"A society grows great when men of means plant trees whose shade they know not those who will sit on them. They hold the hands of the feeble; teach them how to sit, crawl, stand and walk until they are man enough to fend for themselves and others" – Greek Proverb

It is truism that to make a man self-sustained and independent, it is better to teach him how to fish than to give him fish. This makes him begin to fend for himself and the many mouths around him. He does not need to beg for alms or depend on others to foot his bill. He becomes a shade for others to take shelter.
One personage that understands the dynamics of mentorship, teaching people how to fish through empowerment that is futuristic is Mr. Udom Inoyo, Advisor, Inoyo Toro Foundation and former Vice President of Mobil Producing Nigeria. In line with the Greek Proverb quoted above, Mr. Inoyo has elected to hold the hands of the feeble; teach them how to sit, crawl, stand and walk until they are man enough to fend for themselves and others.

Over time, Mr. Inoyo has displayed humanity and rare courage in doing things differently and ensuring that he transforms the lives of those around him by providing them with visible means of livelihood. There can be no better religion than ensuring that there is food and job for the army of unemployed. I do not wish to talk about his heavy investment in the education sector of the state where for 14 years and counting, Inoyo has constituently supported teachers, students and youths, provided capacity building and empowering them financially, neither do I wish to talk about those he sponsored for one form of training, skills development or the other.

The issue of unemployment in Nigeria is an over flocked issue. Udom Inoyo has since keyed into that area and is providing the rostrum upon which Akwa Ibom youths can stand and see the future. He is also providing the wherewithal with which these youths can become job and wealth creators. Examples abound to authenticate Inoyo’s resolve to help deplete unemployment rate, ensure Akwa Ibom youths are productively engaged, provided with entrepreneurial capacity, to be able to fend for themselves and support their families.

His imprimatur is ingrained in the Support and Training Entrepreneurship Program (STEP), a flagship entrepreneurship development programme in partnership with International Finance Corporation, IFC. The idea was to train, capacitate and empower Akwa Ibom citizens to establish, run and grow their businesses. He attracted Growing Businesses Foundation (GBF), one of the foremost micro-credit implementing entities, to provide access to critical business finance for Micro and Small Enterprises in the state.

The 21st century is one that is governed by ICT, innovation and knowledge. For anyone to be relevant and contribute to the promotion of the human race, one of these must be adopted. Inoyo understands all these which is why he has put motions in place to acculturate Akwa Ibom youths into them.

Only recently, Inoyo sponsored the Akwa Tech Week 2021, the aim of which was to groom young innovators and ICT savvy youths. He said: "as you know, the 21st-century economy will be largely anchored on technology and innovation, and if this country must make progress, we must look in your direction. Society is bedeviled with many problems, but these struggles are also opportunities, which some of you have already identified. I salute you for this, and for being audacious, savvy, and ready to conquer the world, notwithstanding your name, location, circumstances of birth, etc. I thank you because in stepping up to be counted, we are assured that the future of this state is secured and that the industrialization drive of the government of Governor Udom Emmanuel will not be a waste."

At the end of the Akwa Tech Week 2021 boot camp for the innovators, an elated Inoyo announced sponsorship of 72 idea owners to the build and grow boot-camp capacity building to be organized by Fintech Academy estimated at over 100 million naira. He said it was his own way of raising the next generation of leaders who would help stimulate capacity development and enhance economic growth in the state and beyond. The good news in the air is that in keeping to his promise of raising the next generation of ICT Savvy leaders, the Akwa Ibom Tech Week Pitch Competition, sponsored by the Inoyo Toro Foundation, took place at the Ibom E-library, IBB Way Uyo, with 10 teams of young Technopreneurs, competing to cart away cash prizes ranging from NGN300, 000 to NGN 1,000, 000, naira each.

The 72 young men and women from Akwa Ibom shortlisted for the pitch event were trained between October 4 and 5 to prepare them for the competition. At the end of the programme which started on September 13, 2021, these young Akwa Ibom innovators would commence a build and grow boot/camp. Each idea owner will be supported with a whooping 1.5 million naira. and be inducted into the Africa Fintech Community platform with access to markets, partners and investors. The initiative is one of the many ways that Udom Inoyo through the Inoyo Toro foundation is reaching out to develop Akwa Ibom youths as well as build their capacity for self-reliance.

What Udom Inoyo is doing is the exact missing link in youth development in Nigeria. Over time, government has come up with lofty empowerment programmes for our youths. The programmes end up being political jamboree as beneficiaries are not provided with adequate knowledge and capacity to handle funds from such programmes. Most of our political elite are in the habit of doling out handouts to their supporters in the name of empowerment. Beneficiaries barely survive with such empowerments as they soon come back to their benefactor cap in hand for more support. Of course, this is also a subtle ploy to keep such beneficiaries loyal to them for God knows when.

Udom Inoyo has elected to change the narrative. While the beneficiaries may be seeing immediate gratification, the former Mobil Numero Uno is seeing the future. Imagine the impact 72 young Akwa Ibom businesses will create in the next 5 years with support from the Inoyo’s 100-million-naira support fund. Let us assume, that there are 50 of Udom Inoyo supporting 72 businesses each year in Akwa Ibom state to create a minimum of 3 jobs. That will translate to 3600 businesses and a total of 10,800 jobs annually. In five years, 54,000 jobs would have been created by only 50 persons. What a quantum leap and fight against youth restiveness and unemployment? Have you even considered the multiplier effect in terms of tax payment, salaries drawn by the employees and the salaries spent in Akwa Ibom state? The chain reaction is all encompassing.

This is exactly what the Deputy Chairman Communications Committee and member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency, Rep. Unyime Idem is doing by setting up E-learning centres in rural schools and sponsoring skills acquisition and empowerment for 5000 youths. The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey through his RHAB-YESS Programme empowers 3 businesses of Akwa Ibomites every month with the sum of 500,000. Do the mathematics and see the gargantuan impact.

For me, there can be no better leader than one who knows the way, shows the way, goes the way, helping his people to find their feet in life and assisting them cut their own soap. A society grows great when men of means plant trees whose shade they know not those who will sit on them. Udom Inoyo is one of such 21st century leaders who is busy plating trees not knowing those who would be sheltered and shielded by the trees.

Udom Inoyo’s brand of empowerment and policy of humanity are exemplified in the words of Rob Siltanen - “Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”

May God bless Udom Uko Inoyo and all those who are in the business of putting smiles on the faces of our youths and helping to push the human race forward. THIS IS THE NEW BRAND IN VOGUE; EMPOWERMENT FOR SUSTAINABILITY, THAT SHOULD BE DISPLAYED HENCEFORTH.

Aluu Vincent (PhD in View), is a Public Affairs Analyst and Publisher of Naija Eye Witness News.