selection of beneficiaries, said coordinator would pick two persons from each ward of every local government area of the Senatorial District, He said, ”The beneficiaries are interviewed, inducted and trained in the  paramilitary way for maximum discipline “.

He noted that, the said training is in line with the  Dakkada philosophy of Deacon Udom Emmanuel to awaken the can do spirit of Akwa Ibom people . 

He further explained that the central focus of the programme was to create a sustainable economy for Akwa Ibom youths through agricultural, while boosting food sufficiency in the State also creating market for export.

Mr.  Armstrong Moses stated that, he is trying to make all farmers in the State in one voice in other for them to gain access to loans. He also intimate the reporter on his ongoing project of building a constituency over 1.2 million farmers in the State to support Governor Emmanuel come 2019.

He noted that, through his office, plans has been made for all the farmers in the State to undergo a rally for Deacon Udom Emmanuel to solidify support for him with the team “KOM UDOM NNO”.

Superlative are hardly enough to qualify this committed, hardworking, purpose driven Steward and God fearing personalty whom many of his peers, political and social colleagues, acquaintances and relatives describe him as “round peg in agricultural hole “.

A euphemism for being the right choice for the right cause by the Governor of Akwa Ibom State to monitor Agricultural sector.

“I am a very creative person and I could mould gold out of stone and that has been my style all round “ Mr.  Armstrong Moses.