By: Solomon Essiet
“The retreat was about assessing our performance in two years and to identify the gaps, we are back, reloaded, refreshed and ready to progress in our services to our State.” Pastor Umo Bassey Eno
Beyond the shores of Akwa Ibom State, the Governor was still working round the clock over the week to provide good governance for the people of Akwa Ibom State. He presided over the 4-Day State Executive Council Retreat, in Lagos State. Other activities of the Governor in the week under review are as follows:-
✅ Governor Eno worshipped at All Nation Christian Ministries Int’l, Eket, Sunday, April 06, 2025
✅ The Governor presided over the 4-Day State EXCO meeting in Lagos, Monday, April 7, through Thursday, April 10, 2025
✅ Gov. Eno received Leadership Newspaper Award as “Leadership Newspaper’s Governor of Year 2024
✅ Gov. Eno approved the composition of Taskforce on Primary Healthcare (PHC) Services, in line with the Arise Agenda, Wednesday, April 9, 2025
✅ Gov. Eno received New Telegraph Newspaper’s Governor of Year 2024 Award. Thursday, April 10, 2025
✅ Gov. Eno paid a visit to Ibom Tower’s Project Site, Lagos, Friday, April 11, 2025, said he was satisfied with the progress of work at the Site.
✅Gov. Eno Celebrated Justice Ntong Ntong on his birthday, Saturday, April 12, 2025
✅ The Governor extended his good wishes to Elder Etim Eyakenyi, his Deputy’s Spouse, on his birthday, Saturday, April 12, 2025
✅ Gov. Eno paid an unscheduled Visit to the Airport Clinic’s Site, upon his arrival at the VAIA, Saturday, April 12, 2025
✅ Gov. Eno attended the burial of Late Deaconess Edoabasi Ekong, mother of Capt. Iniobong Ekong (Hon. Commissioner of Lands), Saturday, April 12, 2025
✅ The Governor witnessed the Solemnisation of Holy Matrimony Between Dr. Etieno Sampson and Mr. MfonAbasi John, Saturday, April 12, 2025, said the Couple are his real children.
Let me first of all congratulate the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, on the successful hosting of the 4-Day State EXCO Retreat, seeking knowledge for renewing of the minds of the State Executive Council members, towards the realisation of Akwa Ibom project, and of course, the ARISE Agenda.
Over the week, criticisms trailed the EXCO retreat event. The complainants argued that the State Government did not have to go that far, having the EXCO retreat in Lagos, Nigeria. Not United Kingdom ‘ooh’! Still, they have to criticise the Governor. I have come to the realisation that there is nothing the people will not criticise, as far as governance is concern. It is not necessary if they are right about what they are criticising about, somehow, some people must gossip. That is their own stock in trade, whether you get it right or no, unfounded accusations must fly.
It means that, as a State Governor, if you want to gain public acceptance before you take up any project, you may not achieve anything in four years. Funniest thing is that the same people will turn around and remind you that you did nothing while in office. Some people want others to come to Akwa Ibom State for various businesses, but Akwa Ibom State Government must not go elsewhere, so we don’t spend our State’s income on travels and hotel bills. See mentality! We die here. Last I checked, no State can exist in isolation, there is a common saying that traveling is part of education, or is it not true in Akwa Ibom context?
It is pertinent to State here that the gains of the just concluded State EXCO Retreat is enormous, and the benefits accruable to the State Government, unmatchable. We have seen the calibre of professionals who served as resource persons at the retreat. The likes of Ben Murray Bruce, Mr. Eyo Ekpo – a senior adviser at the United Kingdom Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNIAF), and Dr. Maxwell Ubah, the Chief Executive Officer, Strategy House Limited, amongst others. The list is endless. I was just imagining what Dr. Ben Bruce was saying right there at my own corner.
In all, the State Governor, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, counted the gains of the 4-Day State EXCO Retreat upon his arrival at the Victor Attah International Airport on Saturday, April 12, 2025.
According to the Governor, the just-concluded State Executive Council retreat was an opportunity to inspire members of his team, get them to aspire for greater performance and take actions that would enhance full actualisation of the ARISE Agenda.
He said the 4-day exercise was an opportunity to critically assess his administration’s alignment with the economic development blueprint, the ARISE Agenda, and identify gaps to be plugged as he heads towards third year in office.
The Governor stated this while briefing Government House correspondents at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, on Saturday April 12, 2025.
He emphasized on the need for regular self assessment, training and skill improvement, especially to equip the newly-appointed Exco members with necessary knowledge to carry out their responsibilities.
“We just brought some new commissioners on board, and we needed to induct them and bring them up to speed with public service procedures in line with the ARISE Agenda.
“In the last two years, we have done a few things, so it was necessary to assess our performance in line with the ARISE Agenda and the gaps that we have to plug.
