Akwa Ibom at 39: Eno urges unity, says state’s best story ahead

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Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has said the best chapters of the state’s story are still ahead as the state marks its 39th anniversary.

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Eno stated this on Wednesday in a statewide broadcast to commemorate the creation of the state on September 23, 1987.

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The governor said 39 years of the state’s existence had been defined by faith, resilience, sacrifice, progress and God’s grace.

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He said, “Thirty-nine years ago, our beloved Akwa Ibom State was born. Today, we stand together at 39. Thirty-nine years of faith, resilience, sacrifice, progress and God’s unfailing grace.”

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Eno paid tribute to the forebears and past leaders who laid the foundation of the state, as well as traditional institutions, workers, farmers, teachers, clergy, professionals and entrepreneurs.

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Reflecting on his three years in office, the governor said his administration’s ARISE Agenda was designed as a covenant of service to build, empower, protect and create opportunities for the people.

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“My administration has undertaken, commissioned and continued work on more than 1,500 kilometres of roads and 43 bridges, deliberately taking infrastructure to rural communities. No community is too remote to matter. No citizen is too far away to be remembered,” he said.

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On education, Eno said the state had sustained free and compulsory education at the primary and secondary levels, disbursed N1.69bn in bursaries, recruited 3,000 teachers and was transforming the College of Education, Afaha Nsit, into a university of education.

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He announced full scholarships for two outstanding students: Uwakmfon Unwana Jacob, who received N30m to study software engineering at Nile University, Abuja, and Dr Joseph Akpan, the best graduating student in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Uyo, who received N160m to pursue a master’s degree in Surgical and Intervention Science at McGill University, Canada.

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On healthcare, he said 258,000 people, including the elderly, had been enrolled in the state-run medical insurance scheme, while every local government area now had an ambulance service.

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Eno said his government had supported more than 1,700 farmers with grants and inputs under the palm tree crop revolution and trained more than 4,000 youths at Ibom-LED and Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre, with over N2bn disbursed.

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The governor said more than 500 units of ARISE Compassionate Homes had been handed over to vulnerable citizens, while over N98bn of the N111bn in inherited gratuities and emoluments had been paid to retirees.

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On aviation, the governor disclosed that the state had taken delivery of its fifth aircraft for Ibom Air, an Airbus A220-300, noting that the airline remained a symbol of confidence and enterprise.

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He reaffirmed his commitment to the Ibom Deep Seaport project, describing it as a new economic gateway for trade, industry and jobs. He added that the state was investing in tourism assets, including the Arise Palm Resort, International Convention Centre and Arise Shopping City.

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Eno also said the state had established the Akwa Ibom Electricity Regulatory Commission and Electrification Agency to improve power supply.

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He urged Akwa Ibom people to protect the peace and unity of the state, saying political differences must not degenerate into hatred.

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“Our peace is priceless. Our unity is priceless. Our brotherhood is priceless. Let us protect them,” he said.

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The governor thanked Akwa Ibom people at home and in the diaspora for their support, assuring them that his administration would continue to build, empower and unite the state.

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