The Ikot Obio Eket and Ikot Mbong group of villages in ONNA Local Government Area have described the Akwa Ibom State Rural Access and Agricultural Project (RAAMP) as a blessing to their communities.
The clan head of Assang, Etebom Ekanem Itiat Udoudong, expressed this sentiment recently during a stakeholders’ engagement exercise organized for both communities by AKS-RAAMP at the Ikot Obio Eket civic center. The event aimed to strengthen awareness of standard procedures and practices related to the project.
He thanked the World Bank and the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for bringing the project to their community and reiterated their loyalty, cooperation, and support for the State Government and the ARISE agenda.
The engagement exercise was crucial in seeking the cooperation and support of the communities ahead of the commencement of actual construction works on the road.
The AKS-RAAMP team, which included Mrs. NseAbasi Udom (ESO), Lead Infrastructure Engineer Engr. Ekong Inyang, Mr. Asuquo Essah (SSO), and Akan Esinwang (DCO), emphasized that the objective of the exercise was to solicit cooperation and support from all community members for the project’s success. The team encouraged the benefiting communities to take ownership of the project for optimal results and further advised them on the consequences of sexual exploitation and abuse, child labor, and other vices during the construction works.
The event also featured the introduction of the contractors, Basse Engineering Works Limited, and the supervising consultant, Yaroson Partnership, to the stakeholders.
