June 28 (THEWILL) — The Akwa Ibom State Government has graduated 568 youths from the third batch of the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre (DASAC), Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, as part of its drive to tackle unemployment and strengthen human capital development under the ARISE Agenda.
The latest graduation brings the total number of beneficiaries trained at the centre to 774, with another 206 trainees expected to complete their programmes in the next graduation cycle.
The graduates received training in market-oriented vocational and technical fields, including agriculture, information and communication technology (ICT), hospitality, electrical technology, automobile engineering, woodwork, metal fabrication and construction technology.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, described skills acquisition as a critical strategy for reducing unemployment, poverty and insecurity by equipping young people with practical skills for self-reliance and entrepreneurship.
She said the state government remains committed to expanding opportunities for youths through programmes that promote enterprise development and sustainable economic growth.
The State government also reiterated its plan to deepen digital skills development through the ARISE Tech Talent Accelerator Programme, which aims to equip 1.5 million young people with globally relevant digital skills over the next five years.
According to the Deputy Governor, the skills acquisition initiative aligns with ongoing investments in agriculture, tourism and infrastructure, creating employment opportunities for graduates in sectors such as hospitality, agribusiness and construction.
“The state’s expanding hospitality projects, including the ARISE International Convention Centre, Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort, ARISE Palm Resort and the proposed ARISE Shopping City, are expected to provide employment opportunities for graduates trained in hospitality and related disciplines”, she explained.
Some of the graduands shared testimonies of how previous beneficiaries had established businesses in tailoring, furniture-making, electrical installation and ICT services, creating jobs and improving their livelihoods.
Some of the graduates who spoke with THEWILL said the programme had transformed their outlook on employment.
“Before DASAC, I was waiting for someone to employ me. Today I have a skill nobody can take away from me”, a graduate, Ntukidem said.
The Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre is one of the Akwa Ibom State Government’s flagship human capital development initiatives designed to equip young people with practical and employable skills while promoting entrepreneurship and economic self-sufficiency.
Attached: The Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Dr Akon Eyakenyi, presenting a certificate to a graduate during DASAC graduation
