Etung Legislator Inaugurates Economic Development Team For LGA
By Ebi COLLINS
The member representing Etung State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon Kingsley Ntui Isong has inaugurated the Etung Economic Development Team to foster development in the agro-rich Local Government Area.
Speaking at the event, held at the Mini auditorium of the Assembly Complex in Calabar, the Hon. Isong said that the Economic team is to promote sustainable economic growth, job creation and prosperity across Etung communities.
The legislator lamented that Etung, which was created as a Local Government Area since 1996, has no semblance of an urban centre with poor health facilities and other amenities despite being the outright leader in cocoa production in Cross River State.
"Basic indices and statistics have revealed that CRS is the number one cocoa producer in Nigeria, with Etung taking the lead in the state. It therefore categorically pronounced Etung as the giant cocoa producers of the State with available huge mineral deposits and agricultural resources, etc," he remarked.
According to Isong, the team's terms of reference include; "Conducting research and analysis to identify economic opportunities and challenges, developing strategies and initiatives to attract investment and foster entrepreneurship as well as providing a sound blueprint to reshape the Etung Economy."
Earlier, while declaring the event open, the Speaker of the 10th Assembly, Rt Hon Elvert Ayambem, commended the Etung representative for the initiative, describing it as a model and a welcomed development adding that such engagements with constituents are key for the overall transformation of constituencies.
Ayambem was full of praise for the unity among Etung people and called on all constituents to continue to support their representative who is poised to provide effective representation to them.
The Speaker said Etung is blessed with a common language and admonished them to draw strength from the common language and always present a collective front.
On their part, both the Paramount Ruler of Etung, HRM, Ntufam Anthony Etta and the Head of Local Government Administration (HOLGA), Etung LGA Mr Tony Ette promised to provide a conductive environment for the team to work.
The Economic Team has 48 members with Hon Isong as chairman, Engr George Abang, Coordinator and HRM Ntufam Anthony Ntui Etta as traditional rulers representative. It also has an Advisory Council of 18 members to be chaired by Prince Ebuta Ayuk and a Local Community Management Sub-Commitee composed of members from the ten council wards of the LGA.
Present at the well attended event were; several Lawmakers including the Leader of the House, Rt Hon Francis Asuquo, APC Party stalwarts, past and present political appointees, and the Senior Pastor of Message Message Point Assembly, Apostle Bassey Udosen who offered prayers for the success of the team.
