By Pst. Solomon Essiet
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all”. Helen Keller
I remembered when I had to do an article on the Governor’s 100 Days in office, it was a bid of headache for the many things that Pastor Umo Eno successfully achieved in just three months in office. Now, we are talking about one year in office. You know what that means for a performing Governor such as Pastor Umo Bassey Eno. Please, adjust your seat belt as we take an holistic glance at the Governor’s superlative achievements in just one year in office as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
Permit me to State here that this administration is blessed when it comes to visionary approach to leadership and governance. Thus, the Arise Agenda, being the blueprint and compass of this administration has been followed religiously to the later. Pastor Umo Eno’s laudable achievements in the last one year as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State cut across Agricultural Revolution, Rural Development, Infrastructural Maintenance/Advancement, Security Management and Educational Advancement according to the full dictates of the Arise Agenda, the roadmap of the current administration.
AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION
The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno has recorded a giant strides in the area of Agriculture in the last one year. These include, entering into some Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with notable firms and world acclaimed successful organisations such as the World Bank, Bank of Industry, Songhai Farming Industry in far away Port-Novo, Benin Republic to further the growth of Agriculture as one of the focal points in the Arise Agenda, an Initiative that would boost the technological drive for increase in food production in Akwa Ibom State. Even though the Governor described the Songhai ‘MOU’ as a long term pact between Songhai farm and Akwa Ibom State Government, it is pleasing to inform you that one of such farming model is currently undergoing Construction in Ikot Edibon, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area and expected to be completed in record time. According to the Governor, within the first three years of his administration, the Ibom Farming Model should be able to bring maximum return on investment.
Within the Governor’s one year in office, he has approved over 450 Million Naira as counterpart funds in collaborations with World Bank to be disbursed to women interested in furthering Agricultural Projects. The Governor of Akwa Ibom State has also within the one year period initiated a Youths Empowerment in Agribusiness Programme (AKSG YEAP PILOT 50); to encourage youths participation in Agricultural Projects for the benefits of Akwa Ibom State Citizens. Also, the Governor through ‘AKCARES’ has distributed farming inputs including Cassava Stems, Fertilizer, Broiler Birds, Animal feeds to to farmers groups across the 31 Local Government Areas of the State.
To ensure food sufficiency in Akwa Ibom State, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State launched a Bulk Purchase Agency, first of its kind in the history of Nigeria, for distribution of Staple food items such as Rice, Garri and Beans across the 31 Local Government Areas of the State to cushion the effects of hardship occasioned by increase in fuel prices as a result of subsidy removal. The Bulk Purchase Agency initiatives is adjudged a life touching and people-centric policy as a hungry man is an angry man. According to Matabaruka, “Foods, Cloths and Shelter has no politics”. As I speak, foods items are being currently being distributed throughout all the 368 political Wards in Akwa Ibom State, through Personal Assistants to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, with the use of food vouchers. This very initiative has received wider commendations across Nigeria. However, the Governor has sound a note of warning that the distribution of the Arise foods through the Bulk Purchase Agency is a temporary measures lesson the effects of hardship on the Akwa Ibomites, stating that everyone should prepare to return to the farm to ensure food sufficiency in Akwa Ibom State. To this end, the Governor had during the workers day celebration in the State on 1st May, 2024, declared 1st and 3rd Friday of every Month as work free days to enable the civil servants visit their various farms in this planting season to engage in farming activities. Teachers are encouraged to engage in farming activities through their School farms during on such days as declared by the workers’ friendly Governor.
✅ RURAL DEVELOPMENT/INFRASTRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE
Akwa Ibom, blessed with crude oil, gas deposits, agricultural, other natural and human resources; a scenic, beautiful and climatically-favourable landscape; alluring, magical and magnetic destinations; fascinating and exciting people, with a rich variety of nutritionally-rich cuisines is one of the luckiest states in Nigeria.
Why? At this time in the history of Nigeria where the populace is groaning under the weight of high inflation and economic hardship, the state has as its Chief Executive, Pastor Umo Eno, a cerebral, clear-headed, tried and tested entrepreneur whose ability to turn poverty to prosperity is second to none. The kind of individual that would be described with the street lingo as ‘Man wey sabi”.
In Nigerian politics, there is a seeming lack of fidelity. People take the promises of politicians with a pinch of salt because very few of them have fulfilled their promises after elections.
But Pastor Eno who is built from a different mould is a Promise Keeper. He has weaved truth, honesty and simplicity with humility, integrity and hard work, to create a change in people’s perception of people in politics.
