The atmosphere bore solemnity. The palace of Oku Ibom Ibibio, the foremost traditional ruler in Akwa Ibom State, South South of Nigeria, with its usual opulence, was full of warmth on Tuesday, September 1, 2020. The expansive palace, situated in the serene village of Ikot Ukobo, Ibiakpan in Western Nsit, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, played host to the eggheads of Akwa Ibom State University.
The Oku Ibom Ibibio, His Eminence, Ntenyin (Dr.) Solomon Daniel Etuk, JP, is a man of many parts. Apart from being the President General of Ifim Ibom Ibibio (the Supreme Council of Ibibio Traditional Rulers), paramount ruler of Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, chairman, Akwa Ibom State Council of Chiefs, the patriarch is also the chancellor of the state varsity. He was appointed to the prime office of chancellor by the state governor, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, on Thursday, April 18, 2019 through a public statement issued by the secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem.
Ntenyin Etuk was subsequently installed at the AKSU’s Sports Ground, Main Campus, Ikot Akpaden, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State on October 31, 2019. He took over from the first chancellor, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Najib Hussani Adamu, CON, Emir of Kazaure. As it is often the case, the office of chancellor of a higher institution is reserved for revered traditional rulers. And by the law of the university, the chancellor takes precedence over all other members of the university, the pro-chancellor and chairman of the governing council as well as the vice chancellor.
The meeting at the palace of the Oku Ibom Ibibio on Tuesday, September 1, 2020, was therefore symbolic. Few weeks ago, the Akwa Ibom State University had a new pro-chancellor and chairman of the governing council, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, and a new vice chancellor, Professor Nse Essien. While Senator Udoma, ex- two-term senator, who represented Akwa Ibom South (Eket) Senatorial District from 1999-2007 and also a former minister of budget and national planning under President Muhammadu Buhari, took over from Engr Samuel E. Inyang, OON; Professor Essien, a former commissioner for science and technology and lately, education, took over from Professor Eno Ibanga, who is now the state commissioner for works and fire service. Senator Udoma’s appointment by the governor on July 28, 2020 followed the stepping aside of Engr. Inyang, as the Pro-chancellor of AKSU while Prof Essien’s appointment took effect from Monday, August 3, 2020 and is for a fixed term of five years.
Related: Senator Udoma Udo Udoma Now Pro-Chancellor of AKSU
The AKSU’s new principal officers, prompted by earnest desire to set the ball rolling in line with protocol decided to pay homage to the chancellor, Nteyin (Dr) Etuk, who is ceremonial head of the varsity. The pro-chancellor and the vice chancellor arrived at the palace with a moderate entourage after 11am. The homage began with a close door session that lasted for about an hour before the media were invited to witness the exchange of pleasantries in one of the chambers in the palace.
The exuding joy shown by the trio captured the essence of the visit. The Pro chancellor, Senator Udoma, clad in his usual urbane mood, commenced the proceedings. He said, “Your Eminence, the chancellor of the Akwa Ibom State University, the Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Council of Chiefs, I am very honoured to be here and to be received so warmly by Your Eminence. It will be recalled that I’ve just been appointed as the Pro-chancellor of the Akwa Ibom State University. It’s a university that you, Your Eminence, is the chancellor and I have come to attend my first meeting of the council which will hold tomorrow (Wednesday, September 4, 2020). I felt it would be inappropriate for me to resume that office without coming to pay a courtesy visit, without coming to see Your Eminence, to seek your counsel, to seek your advice, to seek your blessing before we start on this important journey.”
He added: The University is very important to the state, it is an apex of the various institutions in the state and so, our role is very important. So with your guidance as the Chancellor, we are expressing our commitment to work very hard to make that university achieve the objectives for which it was established. It should be a centre for excellence in education and we believe that can be done, with your guidance and with the support of His Excellency, Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, whose vision it is, and so we will work hard to achieve that vision. That is the main purpose of our visit. I thank you once more for receiving us so warmly and I look forward to your continuiued guidance as the Chancellor of the university.” His remark got royal nods and applause.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Essien, who rose up thereafter to speak also laced his remark with profundity. He said, “Your Eminence, the Oku Ibom Ibibio, Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Council of Chiefs and Chancellor of Akwa Ibom State University, with due respect to Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, who is the Pro-chancellor of Akwa Ibom State University, ladies and gentlemen, we are here to formalize our relationship with you.
