AFAHA ATAI VILLAGE, EKET, CELEBRATES AFAHA-ATAI DAY, HOLDS VOCATIONAL TRUST AGM 2025.

AFAHA ATAI VILLAGE, EKET, CELEBRATES AFAHA-ATAI DAY, HOLDS VOCATIONAL TRUST AGM 2025.

– Launches a N 10 million Trust Fund for 2026

Written by: Daniel Edon

EKET: Afaha Atai community in Eket local Government Area on 26th. December 2025, celebrated the second edition of the Afaha Atai Day 2025, with a launch of ten million Naira for the second phase of Vocational Trust Fund, also had her Annual General Meeting, AGM.

The AGM afforded the community Stakeholders the opportunity to know what the Trust has been able to do with their money. It also afforded the Board of Trustees, and the management committee opportunity to appraise themselves and chat a new course towards improving on their plans and programs for a better community.

The Managing Director of the Afaha Atai Vocational Trust, Mr. Etukakpan Mkpandiok while giving his presentation at the Town Hall and at the venue of Cultural festival, said that in the year under review, the Trust had successfully carried out the following, under Educational support:
1. procured and distributed 20 pieces of writing desks to their Secondary and Primary school,
2. Provide 1000 copies of customized exercise books and distributed same to both the Primary and Secondary schools in Afaha Atai.
3. Provided ‘Back to School’ uniforms for both Primary and Secondary schools.

According to the Mr Mkpandiok, the Vocational Trust has been able to offer a one-off scholarship of One Hundred Thousand Naira, N150,000, each to selected students from Afaha Atai, in tertiary institutions across the State. Two persons from each family in Afaha Atai were selected for the scholarship. The beneficiaries all confirmed receipts of the funds at the AGM, as they were officially invited to attend the meeting.

Under Skill Acquisition program of the Trust, the Managing Director informed the Stakeholders that ten (10) indigenes and one (1) resident, have been trained in different trades, such as Motor Mechanic, Panel beating, Upholstery, Scaffolding, Tiling etc.

Mr Mkpandiok also informed the Stakeholders at the AGM that they interfaced with non indigenes who are resident in Afaha Atai, to get assistance; and through that approach, one of the non-indigene, offered to train about eleven (11) people in different oil related fields at ExxonMobil, now Seplat Energy Qua Iboe Terminal, QIT.

The Managing Director concluded his speech by appreciating the Village Head, the Board of Trustee and management committee for their financial and moral support towards the success they have achieved so far.

In his speech, the Chairman of the Board Of Trustee, Dr. Princewill Ekanem, a former Director at the NDDC, said the major challenges of the Trust is the issue of funding. He thanked those that had contributed to the funds in 2025.

Dr. Ekanem said that the Trust will continue to create critical partnership with donor agencies, well-to-do residents, and other public spirited individuals and organized private sectors across the local Government Area and the State. He stated that the assistant might not necessarily be in form of cash, but in the Area of offer of scholarship and Free training of her indigenes on skill development.

The BOT Chairman said the Trust will liaise with Emoimee Hosts Community Development Trust, HCDT, so that whatever accrues to Afaha Atai community would be channeled via Afaha Atai Development Trust for proper management and control.

Dr Ekanem said that going forward, the Trust intents to build a Youth Development Center for the training of Afaha Atai Youths in different fields of endeavor including but not limited to skill development, leadership, citizenship and civility. Women would be also be assisted to grow the economy via Nano enterprises.

Finally, the BOT chairman announced that as a matter of urgency, the Trust would create a data base of all technicians and Artisans in Afaha Atai, so that when once there’s a vacancy for employment in any of the trades, it would be easy to pick from the pool.

While speaking with this Reporter, the beneficiaries of the tertiary institution scholarship program Miss Victory Udo Eshiet, confirmed receipts of the sum of One Hundred Thousand Naira and Mr. Elijah Enoch confirmed that he had concluded his training as a tiler. They were full of praises and appreciation to God, for using the village Head and the Members of the Afaha Atai Vocational Trust, to assist them.

Parents of the beneficiaries were also full of praises to the village Head and his team for bringing this development initiative. They confessed that Afaha Atai is now peaceful, no robbery because the Youths are engaged more than ever. Some wondered who gave the village Head such a wonderful and smart idea.

In his closing remarks, and response, the village Head, His Royal Highness chief Bassey Enobong said when once you pray asking God for ideas to rule your people, God who made you a leader wiil sure provide you with ideas and will guide you alright. He said he constantly pray for God to help him rule his people and so far God has not disappointed him. He expressed gratitude to God for sustainability and the Board of trustee and the Management Committee of the Afaha Atai Development Trust for standing by him for the one year operation of the Trust program. He also thanks the family heads,”Mbong Ekpuk” for their support and contribution to the success of the Trust.

Chief Enobong said the Afaha Atai Vocational Trust is closely knitted to the Governor Pastor Umo Eno PhD, Arise Agenda. He said it’s on that foundation his programs stand. He used the opportunity to thanked the Governor for appointing an Afaha Atai indigene into his government, as Oliver tweest, he asked for engagement of Afaha-Atai sons and daughters as he is matching into his second term in office.

The Village Head finally thanks the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Mkpisóng Frank Archibong for what he is doing to the traditional Institutions. He said everywhere is peaceful and calm because of his humane style of leadership. He salute the Chairman of Eket Mr. Akaniyene Tommey for his pragmatic leadership.

He plead for continuous support of the Trust Fund especially from government, NGOs,.and other donor agencies and public spirited individuals across the State and in the Diaspora.