Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno has been recognized as the Governor of the Year 2024 by the Leadership Newspapers. The Governor along with other notable personalities were nominated by the Leadership Newspapers’ Board of Editors after extensive deliberations at a meeting held in November, 2024 at the company’s headquarters in Abuja.
This well-deserved award as announced shows the Governor’s pragmatic and imaginative leadership style, which has brought significant success to the state in the last 18 months of the administration.
Governor Eno’s rise to prominence is a story of dedication, hard work, and a passion for service. From his humble beginnings to his current status as a leading light and a model for true democracy in Nigerian Politics.
In the last eighteen months, the Governor has made notable strides in the five-pronged development blueprint, The ARISE Agenda with manifest development strides in Agricultural Revolution, Rural Development, Infrastructure Maintenance and Advancement, Security Management, and Educational Advancement which have transformed Akwa Ibom into a haven for tourists, visitors, and investors, boosting the state’s Internally Generated Revenues (IGR).
In Agriculture, the Governor has prioritized agriculture by supporting extensive and intensive agriculture, boosting productivity in crop farming, fisheries and animal husbandry as well as integrating complete value chain processes that will lead to self-sufficiency in food production.
He has also flagged-off the 2024 second planting season, initiated a revolution to ensure food security, declaring every first and third Fridays of the month as “Farm Free Days” to encourage workers to return to the farm.
Also, the Governor has establishedIbom Model Farm in Ikot Edibon, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, which spans an impressive 50 hectares of land with aims to revolutionize the state’s agricultural sector by incorporating crop production, animal husbandry, aqua-culture, and agro-processing.
Recently, the Governor presented twelve thousand (12,000) bags of fertilizer and improved seedlings for distribution to farmers across the State while flagging off the 2024 second planting season at Uruan Local Government Area, as part of events marking the 37th anniversary of the state creation.
In rural development, the Governor has ensured that every local government has an ongoing project through the One Project Per Local Government Initiative. He has also initiated the construction of model primary healthcare centers, model primary schools, and roads in various local government areas.
The Governor’s commitment to infrastructural development is evident in the numerous road projects initiated across the state. He has also completed and commissioned several roads, including the Atiku Abubakar Flood Control Tunnel, the Udom Emmanuel Boulevard, and the Ekparakwa-Ntak Ibesit Road.
In the area of security, the Governor has created a stand-alone Ministry of Internal Security and Waterways and established the Ibom Community Watch to provide security at the local level. He has also provided gunboats and vehicles to aid the Rapid Response Squad of the State Police Command.
The Governor’s achievements in education are also noteworthy. He has maintained free education from primary to secondary levels, paid WAEC fees, subventions, and other needs. He has also increased the bursary for undergraduates and postgraduate students.
In the healthcare sector, Governor Umo Eno has made significant strides, including commissioning model primary healthcare centers in Ikot Nkwo, Ibesikpo Asutan, Odot in Nsit Atai, and Oboyo Ikot Ita in Nsit Ibom. He has also launched the Arise Care, the State Insurance Healthcare Scheme, and provided six ambulance trucks to fast-track healthcare delivery services.
The Governor’s commitment to poverty alleviation and social investment schemes is evident in the various initiatives he has launched. He has provided humanitarian homes, paid monthly stipends to the elderly, and distributed free food vouchers to the most vulnerable.
In tourism, Governor Umo Eno has demonstrated exceptional commitment to developing the tourism sector. He has leveraged the state’s rich cultural heritage to create a tourist-friendly environment. One of his notable projects is the Arise Park, a state-of-the-art recreational park built on a former erosion site. The park features artificial lakes, floating bars, waterfalls, and other attractions.
He has also invested in other tourism-related projects, including the Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre, the Uyo Capital City Development Agency’s beautification project, and the repackaging of the Christmas Park. He has also sponsored staff of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for capacity-building training in China.
These efforts have earned him recognition as the Nigerian Tourism Governor of the Year 2023, and Akwa Ibom State as the most active tourism state in Nigeria.
The Governor’s achievements in growing Small and Medium Scale Enterprises are also noteworthy. He has established the Bank of Industry (BoI) in the state, provided loans to traders, and trained budding entrepreneurs.
I would like to end the piece by saying that, Governor Umo Eno’s award as the Governor of the Year 2024 is a well-deserved recognition of his hard work and dedication to service. His achievements in the last 18 months are a testament to his commitment to the welfare of the people, and his policy thrust and objectives for the 2025 budget promise to take the state to greater heights.
