Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has commended the Chairman of Mkpat Enin Local government area of the State Mr. Ekanem Brown over his ability in fostering entrepreneurial growth i n the area.
Emmanuel who stated this at the council headquarters during a solidarity rally in support of his reelection said he had singled out Brown for what he termed “commendation for entrepreneurship spirit.”
Adding that Mkpat Enin local council of Akwa Ibom has established a shoe factory capable of producing one million shoes annually to increase revenue and generate employment for indigenes of the area.
On his part, the council Chairman said his efforts were meant to complement that of Governor Udom Emmanuel who has not hidden his desire to transform the economy of the state by encouraging the growth of private owned businesses in the area.
Ekanem told newsmen during an inspection tour of the shoe factory that the factory which commenced production recently has already employed about 50 persons and is also meant to diversify the mainly agrarian economy of the area.
However, the chairman said the plant is producing military, school and fashion shoes on a limited scale while efforts are being made to source for market for the product of the company adding that
the machines already installed has capacity to produce about one million shoes in a year.
Ekanem who bemoaned the numerous challenges posed to the factory by inadequate power supply however expressed hope that with the completion of the Ekim power substation in the area by the state government this year, the factory would be more profitable and competitive in the shoe making industry.
He said that raw materials are sourced locally while he would soon send a bill to the local council legislature for the smooth running and to protect the life of the factory even after his exit as council chairman.
He explained that the council’s seven hectares farms were meant to encourage youths in the area to go into farming and teach modern farming techniques to young farmers with the aim of producing atleast
200 growers of cucumber, pepper, water melon and tomatoes in the short run.
Ekanem said that more than 1,000 bags of cucumber have been harvested and sold in the last one year from the council’s farms.
The farms he said are supervised by local government staff while many unemployed youths in the area have already been trained in the demonstration farms and have already began to cultivate and make profits in their own farms.
