Edith CHUKU
Member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State, Dr Unyime Idem, has revealed plans to undertake annual visits to institutions hosting beneficiaries of his overseas scholarship initiative.
Idem stated this on Thursday, while expressing delight over the appointment of one of the beneficiaries of his fully funded overseas scholarship, 21 years old Nsikakabasi Nseyen Evong.
Evong, a first class graduate of Computer Science, currently on a Master’s Programme at the University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom, was appointment a member of the School of Computing’s Artificial Intelligence AI, and Data Science Research Team.
Overwhelmed by the appointment, Idem described it as one of the proudest moments of his life. ” My surprise visit to the University of Portsmouth, UK, turned into one of my proudest moments as one of my foreign scholarship beneficiaries is appointed into the university’s AI research team!
“I’m truly overwhelmed with joy. In another testament to his leadership qualities, Nsikak has also been elected course representative, with the responsibility of representing more than 100 students in his department.
“These remarkable recognitions follow his outstanding academic performance and brilliance since joining the university.
“These accomplishments, coming so early in his postgraduate journey, are a source of immense pride and encouragement.”
Idem noted that the appointment demonstrate “what our young people can achieve when their talents are nurtured, their potential is recognised, and they are given access to opportunities to compete and excel on the global stage.
“I was briefed on these recognitions during my visit to the University of Portsmouth to assess his progress and that of other beneficiaries of the programme as they pursue their academic ambitions abroad.
“This visit marks the beginning of my resolve to undertake annual visits to institutions hosting beneficiaries of my overseas scholarship initiative, with plans to extend the initiative to other universities in subsequent years.”
He stated that during his visit to the institution he was conducted around the advanced computing labs, where he received encouraging reports about Nsikak’s performance and integration into the academic community.
“I also expressed my appreciation to Dr. Alaa Mohasseb, Associate Professor of AI and Course Leader, for recognising Nsikak’s abilities and offering him the opportunity to serve on the team. I am very confident that he will justify the trust reposed in him and continue to distinguish himself through diligence, innovation and intellectual excellence.
“For me, this is more than an individual achievement. It is about building a generation of highly skilled, globally competitive Akwa Ibom young people who can bring their knowledge, expertise and international exposure to bear on the development of our state and nation.
“Nsikak’s story is a powerful reminder that when we invest in people, the returns extend far beyond the individual. They inspire others, strengthen our communities and create possibilities for future generations.
“I congratulate Nsikakabasi Nseyen Ebong on these well-deserved recognitions and encourage him to remain focused, humble and committed to excellence as he continues this promising journey. His achievements are only the beginning, and I look forward to seeing him reach even greater heights.”
