As part of his administration's commitment to tackling youth unemployment, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has launched the ARISE Youth Employment Portal. The launch took place at the Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort in Uyo, where the governor also announced plans to inaugurate a State Inter-Labour Committee.
The committee, according to the governor, will ensure that companies operating within Akwa Ibom engage local human resources and adopt transparent employment practices. This aligns with his administration's effort to provide job opportunities for the youth, particularly through the newly launched employment portal.
Governor Eno highlighted that the portal was created to fulfill a promise made when he signed a charter with Akwa Ibom youths. He emphasized that the initiative is aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on poverty reduction. “One of the major themes I campaigned on was the urgency in providing gainful employment opportunities for our teeming youths. Today, I am pleased and happy to launch that employment portal,” Eno stated.
The governor explained that the portal will serve as a centralized platform for employment matters, with opportunities segmented according to skill sets. He urged both the civil service and private sector to maximize the portal's potential to showcase job openings and engage the state's talented youths. Additionally, various empowerment programs, such as the ARISE Entrepreneurial Support and Youths Business Support, will be managed through the portal. These programs are expected to create opportunities for thousands of youths across the state.
Dr. Frank Ekpenyong, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on ICT, who was instrumental in developing the portal, elaborated on its operational framework. He stated that the portal is designed to open up the labour market, allowing the state government to identify and meaningfully engage the skills and expertise of the unemployed in the state. He noted that the portal will prioritize recruitment for the civil service and will provide support and training for the initial 5,000 beneficiaries, who will receive monthly stipends for one year.
Also speaking at the event, the Head of Civil Service, Elder Effiong Essien, praised the portal as a groundbreaking development in the state's recruitment process, ensuring transparency and merit-based hiring. Essien expressed confidence that the portal would attract the best minds into the civil service, making the recruitment process more efficient.
Representing the private sector, Engr. Uwem Okoko, CEO of Hensek Integrated Services, commended the governor for the initiative. He described it as timely, particularly as the construction industry is in need of skilled and unskilled labor, a challenge the portal is poised to address.
The event concluded with the formal unveiling of the ARISE Youth Employment Portal, with Governor Eno and his deputy, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, leading the ceremony. The portal is expected to revolutionize employment opportunities in Akwa Ibom State, providing a transparent and structured avenue for youth empowerment and economic growth.
