“I will make Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria’s Investment, Tourism Destination.” Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, P.hD
Former Governor, Arc. Obong Victor Attah made some notable remarks on July 24, 2023, during the opening ceremony of Ibom Dialogue Conference.
Recalled that Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, P.hD, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, had drew professionals from all works of life, ranging from politicians, Business men, Bankers, Academicians, Captain of Industries, to scrutinize the blueprint of his administration, the ARISE Agenda, affording the people an opportunity to suggest ways in which the documents could be improved upon.
When it was Arc. Obong Victor Attah’s turn to speak, a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, who pulled the strings and call the shots between 1999 to 2007, he said “This is the restoration of the Akwa Ibom dream that was beginning to fade”. But the statement that really caught my fancy was when he said that he remembered telling President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, when both were Governors of their respective States, that, “In 20 years, Akwa Ibom State would be able to compete with Lagos State favourably”.
That was not a casual comments. It was a testament to his commitments and belief in realizing the Akwa Ibom State of his dream, just like Martin Luther King Jnr., in his famous speech, “I have a dream”. Today, we are all proud of what Akwa Ibom State, once referred to as a glorified Local Government Area, has become, a center of attraction, tourists destination and cynosure of all eyes.
It was Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States of America that said “There are no great limits to growth because there are no limits of human intelligence, imagination, and wonder.”
This is the timeless quote that defines us as a people. Akwa Ibom State has witnessed a tremendous growth between 1999 to date. One needs to visit the State to appreciate the level of development constantly achieved through the visionary leadership of our great leaders.
So, judging from the dreams and aspirations of our people as regards the steady growth of Akwa Ibom State, we are not surprised to hear David Adeleke, a popular singer, songwriter and record producer, known as Davido, poured encumbiom on the State and her infrastructural renaissance.
The Afrobeats crooner said, “The choice of Akwa Ibom as the first State in Nigeria to host his music concert is due to the quality of facilities in the State.” This statement credited to Davido, is a confirmation of the admirable status and enviable state at which God has taken Akwa Ibom State to over the years.
According to Davido, everything about Akwa Ibom State is “beautiful”.
Adding that if all States in the Country were like Akwa Ibom, he would have been comfortable touring the whole Country. Again, this statement represents the fulfilment of scriptures in Psalm 126:1, which says “When the Lord turn again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream”.
In a more exciting revelation, Davido said “When we were looking around Africa, five places came up, and Akwa Ibom was at the top of the list. A lot of people are flying from other States that don’t have this type of facility.
“I am excited, it is (the Akwa Ibom tour), is best of its kind. We toured America already, and it was a great success, and we were looking for a good facility around Africa, and Akwa Ibom is one of the places that we found.”
Akwa Ibom State is blessed with very good road network, you can conveniently travel some miles without hitting any potholes, a deliberate attempt by the State Government to improve the standard of living of the people. We have the best State’s owned Airline in Nigeria, IbomAir, and a World Class Olympic Standard Stadium, otherwise known as the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
There are a host of other complementing facilities in the State to go with, such as the four points by Sheraton, located at Raffia City, Ikot Ekpene, the first experimental Local Government Area, in the whole of West Africa. This is in addition to Ibom Icon Hotels and Suites, a standard hotel with required luxury apartments and aesthetics.
As we speak, in few months, Governor Eno would be commissioning the 5000 -Capacity Ibom Conference Centre, the 200-Capacity Ibom International Hotel, Arise Shopping City, and the new wonder of the world, Arise Resort, a recreational centre reclaimed from an erosion stricken canal, around Dominic Utuk’s Avenue, by Brook Street, Uyo, said to be a legacy project of the golden era administration.
At this juncture, I can conveniently say that I am proud to come from Akwa Ibom State. So do other sons and daughters of our dear State. Indeed, Akwa Ibom State is fast becoming a destination.
Arise, that same God.
Pastor Solomon Essiet is a Special Assistant on New Media to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
