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Chief Executive Officer, Start Innovation Hub, Hanson Johnson with AKISAN President, Dr Mbong Ekiko and Mr and Miss Akwa Ibom, USA 2024, Aniekan Udofia and Jessica Edem

AKISAN President visits Start Innovation Hub

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The President, Akwa Ibom State Association of Nigeria, USA Inc.(AKISAN), Dr Mbong Ekiko, has paid a visit to the corporate headquarters of Start Innovation Hub.
Ekiko who was accompanied by Mr and Miss Akwa Ibom, USA 2024, Aniekan Udofia and Jessica Edem respectively, to SIH on Tuesday in Uyo, expressed delight at the organisation’s strides in 10 years.
Mr and Miss Akwa Ibom, USA 2024, Aniekan Udofia and Jessica Edem

While interacting with the Chief Executive Officer of SIH, Mr Hanson Johnson, instructors, past students and trainees at SIH training hall, Ekiko indicated AKISAN’s interest in more partnership with the hub in churning out tech experts.

Chief Executive Officer, SIH, Mr Hanson Johnson, explained that due to the large number of trainees, the whole facility housing the organisation would be converted into a training center, while the corporate office will move to its new location in Ewet Housing estate.
“We have been here for four years, we were at Ibom e-library. We have gotten another space in Ewet housing; we want to leave here for training and skills acquisitions while the other space will be for incubation and start hubs.
“People here that have acquired skills, they have also learnt entrepreneurship skills, and want to build their own start ups, so they have incubation opportunities, they would want ro harness these skills, form teams; that’s what the hub there is for in Ewet housing,” he stated.
Hanson revealed that over 3,000 persons have so far been trained, adding that currently, 500 more are undergoing a world bank financed training in the hub.
AKISAN President, Dr Mbong Ekiko interacting with SIH trainees

Speaking about his experience in the hub, Stephen Ufort, a software engineer, and former AKISAN sponsored trainee, now a frontend developer, said though it was tough relocating from Lagos to Uyo for six months to be trained, the experience was transformative and expository.

“For me, it was a tough experience because nothing good comes easy. It was a very rewarding experience” he said.
Another AKISAN sponsored trainee, Kufre-abasi Bassey, now a frontend web developer and co-founder said the whole experience was life changing.
“This place really changed me. I came from a graphics background and following the advise of Mr Hanson, I went into web development. The whole experience for that six months was so superb. Thank you so much,” he said.
Also speaking, Eno-obong Enoh, a backend developer said he is involved in tutourship and mentorship as a way of giving back to the society what he learnt in SIH.
“Coming to Start Innovation Hub and getting the opportunity has been life changing for me. It has been an awesome experience” he said.
Other trainees who interacted with the AKISAN President said they were in SIH to learn skills that would transform their lives and help them contribute their quota to Nigeria’s technological advancement.

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