Emmanuel inaugurates Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre

Ini Billie, Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel has inaugurated the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre (DASAC) affiliated to the University of Lagos.

Speaking on Wednesday in Ikot Ada Idem, Ibiono local government, Governor Emmanuel who said the centre was part of his parting gifts to citizens of the state, explained that the University of Lagos would be overseeing activities and operations of the centre.

Emmanuel said the decision to partner with UNILAG instead of foreign institutions was to ensure an understanding of the state’s environment and socio-cultural structure.

“I want to thank the University of Lagos because when we approached them on this project for their collaboration and partnership, they did not turn us down. Meeting the University of Lagos should assure you that this centre will be one of the best, a centre of excellence.

“It is also a challenge for the University of Lagos because we had the opportunity of collaborating and partnering with other institutions outside Nigeria.

“We have some in the Philippines, some from Pakistan, but I said no, east or west, that no other institution outside Nigeria would understand our environment, our socio-cultural structure to be able to manage in order to achieve our desired result,” he stated.

The governor assured representatives of UNILAG of the state government’s continuous support, even though he would vacate office on May 29.

He mentioned faculties in the centre including Faculty of Agric-Business, Faculty of Steel and Building Technology, Faculty of Mechanical Fabrication and Automobile Engineering, Faculty of Power and Renewable Energy, Faculty of Hospitality and Lifestyle Management, Faculty of Information and Communication Technology, Faculty of Wood Technology, Faculty of General Studies and Skills Development amongst others

While speaking, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Ayodele Atsenuwa thanked Governor Udom Emmanuel for entrusting the responsibility to the University of Lagos, assuring that they will ensure that graduates from the centre become potential employers of labour.

On his part, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Ini Ememobong applauded Governor Emmanuel for the decision to convert the institution which once served as Government Technical College to a skills acquisition centre.

Ememobong who stated that the school was abandoned by successive governments, revealed that the transformation of the school to a world class skills acquisition centre will bring about incremental development to the area and state at large.

He said the revolutionary achievement was a history-making event in the conclusion agenda of the outgoing administration and extended the gratitude of Ibiono Ibom people to Governor Udom Emmanuel.