“One of my flagship ideas will be a Five-Star Artisan Development Programs. The objective is to move an artisan from informal craftsmanship to professional craftsmanship; certified enterprise; manufacturing; and export competitiveness”. – LP NASS hopeful
By Ime Silas
UYO — The Labour Party candidate for Uyo/Ibesikpo Asutan/Nsit Atai/Uruan Federal Constituency in the 2027 general election, Mr Ikakke Bassey, has unveiled the second phase of his legislative manifesto, focusing on artisan professionalization, enterprise development and measurable representation.
The document, which is a continuation of his earlier launched blueprint titled “My Social Contract With Uyo Federal Constituency Bordering Jobs, Skills, Enterprise & Results: A Human Capital Transformation Agenda,” shifts attention to his flagship programmes for the informal sector and small businesses.
At the heart of the new agenda is what he called the Five-Star Artisan Programme.
According to Bassey, the programme is designed to transform informal craftsmanship into globally competitive manufacturing.
“One of my flagship ideas will be a Five-Star Artisan Development Programs. The objective is to move an artisan from informal craftsmanship to professional craftsmanship; certified enterprise; manufacturing; and export competitiveness,” the Ibesikpo Asutan-born national assembly said.
He illustrated the model with the furniture industry, which is dominant in Uyo metropolis.
“For example, a furniture maker should not remain simply a carpenter. He or she should become a 3-star, 4-star, and 5-star furniture manufacturer,” he stated.
Bassey said training under the scheme will cover advanced production techniques, furniture design, upholstery and finishing, noting that the same tiered certification model will be adapted for other trades including welding, electrical installation, fashion manufacturing and building construction.
“We will not merely create artisans. We will build professionals,” he emphasized.
The second major plank of the manifesto deals with enterprise development, with a promise to move small businesses from survival to scale.
Bassey lamented that small businesses, which drive local economies, remain stunted in Nigeria due to structural constraints.
“Small businesses are the backbone of local economic activities. In America, small businesses constitute about 99.9% of businesses. There are about 36.2 million of them and employs about 62.3 million private-sector workforces. In Nigeria nay Akwa Ibom, many small businesses remain trapped at survival level because they lack: Capital, Equipment, Business knowledge, Reliable electricity, Market access, Technology, Management systems, Appropriate regulation, Professional accounting, Access to larger supply chains,” he noted.
To address this, he pledged to push for an Uyo Enterprise Development Programme that would connect entrepreneurs to training, capital, equipment, mentorship, technology and markets.
“My enterprise advocacy agenda will therefore focus on helping businesses move from Enterprise to Industry,” he said.
“I will advocate a structured enterprise-development program connecting entrepreneurs to training; capital; equipment; mentorship; technology; and markets,” Bassey added.
On financing, Bassey said he will advocate greater transparency and accessibility in federal development finance institutions.
“I will advocate greater transparency and accessibility in federal development-finance programs through institutions such as: Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture, Development Bank of Nigeria, SMEDAN, NEXIM Bank, Relevant youth and enterprise financing programs,” he said.
He insisted that access to government-backed finance must be merit-based.
“Government-backed enterprise finance should be based on transparent criteria, business viability and accountability, not political connections,” he declared.
On equipment, which he described as the biggest obstacle for many businesses, Bassey said he will push for special financing models to help qualified businesses in the federal constituency acquire production equipment, digital equipment, agricultural machinery, processing machines, workshop equipment, solar power systems and logistics equipment.
The Labour Party candidate also promised to facilitate business incubation and mentorship structures to provide young entrepreneurs access to expertise in accounting, tax, marketing, operations, human resources, procurement, corporate governance, intellectual property, export and digital commerce.
On local content, he said: “Federal projects and large institutions should create opportunities for competent Nigerian businesses to supply goods and services. I will advocate policies that strengthen local content and local supply chains, while maintaining appropriate standards and value for money.”
The fourth pillar of the manifesto, Results, seeks to institutionalize accountability in constituency representation.
“Representation must be measurable. Representation should not be measured by the number of political events attended. It should be measured by what changed. I will introduce a culture of Results-Based Constituency Representation,” Bassey said.
To enforce this, he proposed a Uyo Results Scorecard that will allow constituents to track legislative interventions, motions sponsored, bills sponsored and supported, federal projects attracted, jobs facilitated, number of people trained, businesses supported, scholarships, healthcare and infrastructure interventions, social protection interventions, government agencies engaged, project status and expenditure.
“An annual constituency report will communicate these results to the people. No hidden scorecard. No exaggerated numbers. No business as usual,” he said.
On his legislative agenda, Bassey said he will leverage the constitutional lawmaking and oversight powers of the House of Representatives to drive his agenda.
He listed that under employment, he will support and sponsor legislation that will expand employment opportunities, promote apprenticeships and internships, encourage private-sector job creation, strengthen technical and vocational education, support emerging industries, improve employability of young Nigerians and the people of Uyo Federal Constituency and encourage local manufacturing.
Under skills development, he said he will pursue policies that strengthen vocational education, technical education, digital literacy, professional certification, industry-linked training, apprenticeship systems and re-skilling and up-skilling.
He noted further that the National Assembly has constitutional authority in areas including university, technological and professional education, making skills development an important legislative area.
The LP candidate said the full details of the remaining legislative priorities will be released in the subsequent parts of the manifesto.