The Political Adviser to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Prince Godwin N. Udeh, PhD, has described the administration of Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, PhD, as the “Golden Era of Progress”, driven by a people-first stewardship under the ARISE Agenda.
Dr Udeh stated this while presenting an awareness paper titled “The Golden Era of Progress: Celebrating the ARISE Agenda and the People-First Stewardship of Pastor Umo Eno” at the G10 Ambassadors for Umo Eno Conference held at Ibom Hall, Uyo, on Thursday, September 25, 2026.
Delivering the warm greetings of Governor Umo Eno to elders, political stalwarts, youth and women groups, Prince Udeh said governance under the current administration has moved from rhetoric to measurable delivery, improving the state’s economy.
On agriculture, he highlighted the Back-to-Farm and Home Farm initiatives, Farm-Free Days for civil servants, and the Tree Crop Revolution with over 120,000 oil palm seedlings distributed across 31 LGAs in the state.
He also listed the Ibom Model Farm, Agricultural Equipment Leasing Company providing subsidised mechanisation, and the N2 billion agricultural grant for 1,700 farmers in 2025-2026, which has expanded farm sizes and boosted cassava harvests.
In education, he said Governor Eno raised bursaries from N20,000 to N50,000 in 2026, paid about N6.8 billion in examination fees for basic and secondary schools (2023-2026), and awarded special scholarships including N30 million for a student studying software engineering at Nile University and N160 million for a Master’s in Surgical Sciences at McGill University, Canada.
Other gains include 31 model primary schools with staff quarters across 31 LGAs, 5,000 additional school interventions, model secondary schools across three senatorial districts, approval for 3,000 new teachers and 7,000 civil service jobs, and upgrading the College of Education Afaha Nsit to University of Education.
On youth development, Prince Udeh said Youth Development Centres are being established in all 31 LGAs to train 31,000 youths annually (1,000 per LGA), with Oron LGA being the first to complete its centre.
He listed the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre (DASAC), where trainees get N20,000 monthly transport allowance plus toolkits, and the IBOM-LED Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme, which has empowered thousands with grants. Under the female-focused stream, N300 million was provided for over 400 trained female youths at N750,000 each.
On health, he said the administration declared a health emergency in September 2025, is building one model Primary Health Centre per LGA, and is delivering the flagship 350-bed Ibom International Hospital Medical City on 100 hectares along Uyo-Ikot Ekpene Road with 24 speciality departments, 100-unit staff housing, research centres and pharmaceutical hubs.
He noted the commissioning of the 100-bed Renewed Hope Mother and Child Hospital in Ibiono Ibom, an oxygen production centre in Ituk Mbang, deployment of ambulances to all LGAs, and implementation of the CONMESS/CONHESS salary structure from November 1, 2025, describing it as the best welfare package for health workers in Nigeria.
The political adviser also highlighted the activation of the mandatory state health insurance scheme covering curative care, maternity, preventive services and eye care.
On transportation, Prince Udeh said Ibom Air has grown from 3 to 10 aircraft serving seven domestic destinations plus Accra, Ghana, with plans to expand to 12 destinations and 15 routes by 2027, including Douala, Libreville and Malabo. He said the Victor Attah International Airport had received full international approval in November 2025 and opened Terminal 2 in 2026 with capacity for 1 million passengers annually.
On roads, he said over 1,430km of roads and 43 bridges have been undertaken since May 2023, including the dualisation of Nnung Udoe-Afaha Offiong-Afaha Nsit and Ikot Akpaden-Okorete-Iko Roads.
For security, he listed the Akwa Ibom Security Command and Control Centre and Ibom Community Watch, noting the state’s reputation as one of Nigeria’s safest.
On housing and social welfare, he said 1,048 housing units have been delivered, including over 300 ARISE Compassionate Homes (out of 500 targeted) with N500,000 allowance each to beneficiaries, 230 units at Grace Estate, 100 at Aviation Village, 100 Medical Residences, plus quarters for Assembly, EXCO, Judiciary and LGA chairmen. He said over N90 billion of about N111 billion in inherited gratuities and pensions have been paid.
On tourism and economic inclusion, he cited the revival of the Ibom International Convention Centre and Hotel – a 5,000-seat arena with a 200- 250-room hotel; ARISE Shopping City, Ibom Hotels and Golf Resort and ARISE Palm Resort.
On grassroots governance, he highlighted the appointment of one Personal Assistant from each of the 369 political wards as the Governor’s eyes at the grassroots.
“Distinguished stakeholders, you did not make a mistake when you stood in the rain and the sun to elect a Pastor as your Governor. When the righteous are in authority, the people truly rejoice,” Dr Udeh told the gathering, charging them to sustain solidarity for the administration.
