GOVERNOR UMO ENO’S THREE YEARS OF EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP

Amos Etuk

On Monday, May 29,2023 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, Ph.D took the Oath of Office and Allegiance as the fifth democratically elected Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

That solemn ceremony was witnessed by a mammoth crowd of stakeholders in the polity, family, friends and well wishers as he was dressed in his Pastoral Collar committing himself to leading the State as a shepherd.

In his speech shortly after his Inauguration, Pastor Umo Eno emphatically declared that his leadership would be for all, for every Akwa Ibom citizen, for every Political Party, an inclusive governance where every voice will have a stake in the future of the State.

Barely two months after his inauguration, his administration involved all critical stakeholders in the blueprint of his administration with the presentation of the ARISE Agenda, a working document that has fostered a rapid development of the State in just three years.

Today, Friday May 29, 2026, Nigeria celebrates one of the best Governors in Pastor Umo Eno whose three years of impactful stewardship is people oriented, nationally acclaimed and globally identified as a role model index in sustainable development.

An overview of his leadership style which today has become his unique selling point is his humility, his compassionate disposition, bold policies and the bigger reality of the new Akwa Ibom that is open to the world as the fastest destination of excellence.

This is the new Akwa Ibom in three years of Governor Umo Eno where over 1,304 network of new roads have been completed with 40 bridges. This is the new Akwa Ibom where the Socio economic growth of the people in the infrastructure growth of the State has increased. This is the new Akwa Ibom where every Local Government Area is connected with quality roads.

There is a new Akwa Ibom State in the last three years where all the 31 Local Government Areas have Model Primary Schools built with State of the art facilities for conducive learning of pupils, new model Secondary Schools for the three Senatorial Districts and a big boost for tertiary education with the upgrade and approval of courses by the National Universities Commission for the Akwa Ibom State University, the tertiary status of the College of Education, Afaha Nsit, the upgrade alongside the expansion and upgrade of the Federal University of Technology in Ikot Abasi and Federal Polytechnic, Ukana.

Akwa Ibom Students in all recognized tertiary institutions are being paid yearly bursary while serving Corps members in the State as well as those from the State irrespective of place of primary assignment are paid monthly stipend of N20,000 each totalling N2Billion. So far, 94,869 Corp members have benefited from this programme.

The health sector continues to witness very comprehensive renaissance with new model health centres across all the Local Government Areas. There is a medical corridor that includes the 305 bed Ibom International Hospital, the Akwa Ibom State Emergency Ambulance Services which has been widely described as a live-saving intervention with uncountable testimonies from patients, the oxygen plant commissioned by the Minister of Health, recruitment of medical personnel, increased welfare of medical staff and other legacies curbing medical tourism in the State.

In sports, the ARISE Agenda in the last three years has further consolidated the status of Akwa Ibom State as a global power house with priority attention given to every sport with the provision of new sporting equipment to every sporting association, new gym, hosting and participation at major national competitions, the Governor’s Cup, Akwa Ibom Sports Festival, the Football Academy at Eket and the revelation of our athletes at International Competitions including the recent feats attained by two athletes from the State at the International Weightlifting Competition in Egypt which has earned them qualifying slots at the Commonwealth Games in Scotland.

It’s a whole new adventure in the tourism renaissance within the last three years in Akwa Ibom State with the construction of an amphitheater at the Unity Park, the ARISE Resort Park, one of the biggest legacies of this administration, the upgrade of the Ibom Hotels, the Ibom Convention Centre, musical concerts which have featured international artistes in the State and the Christmas Village.

The Victor Attah International Airport has been upgraded to an international status with the successful inuagural flight and certification by the Federal Government, the expanding fleet of Ibom Air which has become profitable in service delivery and the successful revival of the Marine Jetty at Oron as well as the operation of ferry services in the nearest future.

Transportation has been given priority attention with the CNG Bus Terminal almost completed which will compliment the arrival of the CNG Buses within the next few months while over 1000 housing units have been constructed within the last three years in Akwa Ibom State including the Compassionate Homes, Ewet Luxury Estate, Aviation Village, Judiciary Village and a housing estate for Civil Servants.

The Agricultural sector has been greatly rejuvenated to deliver on the food sufficiency drive of the present administration. Strategic investment in Ibom Model Farm, the Agricultural Leasing Company recently Inaugurated to improve mechanized farming, regular provision of farm inputs to farmers, the tree crop revolution recently launched alongside other supports are great testament to the administration’s commitment in this regard.

With 85 priority projects for 2026 on course for completion, the Akwa Ibom State is clearly evolving as a big heart of progress and new skylines across the State.

The Local Government Areas and Traditional Institutions continue to work in synergy for the peace in the State. The security agencies have been provided with the best operational support which has made Akwa Ibom peaceful. Investment opportunities are being harnessed and the prudent, transparent leadership style of Governor Umo Eno has made the budget performance in the last three years to be on a record high of over 80 percent, increased revenue with the introduction of the Treasury Single Account, payment of inherited loans by banks and the rich saving culture for the future of the State.

The relationship between the Executive and Civil Service has been very cordial. The new minimum wage of N80,000 is being implemented. Auditing of the State Workforce to weed out ghost workers has saved the State Billions of Naira. So far, over N80B has been paid in gratuities and pension inherited. Recruitment of new workforce for the service via Computer Based Test for efficient service delivery across.

The Political synergy in Akwa Ibom State in the last three years has been unprecedented. Governor Umo Eno left no one in doubt when he assumed Office that his leadership will work in synergy for development beyond Party lines.

Today, Akwa Ibom State is dominated by the ruling All Progressives Congress. The relationship with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Governor Umo Eno is unrivalled. The synergy with the Federal Government is bringing home national support for the State. The Executive, Legislature, Judiciary and the Media as the Fourth Estate of the Realm in Akwa Ibom State are working in unity which has brought more progress and development.

That peace laid by Governor Umo Eno has translated into the successful credible and well accepted All Progressives Congress Primaries recently concluded in Akwa Ibom State at all levels.

Three years in Office and a year to go in his first term, Governor Umo Eno sits as the Candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom State with an impressive scorecard that will by God’s grace give him a deserved second term victory on February 6, 2027 during the Gubernatorial elections.

A leader loved by his People. A leader who saw the road to 2027. A leader with legacies in the last three years. A Leader for all. A Leader loved by God, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno is fulfilling his oath of office and allegiance, that in 2031 at the end of his eight years of stewardship, the development of Akwa Ibom State will not just fulfill the promises but unveil the new Akwa Ibom of realities and bigger opportunities.

HAPPY 3RD ANNIVERSARY ON THE SADDLE AS THE GOVERNOR OF AKWA IBOM STATE, YOUR EXCELLENCY, PASTOR UMO ENO Ph.D.

Comrade Amos Etuk is the SSA to the Governor on Local Media