Related: Better Days Ahead For Akwa Ibom State University – Chancellor
“Today, we have in our midst, the Pro-chancellor, who is actually coming to resume work after being appointed. I thought it wise that we have to see the chancellor of the university as is reflected by this meeting. We’ve had a very good discussion and we will convene a meeting next tomorrow (Wednesday, September 2, 2020), which will be our first council meeting to be chaired by the new Pro-chancellor. I’d like to assure Akwa Ibom people that with this new team they should not expect anything less and that Akwa Ibom State University will grow in leaps and bounds,” the vice chancellor added.
Enthusiastically, the chancellor, Dr. Etuk, was pleased to receive the team. His remark clearly said it all. “First and foremost I want to sincerely welcome the Pro chancellor of Akwa Ibom State University for coming to the palace of the Oku Ibom Ibibio and the Chancellor of the university to rub minds. I want to also use this opportunity to thank the Vice Chancellor of the Akwa Ibom State University for finding time also to come around with the Pro-chancellor to meet me to rub minds on the way forward for the university.”
The royal father went on, “May I also welcome the few members of the entourage of Akwa Ibom State University, who are here. Frankly speaking, it was a very wonderful meeting we had moments ago with the Pro Chancellor and the Vice Chancellor. We’ve had our meetings, we’ve discussed extensively on the things that we need to do to move Akwa Ibom State University forward and they have given me the assurances that all will be done.
“The vice chancellor has told us he has a team that will move the university forward and I have pleaded and appealed for stronger synergy among all parties: the vice chancellor, pro-chancellor, and the council members, to be able to work to achieve positive results. We have a purpose and that purpose must be achieved. That purpose is to move Akwa Ibom State forward, move the university forward in line with the dreams and initiative of His Excellency, the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel. He has given us the guidelines on how we should work and work together.
“I want to assure the people of Akwa Ibom State very strongly, that this new team is going to perform excellently in line with the laid down programmes of the university. The purpose, mission and objective are our guidelines, we will do our best. I also want to use this opportunity to thank Senator Udoma for accepting the position of the pro-chancellor of the university. I know with his experience globally, he will do more than is expected and the university is going to be something different from what it may have been.
“I thank you very much for coming to visit me, the chancellor. I want to assure you that I’ll give you all the necessary support required from me as the chancellor of the university. Feel free to reach out to me at any time on issues you feel I can contribute to towards uplifting that university. I say may the Almighty God bless you and bless you very richly,” the royal father ended. The session ended with the snapping of photographs to commemorate the visit.
A brief citation of Ntenyin Etuk shows that he was born on September 21, 1958. He attended St. Mary’s Primary School, Isalu Iseyin, Oyo State, and obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1974. He had his West African School Certificate in 1982 at St. Patrick College, Ikot Ansa, Calabar, Cross River State. The royal father had his Bachelor of Science Degree at the University of Calabar, Cross River State in 2007 as well as MBA in the same University in 2010. He also holds LL.B from Open University of Nigeria.
Etuk ascended the village headship stool of Ikot Ukobo, Ibiakpan, Nsit Ubium LGA in 1998 and was subsequently selected as the head of Ibiakpan Group of nine (9) villages in 2004. In 2012, the people of Western Nsit, comprising of 32 villages unanimously selected him to serve as their clan head in 2012 due to his proven sterling leadership. He later became the paramount ruler of Nsit Ubium LGA, which is made up of 64 villages and thus became the President of Nsit Ubium Traditional Rulers’ Council (TRC), Akwa Ibom State.
The Supreme Council of Ibibio Traditional Rulers (Ifim Ibom Ibibio), satisfied with his enterprising communal lifestyle and successful leadership on the traditional stool, unanimously selected him as the Oku Ibom Ibibio and President of the Council on Friday, September 14, 2018. It resulted from a peaceful and successful election and he was formally proclaimed as the Oku Ibom Ibibio on Saturday, November 17, 2018 and crowned on Monday, December 31, 2018 at Asan Ibibio, Ikot Oku Ikono, Uyo.
On September 23, 2019, he rose to become the chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Council of Chiefs, through a process that is carefully observed since the creation of Akwa Ibom State.
