Okon Bassey in Uyo
As Akwa lbom State celebrates its 39 years of creation, the governor, Umo Eno, has honoured past leaders, traditional institutions, workers, farmers, teachers, the clergy, professionals, entrepreneurs, and community leaders for supporting the state to achieve its dream.
In a state broadcast, Eno said those honoured hae in one way or another contributed to the progress of the state.
He stated, “We are here because many hands built before us and because others built before us, we have a sacred duty to build for those who will come after us.”
The governor maintained that the ARISE Agenda of the state was designed not merely as a policy document, but as a covenant of service.
He said, ‘’Across Akwa Ibom, our roads are changing the geography of opportunity. Since May 29, 2023, our administration has undertaken, commissioned or continued work on more than 1,500 kilometres of roads, including 43 bridges.
“As part of our 39th anniversary celebrations, we are commissioning projects across the state, including roads, schools and healthcare facilities. This is our understanding of inclusive governance.
“We have continued to sustain free and compulsory education at the primary and secondary levels. We are providing bursaries for our students, so far, N1.69b has been disbursed.
“We have recruited 3, 000 teachers, with further recruitment approved. And we have advanced the transformation of the Akwa Ibom College of Education, Afaha Nsit, into a University of Education.
“Because governance is a continuum, we will fulfil a commitment made by the immediate past governor, to award full scholarship to a brilliant student, Uwakmfon Unwana Jacob to pursue his education up to the university level.
“We will present him a cheque of N30m (full scholarship to study software engineering at Nile University, Abuja) during our Variety Night at the Banquet Hall of our Arise Palm Resort.”
The governor stated, “Another brilliant son of our dear state – Dr. Joseph Akpan, who was the Best Graduating Student in Medicine and Surgery, from the University of Uyo-2024-2025 academic year, whom I had promised full scholarship to pursue his master’s degree in any foreign university, will be also presented a cheque of N160m tonight to cover his full scholarship.
“He is currently studying for his master’s in Surgical and Intervention Science at the McGhill University, in Canada.
“We are investing in primary healthcare facilities and human resources, while advancing the development of the Ibom International Hospital. We have deliberately taken healthcare interventions to underserved communities.”
Eno added, “We are building an agricultural economy that creates wealth. Through agricultural grants, equipment support, farm inputs, model farms and our Palm Tree Crop Revolution, we are laying the foundation for a new era in agriculture.
“We have committed significant resources to support farmers -so far, 1,700 of them have been given grants and have approved the acquisition of hundreds of thousands of oil-palm seedlings as part of the tree-crop revolution.
“We are determined to restore agriculture to its rightful place in our economy.
“Our land must feed our people. Our farmers must prosper.”
The governor said, “The work of building Akwa Ibom cannot be left to government alone. Government can build the platform. But the people must build the future.”