Yesterday, February 25, 2021, Emmanuel Inyang Foundation had the pleasure of declaring open for use, the water project built by the Foundation for Unique Farm & Ikot Obong Ediene Community.
Ikot Obong sits in the heart of Ediene, one of the major Clans in Abak Local Government Area which plays host to UNIUYO’s Ime Umana Campus. The area is developing and has witnessed slow pace in communal development after conquest by war against the British colonial invaders at the valley lying in the north of Ediene. Most communal dwellers at Ikot Obong are into petty trades, farming and okada business. Unfortunately, this is the same community that plays host to Unique Farm, a productive garden with marketable yields ran by Rev. Father Daniel Alphonsius Inyang-etoh.
In October 2020, the “Meet and Greet Team” of the Emmanuel Inyang Foundation paid a visit to Unique Farm, and after discovering that lack of close source of water supply was plaguing the Farm and Community promised to intervene. This is how the project was birthed.
The water project features an overhead tank, reinforced concrete stand and a borehole to service the farm and the host community. While commissioning the project, Prof. Otoabasi Akpan noted that it takes love to implement remarkable projects in a land one is not linked to ancestrally. The Western breed Professor of “History of Ideas and International Security Studies” commended Emmanuel Inyang for having humanity at heart. He further noted that Inyang’s act of kindness will attract more development to Ikot Obong Ediene and subsequently lift people out of poverty.
Rev. Father Daniel Alphonsius Inyang-etoh, the Owner of Unique Farm asserted that the water project is a big relief to workers at the Farm as the previous point for fetching water was too far and made it difficult to water crops regularly. He went further to thank the Foundation for fulfilling her promise and upholding the welfare of humanity. The clergy emphasized that it is not easy to make a promise and fulfil especially now that COVID-19 is ravaging the world. In his words, “Emmanuel promised me water, I believed, but I didn’t know when”.
He encouraged the government to follow the steps of Engr. Emmanuel Inyang to support people who are hard-working and ready to work but do not have clear means of supporting their dreams. They should be supported with grants and loans so hunger can be eliminated. Rev. Inyang-etoh went further to state that Akwa Ibomites do not deserve to be hungry. It is easy to convince any hungry man to go into crime, but if government becomes more sensitive and follow the footsteps of Emmanuel Inyang Foundation, Akwa Ibom will truly metamorphose into a land flowing with milk and honey.
Mr. Emmanuel Stephen, the Youth Leader of Ikot Oku Ubara, a neighbouring community and Mr. Ndiana David Obot, the landowner and keeper of the water project noted that they can’t repay the Foundation for her kind gesture. Obot said he never thought this kind of light will come close to him, and prayed the Almighty God to bless everyone who made the project come to fruition.
The benefactor and Chairman of Emmanuel Inyang Foundation, Engr. Emmanuel Inyang used the privilege to thank the beneficiaries and host community for cooperating with his Foundation from the inception of the project to completion. Engr. Inyang noted that he saw the lacuna when he first visited the community in 2020 with his “Meet and Greet Team”.
“When I first came to this community, I visited Unique Farm. I asked the Father what his challenge and that of the community was; he said he has issues with water supply as there was no close source, so I told him I will come back. The project began in December, 2020. We decided to station the water project at a central point to benefit Unique Farm and the entire Ikot Obong Ediene Community”.
“I thank my friends and members of the Foundation for always encouraging me and leading me aright. We will do more for humanity”.
Engr. Inyang thanked all attendees for finding time to grace the event. He specially thanked Prof. Akpan for accepting to commission the project for use.
Recall that in October, 2020, Emmanuel Inyang Foundation hosted Akwa Ibom Entrepreneurship Conference where three Finalists of the 2020 Emmanuel Inyang Essay Competition were awarded cash grant of N220,000.
In tandem with our mission statement – “To work voluntarily for the benefit of Individuals and Communities, making the necessary efforts in Educational and Business Service Areas to achieve the restoration of self-reliance and Competitive Entrepreneurial Environments that will earn matchless international reputation”, we will keep acting, speaking for and supporting humanity in a way that life will become meaningful for all.
