…An indication of unprecedented performance in Two Years
It was Aristotle, a Greek Philosopher that said “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence therefore is not an act, but a habit”.
The first two years of administration of Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, is reeled with several awards, occasioned by his high performance standard since assuming the office as Governor of Akwa Ibom State on May 29, 2023. Some of the awards of Excellence are listed below:-
✔️Gov. Eno won an Award as the Governor of the year 2024 Fiscal Discipline, by Daily Independent Newspaper, Saturday, May 04, 2024
✔️Gov. Eno Nigerian Union of Journalists Award as media friendly Governor of year 2024, Wednesday, October 16, 2024
✔️Gov. Eno won ThisDay Newspaper/Arise TV Governor of year 2024 Award, Monday, January 27, 2025
✔️Gov. Eno won pitch Award as Nigeria Football Friendly Governor of year 2024, Tuesday, March 25, 2025
✔️Gov. Eno won Leadership Newspaper Award as Governor of year 2024, Tuesday, April 08, 2025
✔️Gov. Eno received Telegraph Newspaper Award as Governor of the year 2024, Thursday, April 10, 2025
✔️Gov. Eno bagged Nigerian/American Chamber of Commerce Award, Sunday, April 13, 2025
✔️Gov. Eno won Governor of the year 2024 Award from Trade Union Congress, TUC, as Nigeria most Labour Friendly Governor, Wednesday, April 26, 2025
✔️Gov. Eno honoured with an Excellence Award by the Nigerian Police Command, Akwa Ibom State, Sunday, April 27, 2025
✔️Gov. Eno won the 2024 Industry Governor of the year Award, Monday, April 29, 2025
✔️Gov. Eno honoured with Millennium Excellence Award in Kumasi, Ghana, Sunday, May 11, 2025
✔️Gov. Eno received an Award of honour for women inclusiveness in governance at African Women Summit, Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, May 11, 2025
✔️Gov. Eno bagged prestigious Cultural Ambassador Award, Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
Today marks exactly two years since Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, Ph.D, assumed the office as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State. From media report and information from critical Stakeholders in the business of governance, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, has performed creditably well in office. His outstanding performance has won him several awards in all areas of the Arise Agenda, the blueprint of his administration. The Governor is rated very high in Good Governance, Tourism, Health, Education, Rural Development, Infrastructural Maintenance, Agriculture and Security, all adequately captured in the blueprint of his administration.
Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State has been very impressive throughout his first two years in office, to the extent that even some of his most hardened critics accepted that he has made a giant strides in office within a very short period of time.
The Governor often said “Elections are over, this is time for governance, we are first of all Akwa Ibomites before Politics. Politics therefore must not divide us and our collective heritage. I will be Governor of all Akwa Ibomites irrespective of political affiliations and persuasions”.
Governor Eno, blessed with the Finisher’s Anointing, has undertaken several projects inherited from past administrations in Akwa Ibom State. Accountability and Transparency has been his watch words. For instance, almost half of the over 750km of Roads Constructed during the 2-year period of his administration were inherited from the previous administrations in the State, making the Governor a very inclusive leader and one that have the basic love for his people. Notably among such interventions is the recent flagged off of the 5000 capacity Ibom Convention Center and a 200-Room Ibom Hotel, reported to have been abandoned for over 15years. The two projects will be completed within his first term in office according to the contractors handling the magnificent projects.
Two years ago, the people of our dear State entrusted the sacred mandate of governing this great State to His Excellency, Governor Umo Eno with an overwhelming votes. Today, we stand on the firm shoulders of remarkable progress and unprecedented performance of the Governor in the last two years.
Governor Umo Eno under his developmental blueprint, The ARISE Agenda, has led a revolutionary trajectory that has transformed our State, touched lives, redefined our politics. In the last two years, our people have been united much more than ever, thereby deepening the development narratives of Akwa Ibom State.
