Senator Ekong Sampson's 600 Million Naira Grant for Students and Sports Development: Another Proof of People-Inclined Representation

 

By EDET OKPO 

Recently, the Senator representing Akwa Ibom South ( Eket )Senatorial District, distinguished Senator Ekong Sampson, PhD, released a whooping sum of 100 Million Naira as grants for students from his  Senatorial District in tertiary institutions and 500 Million Naira to boost sports  development in Secondary schools within the  same Senatorial District. 

According to the Secretary of Senator Ekong Sampson Empowerment Committee,  Engr.  ( Dr.) Ben Edesenting, the money was not given as promissory note or as a  postdated cheque. He disclosed that names of beneficiaries of the grant, as duly screened from the applications  submitted  about three months ago by Students from Akwa Ibom South ( Eket) Senatorial District, will soon be shortlisted .

 With this gesture, one  can only imagine the direct effects this will have on the beneficiaries as well as the collateral impact on their educational advancement and their diverse expectations.

This goodwill, amongst other things, further confirms the senator's unwavering commitment to his campaign promises; his pragmatic approach to representation; and his unflinching determination to make constituents have a sense of belonging in governance . For the emphasis, no good student of history or keen followers of record would contend against the fact that, nothing like this has ever happened in the Senatorial District since the advent of Democracy in the country.

No wonder the rain of gratitude and encomiums from all and sundry, strengthening the people's trust in the transformational and inclusive representation of  distinguished Senator Ekong Sampson and the grand promises of the Renewed Hope of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Not that the people are surprised by this development. They are rather amazed at how committed, sincere, selfless and pragmatic the lawmaker has been in his concerns for his people, especially the young generation within which demography are found those generally described as leaders of tomorrow.

Senator Ekong Sampson has brought to the fore, or has made it more obvious, the correlation between those who went to the National Assembly because they desired to, with vision and capacity to touch lives, and those who merely jumped onto the bandwagon with no clear-cut framework for impact but with the mindset of gratifying themselves. 

The 100 million Naira grant for   Students came as a memento in reference to Senator Ekong Sampson's week-long birthday activities two weeks ago. The event also saw the celebrated lawmaker taught and donated educational materials to students at St Vincent Secondary School, Oti-Oro, Okobo  local government area, where  he announced the 100 Million naira grant for eligible students in Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District. This is a foretaste of  his mega empowerment programme and Constituency Briefing, holding within the year.

In their show of gratitude on behalf of Students from the Senatorial District, the immediate past President of Eket Students Association (EKSA), Miss Torobong Obot; the President of the National Association of Mkpat Enin Students (NAMES) worldwide, 

Comrade Mfonobong Joseph; 

President of Oron Students Union, Worldwide, Comrade Anthony Eyoh,

all acknowledged the magnanimity of the Senator for what they described as "rare, spectacular, extraordinarily, and commendable", considering the history of representation in the Senatorial District. To Prof. Desmond Wilson, a renowned Communication Scholar and Public Affairs for Analyst, the Senator's gesture is "phenomenal and historic, an altruistic  departure from the past". It was no doubt the reason Senator Ekong Sampson deserved loud mention in Prof Wilson's recently launched book:,"Communication Nuggets for Public and Private Spaces'. 

Wilson, Professor of Communication and former Dean, Faculty of Arts in the University of Uyo, serves on Senator Sampson's Public and Policy Analysis Committee, the Think-tank for his inclusive and integrated empowerment programmes. 

 Senator Ekong Sampson's love for quality education has never been in doubt. He is one of the intellectually blessed lawmakers in the 10th National Assembly, a blessing he has used extensively and ungrudgingly in the development of humanity in numerous ways. 

It must be mentioned that Senator Sampson singlehandedly established the Excellence College in Mkpat Enin and made it tuition free for years before he handed it over to the state government.  

He has initiated other  education-based interventions in Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District. Amongst these include construction of CBT/ICT Labs in selected secondary schools in the Senatorial District;   construction of a school block at the Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi; construction of staff quarters and hostel at Excellence College, Mkpat Enin;  and Staff Quarters at Community Secondary, Udung Uko, among others. 

That's not all. Within his first one year in office, the Senator initiated  empowerment programme that changed the Socio-Economic fortunes of his constituents positively. It spanned capacity-building for professionals in diverse Desciplines; startup  packages to hundreds of entrepreneurs; Education , Media ,  fashion designers and various vocations.

The 500 million naira sports Support project  for selected  secondary schools in Akwa Ibom South  (Eket) Senatorial District can therefore be seen as an icing on the cake, specifically to support the sports drive and related developmental components of the ARISE Agenda of Governor Umo Eno led administration.

Himself a prolific writer and  renowned author, Senator Ekong Sampson's bold signature is also seen on the Uyo Book Club, an assemblage of readers,   established and aspiring writers that  meet at William Shakespeare  Hall, Watbridge Hotels, Uyo every last Saturday of the month. Senator Ekong Sampson, the Chairman, Board of Directors of one of the leading hospitality outfits in Akwa Ibom State, Watbridge Hotels, has given out the Shakespeare Hall in gratis. 

Talk of impact, talk of Senator Ekong Sampson. His bespoke scorecard is widely celebrated as a paradigm shift in passion for service and narratives of representation in Akwa Ibom South (Eket) Senatorial District. Outstandingly, the former two terms State Assembly Lawmaker does not limit his services to his primary constituency but also extends the antenna across the three Senatorial Districts of the State. His service delivery statements have become a hallmark for redefinition and  assessment of Parliamentary responsibilities to constituents. As a result, Senator Ekong Sampson has been a source of testimonies, comfort, hope and greater expectations amongst constituents, far and near. This is what the Executive Chairman of Ikot Abasi Local Government Area,  Hon. Ime Williamson, had to say: "Thank you Senator Sampson for giving Akwa Ibom South focused, visionary and result- oriented representation'. 

While the subject of this article is essentially about Senator Ekong Sampson's representation as part of the Mandate freely given to  him, he has not failed in the areas of Lawmaking, oversight and representation. He has been a critical contributor to many bills and participated in strategic and consequential oversight functions. From the very start on June 13, 2023, when the 10th National Assembly was officially constituted, neither Senator Sampson's capacity in public service nor his cumulative profile  was in doubt. He is dependable, trusted and populist in stewardship. But like 

John C. Maxwell reminds us, "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." 

Ekong Sampson is a textbook example of the People's lawmaker who knows the plights of his constituents and constantly provide solutions to them.

* Edet Okpo is the Chairman, Association of Akwa Ibom South ( Eket) Senatorial District Media Professionals, Akwa Ibom State.