SMEDAN redemption academy, inaugurate new officials, sends-forth old officials

By Ukeme Anwan

Redemption Academy Entrepreneurship Club played host on midweek of May 2024 at her swearing in of new executives and sending-forth of old executives.

The event was graced by dignitaries from different parastatals, both at the federal and state levels.

In her address, the Principal, Redemption Academy Dr, Mrs Victoria O. Bassey welcomed all dignitaries to the ceremony and celebrated the facilitators and members of the entrepreneurship club for the wonderful millstones they have attained.

She highlighted that the school is known for godliness, discipline and above all zero tolerance for examination malpractice.

The representative of SMEDAN State Manager in person of Mr Sopuruchi Egbeke expressed how satisfied he was identifying with Redemption Academy since the train the trainer mindshift program of federal government which brought over 30 teachers from Akwa Ibom State on 3rd to 5th August 2022.

In his statement, he emphasized that, of all the schools that sent representatives for that training Redemption Academy has remains the only school to keep the mandate of the Federal Government in catching the students young in the aspect entrepreneurship.

He noted that the richest people are the entrepreneurs not civil servants.

He acknowledged the commitment of the facilitators and support of the school management in sustaining the club.

Mr Egbeke promised to forward the report of the event to the Director General/CEO of the Agency Mr Charles Odii who is so passionate about the club in all the state.

Mr Egbeke maintained that SMEDAN is a Federal government Agency under the ministry of trade and investment.

He pledge to support the school with an industrial shoe making machine before the year runs out.

The representative from Civil Society Organisations Open Forum Care for Humanity Foundation Mr Mathew Koffi Okono aka Citizen MKO equally commended the school and the club for an invited for the august program.

He said he is a man of multiple faces when it comes to Redemption Academy, having served as a consultant and publisher to the school in years past.

Citizen MKO pledged his commitment to continue his partnership with the school. He called on Akwa Ibom State Government to implement the Education Roadmap adopted by the immediate past administration which is detailed enough to enhance and replicate the effort of Redemption Academy in the area of entrepreneurship.

He emphasis on the initiatives of the Education Roadmap “One farm, one factory, entrepreneurship support programme, Akwa Ibom cooperate programme for physically challenged persons, Akwa Ibom textbook authorship and production incentive plan.”

He said that a lot of text books used in Akwa Ibom State are authored by people from other states because government has failed in implementation of the roadmap that encourages teachers to write and publish books.

He encouraged students of Redemption Academy to learn one trade or more because depending on white collar jobs is frustrating.

Similarly, the representative of Youth for Change Initiative/YOUTHPRIDE was ably represented by Mr Andikan Uwah, he appreciated the club for sustainability and stated that the mandate of the organization include training on leadership, entrepreneurship and good governance.

He emphasized the need for students to hold onto the skills they have acquired which could become their means of survival in the future.

He opined, “Every child deserves quality education”, “child that is not gathered for today will become a menace to the community tomorrow”. He pledged to partner the Club.

Triple E consultant services was equally in attendance ably represented by Dr Edohoeket Eshiet.

He said that entrepreneurship is not only about trade and skills, but every facet of life.

He also promised to partner the school.
Uduak Okonko a representative from OINT Collection equally encouraged the students on the journey of entrepreneurship, emphasizing that life may not be fair to provide them with white collar jobs after graduation, however with the talents in them, they can stand out in any situation of life. She promised to partner the school in the area of shoe making.

The high point of the event were Inauguration of the newly elected officials which was conducted by Dr Edohoeket Eshiet, and gift/certificates presentation to the first runner-up position during the 2023 and 2024 Diamond Challenge organized by Delaware University, USA.

The facilitators of the programme Elder Ukeme Anwan and Miss Abigail Etim encouraged the members of the club to be more committed to the activities of the club.

They unveiled the Club blue print for the in-coming administration as establishment of garden egg farm between May and July, training on production of paint (August to October), implementation of shoe production factory in the school between November and February, and Diamond Challenge competition (March to May 2025).