Since assuming office on May 29, 2023, Pastor Eno has been working like someone who has 25 hours a day. He literally has been everywhere in the state and has steadily been executing his economic blueprint captured in the ARISE agenda, an acronym for Agricultural Revolution, Rural Development, Infrastructural Maintenance and advancement, Security management and Educational advancement.
Though Governor Eno has delivered impactful projects in many sectors, we would be highlighting more of what he has done for rural areas and those who live in the rural communities, which we all know make up the bulk of our populace.
It has always been his desire to close the gap of development between the urban and rural areas of the state, especially today that connectivity has made the world a global village
It was this reason that he appointed 368 Personal Assistants (PAs), with which, according to him, he wants to have his ears and eyes in all parts of the state.
As expected, some did not understand the rationale for such appointments but guess what, after the establishment of the Bulk Purchase Agency and the launch of the Food Voucher Scheme, these PAs, who have all been trained and given tablets are the ones disbursing the vouchers using the updated social register and now gathering information real time from the people at the grassroots for other developmental projects.
The same PAs and the leaders at the various communities are the vehicles he is using to advocate his “Back To Farm” initiative. The governor believes that since the voucher scheme is a stop gap measure, agriculture is the more sustainable model to feed people, eliminate hunger and reduce poverty in the rural areas.
Then he announced the one project per local government area programme. What he did was to gather stakeholders from each local government area, and ask them to choose for themselves any project of their choice, ranging from a model school, a model primary health centre, a water scheme or a modern market.
The needs assessment for every project was done by the communities themselves, he was therefore attacking their most pressing need and to ensure accountability, he established a Project Monitoring domiciled in the Governor’s office to track progress of these projects. Right now, some of those projects have been commissioned while have reached different stages of construction.
At the commissioning of one of the completed primary healthcare centres in Ikot Nkwo, Ibesikpo-Asutan LGA, the Governor reiterated his administration’s vision in this direction..
“What we are witnessing here is a great move to bring primary health care closer to the people in line with our ARISE Agenda with emphasis on rural development,” he said.
While also commissioning two of the model primary schools in Uyo LGA , he said “we are replicating the model schools in all parts of the state.
Also in the health care sector, he has so far given approval for the employment of 200 additional healthcare workers to be deployed to the primary healthcare sector. He has promised fringe benefits for those who would work in the rural areas.
Knowing full well that government cannot do it alone, he has called on corporate bodies and individuals to deliver same quality of schools or health centres as part of their Corporate Social responsibility.
It is a known fact that Akwa Ibom state has one of the best network of roads in Nigeria. With the solid foundation built by his predecessors, Governor Eno is also involved in roads.
Yes, he has reconstruct roads ravaged by floods or erosion, rehabilitated a good number too but he has intentionally focused on continuing or flagging off roads that are cutting through rural communities or local government areas.
Some of these roads include the dualisation of the 8km Ring Road 3 -Ikot Ekpene Road project which passes through Uyo, Ikono and Ibiono Ibom Local Government Areas in three federal constituencies. There is also the 8.6 km Ediene Abak – Ikot Ekan Road which passes through Abak and Etinan LGAs in two federal constituencies.
The 16 km Midim Aran -Ikot Inyang -Ikot Akpan Ekpenyong -Etok Uruk Eshiet -Ikot Imonte Road which cuts across Essien Udim and Etim Ekpo in two federal constituencies. The 12.5 km Nung Ukim Ikono -Afaha Obio Eno -Nung Udoe Itak Road which cuts across Uyo and Ikono LGAs in two federal constituencies.
While the dualisation of the 11.6km Ikot Imo -Ikot Ekpene Udo -Okon Eket will pass through Nsit Ubium and Eket LGAs in two federal constituencies, Abak, Ukanafun and Etim Ekpo LGAs will benefit from the 16km Ikot Ekang -Obio Obom-Ikot Ekpat -Abak Itenghe -Oruk Ata Nsidung -Midim -Ikot Edang Road with two bridges.
The 13.5 km Ikot Akpadem -Okoroete – Iko Road which starts from Mkpat Enin LGA ends at Eastern Obolo LGA. So is the 10.8km Mkpat Enin -Ikot Ekpo -Ikot Afang -Mbioto -Efa Road with a 30m bridge, with a spur to Enyenghe, which passes through Mkpat Enin and Etinan LGAs.
There is also the 14.28km Ikot Ubo -Odot Road, through Nsit Atai and Nsit Ubium LGAs, and the 13.5 Okopedi -Oron Road by East-West Road which passes through Okobo and Oron LGAs. There is also the 2.2km Tabernacle Road, with a 0.97m discharge drain which passes through Uyo and Itu LGAs are also in the works. Over 280.93 km have been covered in 365 days!
