Akaiso Eyo-Akaiso, Uyo.
The 2026 Youth opportunity summit held in Uyo came to a close over the weekend with the MD/CEO of Elpee Consult Limited, Abuja, Dr. Lanre Philips commending the young people of Akwa Ibom State for their passion for learning as exhibited at the event.
Dr. Philips, a business consultant to so many organizations across African continent, made this observation at the side line of the 7th edition of the national youth converge while interacting with our correspondent.
“The Federal government had mapped out a certain geopolitical area of the country for the project. But latter thought of extending it to the other parts beginning with South South. From what we are seeing the decision has been a well thought out one,” he said.
A visionary leader with expertise spanning close to thirty years across Banking, Telecoms, ICT and others. His impactful collaboration with diverse organisations underscores commitment to operational excellence.
His educational background and operational excellence is vast, but suffice it to say that Dr. Philips is a man of so many layers. Trail blazer in guiding organizations on strategic insights to navigate challenges and propel growth.
The just concluded Youth Opportunity Summit in Akwa Ibom was a game-changer for the youth in the state. The summit, themed “Leveraging Opportunities, Building a Future-Ready Youth,” aimed to connect young people with local and global opportunities.
Governor Umo Eno pledged his administration’s support for the summit, emphasizing that youth empowerment is a top priority. He urged young people to take advantage of available opportunities for personal growth and development.
The summit featured various activities, including an indigenous language business pitching competition, guidance and counseling technical sessions for secondary school students, and training and breakout sessions on different areas of focus.
Hauwa Liman, Technical Adviser to the Vice President on Women, Youth Engagement and Impact, highlighted the importance of equipping young people with relevant skills to access jobs, including remote ones. She noted that the summit had mobilized over 255 young volunteers and supported over 80 entrepreneurs with grants exceeding N13 million.
The summit was part of the Federal Government’s Youth Opportunity Summit, which has engaged over 12,000 young Nigerians in local and global opportunities. Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Comfort Ekpo, encouraged youths to seize available opportunities rather than wait for them.
Other initiatives aimed at empowering Akwa Ibom’s youth include the construction of Youth Friendly Hubs across the state, designed to provide practical skills and opportunities for young people to thrive in the modern economy.
About one hundred youths received support, with 60,000 getting ₦50,000 business grants and 10,000 supported through the ARISE Entrepreneurial Scheme.
Job Opportunities were created for 3,000 youths employed for crowd control and intelligence gathering, and one thousand undergoing paid training at DAKKADA Skills Acquisition Center, Ikot Ada Idem.
Education Support and Increased bursaries of various amounts were given to students through balloting and educational grants for those with disabilities.
The summit aimed to connect young people with local and global opportunities, promoting economic growth and development in Akwa Ibom.
