Efio-Ita Nyok|13 June 2016|7:00am
Prince Micheal Abuo is the Special Assistant to Cross River State Governor on Students Affairs and Youth Mobilisation. He once served as the Director of Information in the Students Union Government, University of Calabar (UNICAL) where he studied Microbiology.
In this interview with Chinwendu Ohaeri of Campus Light Magazine, Abuo applauds Governor Ayade’s one year in office, stressing his achievements as the Special Assistant to the Governor and what Cross River Students stand to benefit next years. Excerpt:
CLM: Can you tell us a little about yourself?
MA: I am Micheal Abuo from Ogoja in Northern Cross River State (CRS) while my mum is from Warri South, Urhobo in Delta State, my father is from Cross River State.
I am from a royal family (Obet) of the Mbube Nation which is why I have a prefix, ‘Prince’ to my name. I was born in Jos, Plateau State.I attended Nsisuk International Nursery School here in CRS. I went to both National Youth Service Corp Secondary School and St. Patrick Collage, Calabar and graduated from the prestigious University of Calabar. While in the university I was a senator of the Faculty of Science Senate as at 100 level, which was legendary. At 200 level, I contested for SUG President. After much ado, I was asked to step down for Ipuole Johnson and I was afterwards elected in same regime as Director of Information. While in the office I was a member of the UNICAL Radio Steering Committee inaugurated by then Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bassey Asuquo to lay a process for the start-up of the UNICAL Community Radio Station, part of the recommendation of that committee led to the upgrade of Theatre Arts to Theatre and Media Arts as it is today. I was also elected as the Secretary of the Northern Senatorial District (Ex-Officio North) of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Cross River State Chapter while in my third year and served as the Deputy Chairman of the National Association of Microbiology Student, NAMS, UNICAL. After graduating from UNICAL, I founded Cross River State Political Network, CRISPON a non governmental sociopolitical organization geared at building(sic) the gap between government and the governed and providing a platform for youths to get leadership experience and network for the good of our state. It was on the back of this platform that I was nominated by the United State Government to represent Nigeria/West Africa in the International Visitors Leadership Program, IVLP at the United States for the Young Political Leaders Project (We were 30 in all, from thirty different countries across the world, I was the only Nigerian and West African and four Africans, the others were from Europe, Asia etc and Ministers, Special Advisers to Presidents and State and National Parliamentarians etc. It is still on the back of this platform that I got to where I am today. I have over 230 works of poetry published in my book titled "Thoughts of A Rainforest".
CLM: How has it being like since you were appointed into this office?
MA: I love challenges. This is my third appointment in this government. When my boss, Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade came into office, he asked me to serve in this government as his Media Aide. That was due to my experience as a campus journalist those days under the Nigeria Union of Campus Journalist. After about 3 months, he reassigned me to be the Personal Assistant on Students Affairs. Media work is relatively easy compared to coordinating students’ affairs. I found it relatively easier serving as a Media Aide cos your major role is promoting what the government is doing and the counter propaganda against government. Here, you deal with students who are an unpredictable set of people. There are high expectations from people all around me especially on finances. Expectations ranges from the issues of subvention for National Association of Cross River State Students, to scholarships, challenges of bursary, requests for support of both youth and student activities etc. Subsequently, my office was upgraded by His Excellency, Senator Prof Ayade from Personal Assistant to Special Assistant Student Affairs and Youth Mobilization. That is how it has been.
CLM: What are your basic achievements since you got into office?
MA: Well, my office has facilitated processes for over 100 CRS students in the Chevron Scholarship program and over 50 students for the Federal Scholarship program. We have built a cordial relationship with National Association of Cross River State Students (NACRISS). On the issue of their subvention,the state government is looking into that since we are faced with challeneges. So, there is no more glitch between the students and the government. My office facilitated a face-to-face interaction between students/youths of different groups and the Governor which was the first of it kind. This government have come up number one in students’ affairs and youth mobilization.Since His Excellency came on board there has not been any strike action in Cross River State University of Science and Technology (CRUTECH) and we will maintain that.My office has equally organized the first ever government led voluntary sanitation exercise to keep Calabar clean in partnership with different groups. We went around Calabar Metropolis to practically sensitize our people on the need to be environmentally friendly.We have also launched an anti-cultism and back-to-book project in Cross River state in order to encourage our young people to go back to their studies and to forget about fcultism,hooliganism,other social vices and go back to their books as a means of encouraging reading habit in the state.