We all know that a good number of our retirees, return to their villages and that is probably one of the reasons that Pastor Umo Eno has kept his promise to the Labour unions to pay leave grants, pensions and gratuities. So far, over N18billion has been approved and released for this purpose.
His love for senior citizens also led to the establishment of the Elderly Support Scheme administered by first lady Pastor Patience Umo Eno’s Golden Initiative For All (GIFA) Foundation which has been offering counseling sessions, cash and over the counter drugs to elders. In addition, the governor is planning a one-of-its-kind, Centre for the elderly with recreational and medical facilities.
His rural development mantra also informed the decision to uplift the vulnerable in the society through the ARISE Shelter Initiative. This unprecedent scheme dubbed the ARISE compassionate homes will in the first phase see 100 families across the 31 LGAs enjoy the benefit of living in new homes.
Seeing the hardship passed through by traders to raise finances for business growth and expansion, the Governor approved a N1.5 billion (N500m per Senatorial District) interest-free loan warehoused at the Ibom Fadama Microfinance Bank for them. This is in addition to, having earlier, ‘cleaned up’ the state’s trading hub, Akpan Ndem Market, with road, street lights, borehole water project and toilet facilities.
An epitome of prudent management of resources, Governor Eno is one of very few Governors in Nigeria who is yet to obtain any loan. He is value for money driven and has not been known for ostentatious or frivolous expenses.
According to him, “Whatever we save is to be put back in the rural areas. Every N500million I save will give me a school, will give me a hospital. I prefer a good first term. It is only when you account for four years that you would be asked to go again.I’d rather put money on rural communities. My job is to make sure that 7.9million people are satisfied “
A very hands-on leader, one minute, he’s in Uyo, the state capital, the next, he’s in Oron in the southern fringes of the state. Some other minute, he’s in Ikot Ekpene, close to the boundary with Abia State. Another time, he’s in Itu, close to the river that gave its name to neighbouring Cross River State. In all the 31 local government areas, his footprints, imprints and signature are etched everywhere in the form of projects and life-touching programmes.
Undoubtedly, Pastor Eno’s efforts has ensured that Akwa Ibom is rising steadily. In just one year, there have been a beehive of growth and development in many facets of the people’s lives. And he has added a touch of innovation and panache to it too in a bid that those at the lowest rung of the economic ladder also feel the impact of governance.
ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT
On 26th September, 2023, during the opening ceremony of Ibom Ignite Conference 2023, held at Ibom-led Centre, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State had announced that the Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Centre (Ibom-led) has been established in the State and it is equipped to train willing and committed people across the State on the essentials of Entrepreneurship, stating further he said “When we know that you have learnt and the passion is right, we will support you”.
The Governor who was a special guest of honour at the event which had its theme as Stretch: My story, My Business” said it was more productive to have few professionals come into the State to teach, train and guide many Akwa Ibomites on Entrepreneurship rather than send a few of them abroad for training to acquire the same skill. The Governor later announced a donation of 250M Naira to Ibom Leadership Centre for the training and mobilization of 400 Entrepreneurs in the State. Stating that 50M Naira should be set aside as the training fee for the management team of Ibom-led while the sum of 500,000 Naira each, totalling 200M Naira should be given to the 400 beneficiaries of the Entrepreneurship training programme at the completion of their training event.
That was how Ibom-led Centre kicked off from the last quarter of 2023, with the admission of the first batch of 400 Entrepreneurship Students into the Academy. January 2024, the second batch of beneficiaries were recruited into the Ibom-led training Centre after a stringent screening process conducted by the management of Ibom-led. This process was necessary to ensure that those admitted into Ibom-led training Centre has what it takes to meet up with various courses and other task required to be carried out by a qualifying student of the Academy.
It is no longer a news that Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, had on 2nd May, 2024 approved the disbursement of 400Million Naira for 800 graduates/beneficiaries of Ibom-led training Centre of which the sum of 500,000 were given to each of the beneficiaries. The Governor of Akwa Ibom State is indeed a promise keeper. You can take his words to the bank. Recently, the Governor has been nicknamed as ‘Mr. Fidelity’, another word for a promise keeper. If you ask me, the Governor has been very truthful in the business of governance since his assumption of office as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
Governor Umo Eno himself is a Seasoned and award winning Entrepreneur and a major player in the hospitality industry. The reason why he urged the youths to study successful Entrepreneurs globally and seek to emulate them rather than allowing unscrupulous individuals to misled them. The Governor narrated his personal experiences as an entrepreneur, especially while assisting his parents as a little boy and urged Akwa Ibom youths to identify opportunities, pursue opportunities and make good use of opportunities. A wise man once said that “Opportunity dressed in cover-all and look like work”.
