Oku Ibom Ibibio, Speaker, AKSU VC, ALGON Chairman, Others Hail Gov Eno, A’Ibomites On State Anniversary

The 38th anniversary celebration of Akwa Ibom State has elicited unending gratitude from eminent Akwa Ibomites, both at home and abroad, to the Almighty God for the creation of the state under the administration of President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida on September 23, 1987.

They have also paid glowing tributes to forebears who championed its creation and the successive leaders of the state for steering the wheel of development positively.

In his goodwill message, Oku Ibom Ibibio and President-General of the Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, His Eminence Ntenyin (Dr.) Solomon Daniel Etuk, JP, CFR, rejoiced with Governor Umo Bassey Eno, PhD, the government, and people of Akwa Ibom State on the celebration of the state’s 38th anniversary.

The patriarch of the Ibibio worldwide noted that the “anniversary offers us a refreshing memory of the triumph of vision, dedication, sacrifice and faith of our forebears and successive leaders, who conceived the idea and sustained the agitation until its creation through the instrumentality of the administration of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, GCFR, on September 23, 1987.”

He added, “Today, we stand tall not only with our political status as a state but also for the tremendous infrastructural and human capacity developments so far recorded since our creation 38 years ago.

Related: Police Commissioner Felicitates Gov. Eno, Akwa Ibomites On 38th Anniversary

While appreciating successive chief executives of our state since 1987 for their sacrificial leadership and contributions towards the growth of our state, he commended Governor Eno for the massive development, people-centric policies and empowerment fashioned under the ARISE Agenda of his administration.

The royal father called on Akwa Ibomites to continue to abide in love, live in one accord with one another and join hands with the government to build a state of our collective dream and eschew divisive politicking and religious and ethnic biases to avoid impeding our growth and peaceful co-existence in the state.

The speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Udeme Otong, in a statement, expressed felicitations to the state and its esteemed citizens on the occasion, adding that our milestone is a testament to the resilience, progress and unity of our great state.

The speaker in the statement signed by Hon. (Elder) Jerry Anson Otu, chairman, House Committee on Information, acknowledged the “exemplary leadership of Governor Umo Eno, PhD, whose visionary policies and initiatives have transformed the state”, maintaining that “his commitment to peace, unity and development has yielded life-touching projects that have positively impacted the lives of Akwa Ibomites.”

The acting vice chancellor of Akwa State University, Professor Otoabasi Akpan, on behalf of the principal officers, management team, senate, students and general members of the university community, felicitated Gov. Umo Eno and the people of Akwa Ibom State on the meritorious journey since the creation of our state.

Professor Akpan said the “legacies of all of our leaders should at all times be memorable as we march forward to celebrate their resourceful efforts 72 years later and indeed the fulfilment of the efforts after 38 years in 2025.”

“Our state is a product of both aspirations of and inspirations from our forebears who sacrificed their time, resources, energy and all to see to the creation of the state. The processes started in Colonial Nigeria in 1953 and were fulfilled in 1987 in Post-Colonial Nigeria to the glory of God and admiration of man,” he added.

The chairman of the Uyo Local Government Area, who doubles as the chairman of ALGON, Akwa Ibom State, Dr Uwemedimo Udo, in his goodwill message observed that “on September 23, 1987, a new chapter was written in the Nigerian federation with the creation of Akwa Ibom State” and that “thirty-eight years after, the state has grown in leaps and bounds, recording remarkable strides in governance, human capital development and infrastructure.”

Dr Udo said, “Under the purposeful leadership of Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, PhD, the ARISE Agenda has provided a clear path for inclusive development by strengthening rural economies, creating jobs, and improving education and health care, while keeping the state peaceful and united.”

The political adviser to the governor, Prince Godwin Ntuk Udeh, PhD, in his goodwill message, noted that “the anniversary is not only a celebration of the state’s creation but also a testament to the resilience, unity and progress of our people.

“Over the past 38 years, Akwa Ibom has witnessed remarkable growth in infrastructure, human capital development, education, health and agriculture — achievements made possible by visionary leadership and the indomitable spirit of our citizens.”

According to him, under the purposeful and people-centred leadership of Governor Umo Eno, Akwa Ibom continues to experience a refreshing era of peace, inclusiveness and sustainable development.

“Your dedication to rural transformation, youth empowerment and economic expansion has further strengthened the foundation of growth laid by successive administrations,” he added.

In his felicitation, a business mogul and chairman of Nsik Group of Companies Limited, Mr Nsikan Johnny, said, “It has been an incredible 38 years of boundless flight since the creation of Akwa Ibom State on that memorable day of Wednesday, September 23, 1987, by the then administration of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

“Today, our success story and the accelerated pace of developments across the entire landscape of Akwa Ibom State have taken away the apparent fears of uncertainties and mixed feelings expressed at the inception of the state’s creation.”

While extending unreserved commendations to our past leaders for their various contributions to our statehood, Mr Johnny wholeheartedly hailed Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, PhD, for consolidating on the gains of the past and further taking Akwa Ibom State to enviable heights with his administration’s blueprint, the ARISE Agenda.

Also, a university don, Professor Eno-Abasi Urua, was full of praises for the ARISE Agenda of Governor Umo Eno, saying that she is encouraged that it rightly positions education as a core driver of human capital development.

“But to realise this vision, we must go beyond infrastructural development. We must prioritise capacity building for teachers at all levels of the formal education system. Our educators must be equipped with digital skills and modern teaching methods, enabling them to pass on relevant knowledge and prepare our children for a future shaped by innovation, global competitiveness and Artificial Intelligence or AI,” she added.