“As human beings, there must be gaps, and through assessment, the gaps are identified, and with action plans to plug them. There is always need for assessment, and any life that is not assessed is not worth living.
“So that is all the retreat was about, we are back, reloaded, refreshed and ready to progress in our services to our State,” he said.
So, if you are still angry that the retreat was taken to Lagos State, instead of being done at Ibom Hotels and Resort, please take heart. Sorry, you are free to organize your own at 4-point by Sheraton, but don’t forget to invite me. At least I can come with my whole family, the place is not far. I can also bring my village people.
There was some very important decisions taken during the State EXCO Retreat. I will endeavor to mention it as follows.
Council ratified the award of contract for the complete remodeling of Ibom International Hotel to RATCON Construction Company Ltd.
The Council also conducted a comprehensive review of the current status of all State-owned enterprises and investment, and approved regularisation of board structures across State entities and strategic divestment of Government interest in select ventures in line with global best practices to ensure long term viability and efficiency.
Similarly, the State Executive Council approved the engagement of Alpha Diaz Ltd as contractor for the Ibom City Bus Project, covering both construction and post-implementation management to enhance public transportation in the Capital city and beyond.
Aside long term gains, those are some of the immediate gains of the State Executive Council Retreat. We must learn not to criticize every step that the State Governor has taken, We are not helping the Government like that. Even though, the Governor himself had mentioned severally that he is not against constructive criticism, but, there was nothing constructive about this one oh. From available information, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State is not the first Governor to take his Executive Council Members to a retreat outside Akwa Ibom State. This has been like a culture over the years. The Governor actually needs our support and prayers to succeed in his quest to move Akwa Ibom State forward, economically, socially and infrastructurally. So, instead of condemnation and castigation, say something good today about the God-fearing administration of the ‘Golden Boy’, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, a fine gentleman, a trail blazer, promise keeper, and award winning Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
This is where I draw the curtain, till I bring you more exciting activities of the Governor in the coming week.
♦ON THE TWIN AWARD BY LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPER AND NEW TELEGRAPH NEWSPAPER
Following the number of awards trailing Pastor Umo Bassey Eno the Governor of Akwa Ibom State over the week, amidst the State Executive Council Retreat in Lagos, one begin to wonder if the Governor went to Lagos State for State Executive Council Retreats or award presentation ceremony. If you are one of those who shared similar thoughts, remember, the Bible says “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28. Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the award winning Governor of Akwa Ibom State is a lover of God. Indeed, a golden fish has no hiding place.
Recall that on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, the Leadership Newspaper honoured Governor Eno as the Leadership’s Governor of the Year 2024 during the Leadership Annual Conference and Awards held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. See levels! Again they did not mention that he received the award in Lagos State, meaning it’s coincidental. All things working for good, remember.
The Leadership Newspaper award recognises Governor Eno’s outstanding performance and the impactful translation of his ARISE Agenda into concrete developmental dividends for the people of Akwa Ibom State. This underscores the Governor’s unwavering commitment in ensuring an unprecedented development strides in the history of Akwa Ibom State. A situation where the Governor has carried out a number of identifiable projects in all the 31 Local Government Areas of the State in less than two years of his administration. The project covers, Model Healthcare Centres, Quality rural roads construction, Model Schools, Water Reticulation Projects, Model Farms, and several others.
Just when we were still celebrating the Leadership Newspaper award, on Thursday, April 10, 2025, the Telegraph Newspaper awarded Governor Umo Eno as “Governor of Year 2024 in Human Capacity Development”. You may wish to listen to their statement of conviction.
“Your Excellency, we have followed all your achievements. Your State has done well in bursary payment to students, empowerment of young people and other forms of capacity enhancement.
“This Award was to be presented to the Governor during our awards ceremony in March at Oriental Hotel, but did not happen.
“His Excellency has deemed it fit to have us come here and make a formal presentation and we thank him.”
In response, the Governor said “I will like to dedicate this award to my family, especially my wife, for all the encouragement and support I have received from them. Though my wife has passed physically, she lives with me. I am happy with my children for taking up different responsibilities since their mother left.
“On this job, we work everyday till very late hours and if we go back home, and there is no peace at home, it makes things difficult. So when we succeed, we have to appreciate our family.
“Thank you, new Telegraph, for being our partners, you are invited to come to the State and assess other things that we are doing”, the Governor said.
You will be a genius to remember in a gify all the awards that Pastors Umo Bassey Eno has won since he assumed the office as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State on May 29, 2023. The invitation extended to the Telegraph Newspaper to come over to Akwa Ibom State to assess other projects in the State is very much in order. They just have to start thinking of another award because as I speak, Akwa Ibom State is home to various projects in different stages of completion.
Congratulations to His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State on the recent awards, from the Leadership Newspaper and the Telegraph Newspaper respectively. It is a well deserved awards.
Arise, that same GOD
Pastor Solomon Essiet, ACIA
Special Assistant on New Media to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State