CLM: What should CRS students expect next 3 years?
MA: There are plans for the building of a Student/Youth Complex in Calabar metropolis were students can stay for e-reading and research, relaxation via providing a serene environment for refreshment and indoor sporting, a Reprographic Art and ICT Unit and office space with 24/7 power supply. There are plans for upgrading my office to a department of students’ affairs which will be a hub for students’ issues in CRS. The architectural designs for these projects are in course and the source for funding is centered on the World Bank, African Development Bank, Tertiary Education Trust Fund etc for financing these projects. I have presented all these proposals before His Excellency and we are hoping to kick-off soon. Our attention too has been drawn to the state of the State Library and soon with the setting up of the library board those issues will be addressed. My office will be launching an initiative which will contribute to transform Cross River State from an Educationally Less-Developed State (ELDS) to Educationally Developed State (EDS) in the country. This will be done in partnership with the Ministry of Education, CRS via our BackToBookProject and After School Trainings for Students and I know our dreams can be achieved within 7 years due to His Excellency Senator Prof Ben Ayade passion for students and Youths in the State.
CLM: Don’t you think that ELDS helps our students get admission in higher institutions?
MA: Well, for me and for my Governor, we believe that if you set your mind together in a particular perspective, your body will follow. We are poised to rearrange our dynamics as a state from negative to positive. Ostensibly, if there are Nigerian states that are making it on the platform Educationally Developed State, EDS like Imo, Abia states, Akwa Ibom, Lagos etc then we can make it. If there are advantages for those who are EDS, then, let us have the advantages. We are looking at liberation from everything negative. As a state tagged to be Educationally Less Developed this has spiritual, psychological and emotional effect on CR citizens, children and future generation. As a state in the histroy known for many firsts academically and otherwise we have no business been categorized under this demeaning standard.
CLM: One of the pressing issues for students is the issue of bursary payment, scholarships and subvention what is your office doing about that?
MA: You know, we have realised that there is no central bursary payment system in the state. Some local governments pay bursary while others don’t. We want to centralise the bursary payment system so that every Cross River student will benefit from it. For scholarships and subvention due to the current economic situation in the country and monumental development projects of this administration these issues are facing review and will be addressed accordingly. Several memos has been written to that effect and action will commence as soon as His Excellency gives approval.
CLM: Will that apply to CR students schooling outside the state?
MA: If His Excellency approves the bursary payment, it will surely apply for all the students schooling within Nigeria. But we will set up a selection process which will fairly apply to all students regardless of where they are.
CLM: What is your word of advice for the students and parents?
MA: Parents should advice and support their children to pursue their passion guided by the principle of God and societal ethics. During my secondary school days at St. Patrick’s College, Calabar I was the Senior Prefect. Shortly before then, I was selected to be in science class contrary to the recommendation of the Vice Principal Academics that I should be in Arts Class. My father wanted me to be a science student. I did better in art subjects compared to my science subjects, but my Dad wanted me in science class. Here am I today in politics which is arts-related. I later told myself that if I studied arts, I would have done better because I have the initiatives and endowments when it comes to social relations, leadership and management. Interestingly, since I graduated, I have not used my Microbiology Certificate for any job as I went into private hustle after graduation. This is my first government job upon graduation.So, students should not give up irrespective of were they are today and should undestand that it is not just their certificate that will get them a job or make them fulfilled in life but passion guided by determination and effort. Parents should not impose courses on their students. They should allow their students to explore the world and do what they can do to the best of their capacity. As young people, we should discover ourselves and grow. Self discovery is not time bound. Youths should be diligent,creative, innovative and passionate in whatever they do and success will come hugging.
CLM: Do you have any political ambition?
MA: Yes I do. My political ambition is for God’s grace to help me attain the greatest results in my current office. I want to succeed where I am and come up with ideas that will solve problems. By so doing, we will build stair cases for future platforms to serve in higher capacities.
Culled from Campus Light Magazine (CLM)