Under the Agricultural Revolution of the ARISE Agenda, the government launched the construction of the Ibom Model Farm—a 50-hectare pilot Songhai-model farm in Nsit Ubium, to be replicated in other parts of the State. The State Government has empowered good number of farmers, declared work-free farming days for civil servants, and instituted the ARISE Home Farmers Scheme with direct support to beneficiaries; distributed farm inputs, processing equipment, and activated Young Farmers’ Clubs across our secondary schools to grow a new generation of agripreneurs.
The administration has made strong interventions through the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP). Several rural roads have been rehabilitated, with more ongoing. Government has provided N2 billion in grants to farmers, another N2 billion to traders, and boosted cooperatives and SMEs with equipment and funding.
Infrastructural development remains paramount in the scheme of things under the golden era administration. So far, over 163 roads, covering more than 750 kilometres, are under construction, some of which have already been commissioned across the State. These include inherited projects, new road maintenance programmes, solar-powered streetlights, and water supply systems in various communities.
To develop the State’s Maritime and blue Economy, the administration is constructing the Oron Beach with new terminals, jetties, ferries, warehouses, and parks—developing a marine commercial hub, all set for completion later this year.
Aviation development has received a boost in the last two years. Ibom Air has been strengthened with newly acquired aircrafts. The Terminal building will be ready for commissioning soon, while investments are ongoing to complete the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility for aircraft maintenance. A brand-new Aviation Village is under construction to ensure Akwa Ibom continues to play a leading role in Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem.
Across all 31 Local Government Areas, the administration has executed people-oriented, community-nominated projects—including Model Schools and Model Health Centres, fully equipped and tailored to local needs.
Security has remained a top priority. The government established a stand-alone Ministry of Internal Security, procured gunboats, patrol vehicles, and other support for security agencies, as well as launched the Ibom Community Watch to provide rural intelligence and support security efforts across the State. Today, Akwa Ibom is ranked as one of the safest states in Nigeria—and that is not by accident.
Educational advancement as an essential pillar of the ARISE Agenda has received deserved attention. The government is building Model Primary Schools across all LGAs, increasing student bursaries, supporting persons with disabilities with a N100 million fund, and sustaining and funding free education policy amongst other programmes.
In line with his compassionate vision, Governor Umo Eno has delivered 206 fully built ARISE Compassionate Homes to indigent citizens, with a target of 400. Over 500,000 households have benefitted from subsidized food under the Bulk Purchase Agency. A dedicated Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs has also been created to coordinate these efforts.
Workers’ welfare has received unprecedented attention. Over N78 billion has been paid in outstanding gratuities and entitlements. Additionally, 150 two-bedroom homes have been donated to lower-level civil servants.
Our youth are not left out. A stand-alone Ministry of Youths has been established. We’ve rolled out unemployment support, business grants, and other empowerment programmes to harness youth potential.
Governor Eno is driving a digital transformation through the new Ministry of Science and Digital Economy. As we speak, many of our government services are computerized, making Akwa Ibom State ready to face the future.
We are constructing the 18-storey Ibom Towers in Lagos, rebuilding the 5,000-capacity Ibom Conference Centre, a new 200-bed Quaternary Hospital, an Elderly Home, a Security and Command Centre, and a state-of-the-art AKBC Broadcasting Complex.
Our tourism flagship project, the ARISE Resort, has reclaimed over 70 hectares of gully land into a stunning destination featuring a 9-hole golf course, artificial lakes, luxurious apartments, shops, restaurants, medical and security services, and much more.
In addition, a robust Project Monitoring and Delivery System has been introduced—with over 50 new projects set for flag-off this year. Some have already commenced.
All I can say is that Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State has run a people-focused, and impactful administration in the last two years.
Also, Entrepreneurial Development has gained a priority attention in this administration. Evidently, over 2000 youths both male and female has been trained and empowered to start or improve their business through Ibom leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Center, Ibom-led, A similar effort has been duplicated at Dakkada Skill Acquisition Centre, DASAC, where a good number of Akwa Ibom youths are being trained, mentored and empowered. In the last two years of Governor Umo Eno’s administration, human capital development has received a very serious attention being one of the fulcrum of the Arise Agenda.
Happy 2nd Year Anniversary to His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
Arise, that same God.
Pastor Solomon Essiet, ACIA
Special Assistant on New Media to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
