Since May 2023, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, PhD, Governor of Akwa Ibom State, has placed a high priority on diaspora engagement, cultural tourism, and education as central pillars of the ARISE Agenda.
His administration has pursued a deliberate strategy to close the diaspora trust gap through structured international partnerships, cultural-educational exchange programmes, investment-driven collaboration, and cultural preservation initiatives involving Akwa Ibomites in the diaspora, in alignment with national diaspora frameworks coordinated by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).
2.0 STRATEGIC APPROACH
The Governor’s diaspora engagement strategy is anchored on:
– Strengthening trust with global Akwa Ibom communities
– Expanding cultural tourism and educational diplomacy
– Promoting investment-driven backward integration
– Leveraging diaspora leadership and expertise
– Deepening international partnerships
– Promoting cultural preservation and indigenous identity
– Aligning with NiDCOM policy direction and global best practices
3.0 KEY ACHIEVEMENTS IN CLOSING THE DIASPORA TRUST GAP
3.1 Restoring Trust Through Engagement
The administration has strengthened structured engagement with diaspora stakeholders through sustained dialogue, recognition of diaspora leadership, and enhanced participation in development planning and partnerships.
3.2 CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS (UK, US & CANADA)
Governor Umo Eno has advanced diaspora engagement through strategic partnerships with city leaders and international institutions across the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada to promote education, tourism, investment, and cultural diplomacy.
London/UK Cultural and Educational Exchange Programmes
– Engagement with the Mayor of Islington, Cllr. Utitofon Jackson, in September 2025 on youth empowerment and community development
– Educational tourism commitment for rural students’ exposure to global learning opportunities in the United Kingdom
– Memorandum of Understanding with the London Borough of Southwark (2024) on education, tourism, and cultural exchange
– Student exchange initiative involving public secondary schools, with 271 students previously screened for participation
United States/Arlington Diaspora Engagement
– Strategic engagement with AKISAN (Arlington, Virginia) promoting backward integration for tourism, investment, and cultural preservation
– Commitment to host the 2026 AKISAN Convention in Uyo to deepen diaspora-home engagement and showcase investment opportunities in Akwa Ibom State
– Promotion of diaspora tourism initiatives and cultural heritage programmes through AKISAN partnerships
– Encouragement of diaspora participation in tourism development, heritage preservation, and cultural identity promotion
– Advancement of a joint declaration of an “Akwa Ibom Day” in Arlington, Texas, in collaboration with Mayor Ukeme Awakessien-Jeter of Upper Arlington, Ohio, to promote cultural diplomacy, diaspora unity, tourism, and global visibility for Akwa Ibom State
Canada/Alberta Diaspora Engagement (December 2024 Working Visit)
– Strategic working visit to Alberta, Canada, led by Hon. Linda Akon Umoh, to strengthen diaspora engagement and partnerships
– Roundtable engagements with Alberta MLAs and AKISAN professionals on agriculture, healthcare, and tourism investment opportunities
– Discussions with AKISAN members on ARISE Agenda priorities, cultural exchange, and diaspora collaboration
– Engagement with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), Calgary, on vocational and technical training opportunities for Akwa Ibom youths
– Strengthening diaspora trust-building and mobilization of Canadian-based professionals for development support
3.3 CULTURAL PRESERVATION & DIGITAL DIASPORA ENGAGEMENT
As part of efforts to preserve indigenous identity and strengthen diaspora participation in cultural heritage initiatives, the administration supported innovative digital engagement programmes.
Akwa Ibom Name Challenge Online Competition
The Akwa Ibom Name Challenge online competition was introduced to promote indigenous language awareness, cultural identity, and heritage preservation among youths and diaspora communities.
The initiative encouraged participants to showcase:
– Knowledge and pronunciation of Akwa Ibom indigenous names
– Cultural identity and language appreciation
– Heritage consciousness among younger generations
– Digital participation in cultural promotion and diaspora engagement
The programme contributed to strengthening cultural diplomacy while fostering stronger emotional and cultural connections between Akwa Ibom indigenes abroad and their homeland.
3.4 NiDCOM-ALIGNED DIASPORA ENGAGEMENT & NATIONAL COORDINATION
Hon. Linda Akon Umoh, as the Akwa Ibom State Diaspora Focal Point Officer (SDFPO) and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Diaspora Matters, plays a central coordinating role in aligning state diaspora engagement with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).
Key Highlights
– Active collaboration with NiDCOM to strengthen subnational diaspora engagement frameworks
– Participation in National Diaspora Day 2024 (July 25–26), engaging with NiDCOM leadership under Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa on diaspora policy discourse, including the “Japa” phenomenon and national development implications
– Presentation of the ARISE Agenda at federal diaspora stakeholder platforms to align state development priorities with national diaspora objectives
– Engagement with diaspora stakeholders at national forums to promote investment, skills transfer, and cultural diplomacy
Additional Engagements
– Scheduled participation in the 8th National Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS) 2025 in Abuja, focused on mobilizing diaspora investment in critical sectors
– Continued coordination of diaspora engagement programmes across tourism, agriculture, real estate, and human capital development
– Strengthening Akwa Ibom State’s position as an active subnational partner in Nigeria’s diaspora development architecture
3.5 TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION
The administration is actively repositioning Akwa Ibom as a global tourism destination through:
– Development of Arise Resorts and world-class conference infrastructure
– Revitalization of heritage assets such as the Ikot Abasi historic site
– Expansion of cultural festivals and diaspora homecoming initiatives
– Strengthening tourism-driven economic growth strategies
– Promotion of cultural identity and indigenous heritage preservation initiatives
– Record increase in diaspora tourism visits to Akwa Ibom State during the Christmas Unplugged 3.0 celebrations, reflecting growing diaspora confidence, cultural reconnection, and enhanced global interest in the state’s tourism and entertainment ecosystem under the ARISE Agenda
3.6 INVESTMENT, CULTURE & HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT
Key focus areas include:
– Promotion of “Made-in-Akwa Ibom” entrepreneurship through the Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurship Development Centre
– Cultural preservation and identity strengthening among youth
– Diaspora participation in innovation, enterprise, and local development
– Positioning Akwa Ibom as a leading tourism-centric economy in Africa
3.7 ALIGNMENT WITH NiDCOM AND GLOBAL DIASPORA FRAMEWORKS
In collaboration with national diaspora policy direction, the state has strengthened:
– Diaspora engagement and investment facilitation frameworks
– Cultural diplomacy and global partnerships
– Skills mapping and professional collaboration initiatives
– Health, education, and knowledge transfer programmes
– Structured diaspora communication and engagement platforms
4.0 DEVELOPMENT IMPACT
The administration’s diaspora-focused strategy has resulted in:
– Strengthened diaspora trust and engagement
– Increased international partnerships and visibility
– Expanded educational and cultural exchange opportunities
– Improved diaspora investment interest
– Enhanced cultural identity and heritage preservation
– Increased diaspora tourism participation and homecoming activities
– Structured integration of diaspora expertise into development planning
5.0 CONCLUSION
In three years of governance, Governor Umo Eno has made significant progress in closing the diaspora trust gap through inclusive governance, cultural diplomacy, tourism development, strategic international partnerships, and cultural preservation initiatives.
The ARISE Agenda continues to serve as a unifying framework for building a globally connected Akwa Ibom State—anchored on trust, tourism, education, investment, culture, and diaspora inclusion.
PREPARED BY
Hon. Linda Akon Umoh
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Diaspora Matters /
Akwa Ibom State Diaspora Focal Point Officer
FOR
Akwa Ibom State Directorate on Diaspora Matters
