As Akwa Ibom State marks its 39th anniversary, Governor Umo Eno has declared that the state’s next development chapter must move beyond infrastructure delivery to industrialisation, agro-industrialisation, enterprise, job creation and shared prosperity.
Governor Eno stated this in his anniversary broadcast to the people of the state, in which he reflected on Akwa Ibom’s journey since its creation on September 23, 1987, and outlined the direction of his administration under the ARISE 2.0 agenda.
The Governor said the anniversary was not merely a celebration of achievements but an occasion for gratitude, accountability and renewed commitment to building a state that would serve present and future generations.
He acknowledged the contributions of past leaders, traditional institutions, workers, farmers, teachers, clergy, professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders, stressing that the Akwa Ibom of today was built on the sacrifices and efforts of those who came before.
According to him, his administration inherited the responsibility of sustaining that legacy and has, over the past three years, pursued governance as a “covenant of service” centred on building, empowerment, protection and opportunity.
Roads changing geography of opportunity
A major highlight of the broadcast was the administration’s infrastructure drive, with Governor Eno saying more than 1,500 kilometres of roads and 43 bridges had been undertaken, commissioned or continued since May 29, 2023.
He explained that the projects were not merely statistics, but infrastructure designed to connect communities, farmers to markets, children to schools, patients to healthcare and investors to economic opportunities.
Recent government disclosures put the current road intervention at about 1,511.83 kilometres, comprising state projects and Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project interventions.
The Governor said the deliberate extension of infrastructure into rural communities reflected his administration’s commitment to inclusive governance, insisting that “no community is too remote to matter.”
Education, healthcare and human capital
On education, Governor Eno highlighted the continued provision of free and compulsory education at primary and secondary levels, bursaries for students, construction of model primary schools and the recruitment of 3,000 teachers, with further recruitment approved.
He also announced scholarship commitments to two outstanding Akwa Ibom indigenes, including a 30-million-naira scholarship for Juan Fon Juana Jacob to study Software Engineering at Nile University, Abuja, and 160 million naira for Dr Joseph Akpan for his postgraduate studies in Canada.
The Governor described the state’s human capital as its greatest resource, stressing that investment in children remained the most enduring form of infrastructure.
In healthcare, he said government was strengthening primary healthcare facilities, human resources and the Ibom International Hospital, while expanding access to medical insurance.
He disclosed that about 258,000 people, including elderly citizens, had been enrolled in the state-managed health insurance scheme, while ambulance services had been provided across the 31 local government areas.
Agriculture, youth empowerment and social intervention
Governor Eno also placed agriculture at the centre of the state’s economic diversification strategy, citing grants, equipment support, farm inputs, model farms and the Pantry Crop Revolution.
He said 1,700 farmers had received grants, while the government had approved the acquisition of hundreds of thousands of oil palm seedlings as part of its Three-Crop Revolution.
He challenged young Akwa Ibomites to see agriculture as a viable business rather than a punishment, declaring that the state’s land must feed its people and farmers must prosper.
On youth development, the Governor said more than 4,000 youths had been trained at the Bumedi and Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre, while entrepreneurship grants exceeding two billion naira had been disbursed.
He said youth development centres were also being constructed to channel young people’s creativity into technology and the creative industries.
The Governor further highlighted the ARISE Compassionate Homes initiative, saying more than 500 housing units had been completed and handed over to vulnerable citizens, alongside financial assistance to help beneficiaries rebuild their lives.
Over N98bn gratuity payments
Addressing the welfare of retirees, Governor Eno said his administration had continued to tackle inherited gratuity obligations.
He put the inherited liability at approximately 111 billion naira, saying more than 98 billion naira had so far been paid.
He described the payments as more than financial transactions, stressing that behind every payment was a family and behind every intervention was a citizen whose dignity mattered.
Ibom Air, airport and Deep Seaport
The Governor also linked Akwa Ibom’s economic future to aviation and maritime infrastructure.
He noted the recent arrival of the fifth Airbus A220-300 aircraft for Ibom Air, describing the airline as a symbol of confidence and enterprise and part of the state’s ambition to compete in sectors previously dominated by others.
He said preparations were ongoing to expand operations at the international airport, with the broader objective of positioning Akwa Ibom as an aviation and economic hub in the South-South.
On the long-awaited Ibom Deep Seaport, Governor Eno reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the project, stressing that government would follow due process and build the necessary foundations for a facility capable of supporting trade, industries, logistics, employment and investment.
Tourism and electricity
The Governor identified tourism as another major pillar of the state’s economic expansion, citing investments in the ARISE Palm Resort, International Convention Centre and ARISE Shopping City, among other hospitality assets.
He said the objective was to expose Akwa Ibom’s beaches, forests, cuisine, culture, music and hospitality to the wider world while creating an economy around tourism.
He also announced plans surrounding Christmas Unplugged 4.0, including Christmas carols, choir auditions, Ibom Kitchen, Mbopo Akwa Ibom and other activities.
On electricity, Governor Eno said the state had established the Akwa Ibom Electricity Regulatory Commission and the Akwa Ibom State Electrification Agency following constitutional and legislative changes in the electricity sector.
He said the initiative was designed to improve power supply and expand access to underserved communities, noting that businesses, industries and young entrepreneurs could not thrive without reliable electricity.
Eno: Peace, unity priceless
Perhaps one of the strongest political and social messages in the anniversary broadcast was the Governor’s appeal for Akwa Ibomites to protect the state’s peace and unity.
Governor Eno declared that political differences must not become personal hatred and ethnic differences must not become division.
“We can disagree and still love one another. We can belong to different political parties and still belong to one Akwa Ibom,” he said.
He urged citizens to place the interest of the state above temporary political differences, stressing that political offices and elections would come and go, but Akwa Ibom would remain.
The call echoes the Governor’s wider anniversary message that peace, unity and brotherhood remain fundamental to the state’s development.
From infrastructure to shared prosperity
Looking ahead, Governor Eno said the next phase of development must take Akwa Ibom beyond physical infrastructure.
He said the state must move from infrastructure to industrialisation; agriculture to agro-industrialisation; skills to enterprise; enterprise to jobs; investment attraction to investment-driven prosperity; tourism potential to a tourism economy; and human capital development to a knowledge economy.
He described this as the challenge and promise of ARISE 2.0, insisting that the task of building the Akwa Ibom of tomorrow could not be left to government alone.
“Government can build a platform, but the people must build the future,” he said, urging citizens to create businesses, value education, seize opportunities and protect the peace.
Governor Eno concluded by calling on Akwa Ibomites to look back with gratitude, face the present with courage and approach the future with faith, declaring that the best chapters of the state’s story were still ahead.
He congratulated the people on the 39th anniversary and prayed for God’s continued blessing, peace, unity and prosperity for Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria.