Author: Kufre Etuk

The city of Uyo is set to host a historic convergence of visual storytellers as the 2025 Photography and Cinematography Industry Night and Awards (PCINA) takes centre stage. As the flagship event of the Association of Photographers and Cinematographers in Akwa Ibom (ASPPACG), the ceremony serves as the premier gathering of the guild to celebrate the resilience and technical excellence of creatives redefining African narratives. This year’s edition is themed “Shutters of Hope: Inspiring Possibilities.” The grand celebration, which is in its third edition, is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 23rd December 2025, at 4:00 PM at the Vinpy…

In a bid to reposition polytechnic education for relevance in a rapidly changing economy, the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, Mrs. Eduma Enobong Essien, has declared that academic certificates without practical competence can no longer meet the demands of today’s labour market. Mrs. Essien made the statement on Tuesday while addressing participants at a one-day sensitisation workshop on the Nigerian Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) and the Mandatory Skills Qualification (MSQ). The workshop was organised by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and held at the Polytechnic’s 250-Capacity Lecture Theatre. According to her, “The realities of today’s Nigerian economy…

The Akwa Ibom State Governor, HE Pastor Umo Eno, PhD, joined persons who lived, schooled, and worked in Eket from the ’80s to the year 2005 to give back to Eket ancestry and the people. In the Governor’s remark on Sunday, December 7, 2025 during a thanksgiving service at All Nations Christian Ministry, Eket, Pastor Eno acknowledged that he was favoured in the land of Eket, and as a member of the group, he will add his quota in advancing the vision of the group in touching lives and give back in positive ways to Eket and its people. “Eket…

The Federal Government of Nigeria has strengthened its partnership with the Federal Polytechnic Ukana to promote entrepreneurship among young people, as the institution continues to champion skill-based education through national programmes like YOUWIN. Speaking during the YOUWIN Enterprise Education and Free Book Distribution Exercise at the 250-capacity lecture hall of the Main Campus, the Rector, Mrs. Eduma Essien—represented by the Registrar, Mr. Idhigu Lucky—urged students to fully embrace entrepreneurial training as a reliable way to reduce unemployment in the country. She commended the Federal Government for sustaining the YOUWIN programme, noting that it has made a positive impact on Nigerian…

A crucial, high-level meeting is underway for all stakeholders in the construction subsector. This stakeholders meeting will bring together policymakers, professional bodies, industry leaders, educational institutions, and project partners to discuss strategies for enhancing the nationwide implementation of Digital Technologies in the technical vocational education and training of construction education in Nigeria. The critical meeting is scheduled to hold second week of January 2026 and is expected to result in a cohesive national strategy, ensuring that the successes generated by the DT4TVET project translates into sustainable, long-term change. The Edinburgh Napier University and University of Uyo collaboration with the support…

Access to quality education is key to nurturing future leaders, yet many school children face challenges due to inadequate learning materials and classroom facilities. In Ndauku, Ikot Abasi, pupils of Government Primary School have been affected by shortages of desks, chairs, books, and other essential educational tools. In response, Ibom Developers FZE and Sterling Petrochemicals and Fertilizers Ltd. (SPFL) provided the school with desks, chairs, school bags, sandals with socks, exercise books, rulers, erasers, pens, pencils, water bottles, and other essential learning materials. This intervention, which is part of the companies’ ongoing Community Development Programme, addresses long-standing infrastructural gaps and…

When it comes to moving high-value assets and VVIPs across Nigeria, the margin for error is zero. Few understand this better than Samuel Isong, the dynamic Akwa Ibom entrepreneur and CEO of Ride With Me Logistics. Having successfully managed two vastly different, high-stakes assignments—the multi-city Davido ‘5ive’ Album Tour and the first-ever African visit by the President of Burger King—Isong offers a unique perspective on the complexities of world-class logistics in the Nigerian context. The Contrast: Corporate Protocol vs. Homegrown Star Isong identifies the single biggest logistics challenge as managing the profound difference in protocol between an international corporate executive…

Uyo, Nigeria – Across the globe, science, and technology drive solutions to pressing social challenges. However, many students in Nigeria’s underserved communities where curiosity struggles to take root remain on the side-lines of this progress. Their ideas, full of potential, rarely find the space to grow and make positive change. In response, Vcare for Development Foundation (VCDF), in partnership with the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Education and the State Secondary Education Board (SSEB) commenced the Igniting Minds through Science (IMS) programme in Akwa Ibom State in 2024. The programme leverages support from Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company…

On a joyful day in Akwa Ibom State, mothers cradled their infants, children whose births coincided with the historic moment an oil well was spudded in their communities. These “Spud Babies,” as they are fondly called, became the centre of celebration as the NNPC Exploration & Production Limited (NEPL) and Sumedha Energy Limited (SEL), gathered families, traditional rulers and health experts for a day of free medical care, gifts, and cash support for each child. This year, which marks the fourth edition of the initiative, NEPL and Sumedha Energy Limited (SEL) celebrated 66 “Spud Babies” across four local government…

When superstar Davido announced his highly anticipated ‘5ive’ Album Tour, featuring just five select states in Nigeria, the inclusion of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, generated massive excitement. Now, the definitive story behind this strategic coup can be revealed: it was the singular vision and persistence of Akwa Ibomite entrepreneur, Samuel Isong. Isong, the brain behind Rave Media and Ride With Me logistics, successfully orchestrated Uyo’s inclusion, convincing Davido’s influential management team that Akwa Ibom was not just ready, but a must-have destination for the national tour. Born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Isong maintains deep ties to his ancestral home…