The next batch of youths to be admitted in Ibom-led training Centre are the female youths, who according to the Governor has been with him through thick and thin, rain or shine, all through the gubernatorial campaigns to date. The Governor in a very compassionate manner stated that he hates finishing out his tenure in office without the female youths having a source of livelihood. What a caring father? Imagine what happened when a total of about 1200 youths are finally trained and empowered with start-up or top-up capital for their businesses. Without being told, Akwa Ibom State is fast becoming an Entrepreneurial hub of some sort courtesy of our amiable Entrepreneurial sensitive Governor, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno. I can hear the sound of abundance of rain in area of Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurial Development as enshrined in the Arise Agenda, the blueprint of the golden era administration.
Recall that on Monday, 20th May, 2024, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State inaugurated the Governing Council of Dakkada Skill Acquisition Centre, otherwise known as DASAC, the skill acquisition centre was initiated by the immediate past Governor, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, of which Governor Eno, being blessed with a completion anointing, completed the centre in record time within his first year in office. The the following people were inaugurated into the Governing Council of the institution. They are, Obong Churchill Tom Udoh – Chairman, Prof. Enoidem B. Usoro – Rector, Mr. Aniediabasi Udofia – Registrar and other four persons as members of the Governing Council of the training institution. In the Governor’s usual magnanimity, he approves about 155 Students to be admitted as some of the pioneer students on Government sponsorship, 5 from each of the 31 Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State. The centre is to resume it’s academic activities by September 2024. With the chain of development in the direction of human capital development in Akwa Ibom State, there is no doubt that an industrial revolution is very eminent in Akwa Ibom State in the coming years, leading to astronomical increase in the percentage of our gross domestic product.
Small and Medium Scale Enterprises is adjudged the bedrock of economic development all over the world as SMEs account for the majority of businesses worldwide and are important contributors to job creation and global economic development. SMEs represent 90% of businesses and more than 50% employment worldwide. Formal SMEs contribute up to 40% national income (GDP) in emerging economies. According to estimates, 600 million jobs will be needed in year 2030 to absorb the growing global workforce, which makes the development of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises a high priority for many Government around the world.
Very importantly, with the introduction of Bank of Industry (BOI) in Akwa Ibom State, by Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, our youths that may have successfully gone through various Entrepreneurial Training Centres in the State can confidently approach financial institutions in the State such as the Bank of Industry for a business loan to expand their businesses. Indeed, Akwa Ibom State is in her golden era of possibilities.
SECURITY MANAGEMENT
Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, have made a huge investment in security since his assumption of office. It is on record that the Governor had directed that about 5000 youths across the State be recruited into Ibom Community Watch, of which a considerable number have been recruited so far. Governor went ahead to donate 14 new gun boats to the Navy for effective water ways patrol. Also, to speed up surveillance in the area of security, 20 brand new patrol vehicles have been provided to Security Agencies for operational purposes to ensure effective policing in and around the State.
EDUCATIONAL ADVANCEMENT
The Governor has stamped his feet deliberately in the area of education through several intervention Programmes. These include disbursement of 100Million Educational trust fund for Students with disabilities across Akwa Ibom State, payment of ‘WEAC’ fee to Senior Secondary School Students, payment of bursary to the indigenous students all over Akwa Ibom State.
Through the United Kingdom Educational Exchange programme of which 31 Students drawn from public Secondary School across the 31 Local Government Area shall be visiting the United Kingdom courtesy of the State Government, Governor Umo Eno had again made a Statement that he is ready to set a standard in education across the State.
The construction and delivery of brand new Model Primary Schools in Akwa Ibom State has again define the Governor’s commitment to changing the narratives in the area of primary Educational system in Akwa Ibom State. With the Commissioning of CKS Model School and Government School Ewet Offot, the Governor has set the pace for a rebranded School structures within the State. To this end, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, has called on corporate organisations operating in Akwa Ibom State to key in into his Arise Agenda, by embarking on Construction of Model Schools and Model Healthcare Centers throughout the State, as part of their corporate social responsibility.
Congratulations to His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the performing Governor of Akwa Ibom State on his one year in office.
Arise, that same God.
Pst. Solomon Essiet is a Seasoned Chartered Administrator, he writes from Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, the Raffia City.
