The governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Umo Eno said he would continue to invest in human capital for the growth of the aviation industry.
He stated this at the recent launch of the ARISE Human Capital Development Strategic Plan and the ARISE Local Government HCD Implementation Roadmap by the vice president, Mr Kashim Shettima, in Uyo.
The governor said 16 Akwa Ibom State youths had already been sent to Toulouse, France for training as pilots with Airbus.
Eno also announced that 21 engineers who recently came back from training with Ethiopian Airlines would soon be absorbed by the state-owned airline, Ibom Air.
In the health sector, the governor said his administration was poised to stop the ‘japa’ or brain drain syndrome in the state.
To that end, Eno said the state had recruited about a hundred medical doctors who will be sent abroad for training in various fields.
He said on graduation, the medical personnel would form the nucleus of “our planned medical tourism initiative in the state.”
“They will be provided with befitting living quarters, decent salaries and emoluments upon their return, as they are bonded with the state government. We want to stop the ‘japa syndrome’ in this state,” he said.
In his remarks, the vice president commended the governor for the impact he (the governor) had made in the health and educational sectors.
“With an under-five mortality rate of 80, compared to the national average of 110, and with only 3.5% of primary school-age children out of school—far below the national average of 25.6%—your state is not merely compliant with our national vision. You are ahead of the curve. And I assure you, the federal government stands ready to partner hand-in-hand with you.
“This is the Governor in whom the President has a lot of confidence,” Shettima said.
He further commended Eno not only for his outstanding performance, but for daring to dream bigger.
