4 January 2009
AKWA Ibom people in Diaspora have received accolades for preserving their cultural heritage in foreign lands. Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio made the commendation when Miss USA, Ima Usoro; Miss Akwa Ibom, Miss Aniefon Effiong; Miss Atlanta, Elizabeth Amasi along with undergraduates of Akwa Ibom origin studying abroad paid him a courtesy visit in his office.
Akpabio, who recollected the cultural displays of Akwa Ibom people resident in the United States of America during their cultural week alongside the dancing skills exhibited by undergraduates of Akwa Ibom origin studying in USA, United Kingdom and Canada at the Christmas Carol Night featuring 9,300 choral singers at Uyo Sports Stadium, said they had not detached from Akwa Ibom culture.
"When I visited United States of America few months ago, I was impressed by the cultural displays and values of your parents during the cultural week, which shows your pride of re-connection and re-integration with Akwa Ibom people at home", he recalled.
The governor explained that the recent 9,300 choral singers in the state showcased love, re-integration, trust and harmony permeating the present administration and exemplified in siting of development projects evenly in different parts of the state.
Responding to the appeal by visiting undergraduates for scholarship by the state government, Akpabio re-assured them of the government's decision to revisit the issue soon. He recalled government's declaration of compulsory, free education at primary and secondary levels as a bold step to raise the literacy rate among the youths, curb kidnapping, reduce child abuse, child-witches stigmatization, child labour, among others in the state.
Akpabio who said the state government has sponsored more than 200 students in foreign countries to be trained in computer engineering and medicine, among others, advised them to take the study of their academic programmes seriously.
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