By Amos Etuk
Thursday, August 7, 2025 berthed another landmark record in Akwa Ibom State under the unique leadership of His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, PhD with the Public Presentation of the Socio Economic Impact of the ARISE Agenda in two years of his administration.
The well attended event held at the Banquet Hall in the Government House, Uyo, had a collective gathering of key stakeholders including the Minister of Budget and National Planning, His Excellency Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Petroleum, Gas, Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, representatives from the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigerian Governors Forum, economic experts from across the country, members of the State Executive Council, Council Chairmen, the Political Class and the media.
In two years under Governor Umo Eno’s stewardship, the story of Akwa Ibom State has become the best reference for service delivery and good governance with new dynamics in commitments to tracking development in all sectors with innovations such as the midterm scorecard of socio economic appraisals, the first of its kind in the State, carefully outlines the platform to have a retrospect of the last two years, assess what the present has been able to achieve and offer constructive insights on what the next two years of his first term of eight years would entail.
Setting the tone at the event, the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah restated the impact of the ARISE Agenda as a governing philosophy of the administration with Five Pillars and 17 Focal Points that has been the template of democratic dividends all over Akwa Ibom State.
For Prince Enobong Uwah, the platform was a moment of retrospect in the last two years, a celebration of courage, a session to ask the right questions, assess the journey so far and with progress achieved, what must be done differently in the next two years, ensuring that engagements as such would foster more development, the need for feedback and the patriotic reaffirmation that Akwa Ibom State belongs to us.
The Akwa Ibom State Governor, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, Ph.D in his first lines of presentation boldly reaffirmed the inclusivity of his administration restating that today’s governance is all about service to the people and not political affiliation. He further emphasised the trust to build a prosperous State in unity and peace for greater progress.
One Unique Selling Point of the Governor Umo Eno administration is the prudent commitment of management of Akwa Ibom State financial resources as his administration has not borrowed or taken loan for projects executed so far and the reassurance that funds for future projects are already in place to kick start the next two years of quality service delivery to the electorate.
Speaking from a vantage point of what the journey in the last two years has been, Governor Eno clearly emphasised that his administration is data driven and statements of facts can be verified especially with the recent signing into Law of Bureau of Statistics in Akwa Ibom State that would ensure a concise data growth of sectoral developments.
Some of the highlights of the sectoral development of the ARISE Agenda in the last two years include completion of 250 ARISE Compassionate Homes for the less privileged with a projection for 500 homes in the nearest future, payment of backlog of gratuities to the tune of N78Biillion so far from the inherited N90Billion and firm commitments to clear the outstanding which has received widespread accolades, availability of funds for medical care for retirees, implementation of N80,000 minimum wage to Civil Servants,13th Month salary for Civil servants and N1.2 billion Wardrobe Allowance to Teachers.
Other milestones unveiled by Governor Umo Eno include massive road construction across the three Senatorial Districts, acquisition of Four New Aircrafts for Ibom Air complementing the huge profit made by the airline last year making it the leading airline in Nigeria with plans to commence regional flights across the continent, ongoing construction of the Aviation Village, Completion of the New Terminal Building and MRO at the Victor Attah International Airport.
The medical corridor in Akwa Ibom State, an initiative of the health reforms of the Governor Umo Eno administration is already driving a strong traffic of interests that would boost tourism in this sector especially with the proposed Ibom International Hospital, a purpose built, quaternary hospital designed to offer high end services such as transplants, robotic surgery, oncology and advanced diagnostics. Complementing the services at the Specialist Hospital, the the Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance scheme has been widely embraced with significant numbers of registered numbers of persons alongside provision of 31 Model Health Care Centres in all the 31 Local Government Areas.
Other sectoral achievements in the last two years include the Ewet Luxury Gardens which has reached an advanced stage of development, 150 Free Houses for Junior Public Servants, the Judiciary Village, Model Smart Schools across the State, enhanced teachers welfare, improvement in school enrolment and the sustenance of the free and compulsory education.
The ARISE Resort, a product of creativity from a gully threatened environment, has been transformed into a cynosure of aesthetics with features such as Golf Course, Recreation Park, football Pitch, Chalets amongst others. This is a project endeared to the heart of Governor Umo Eno and would be ready later in this year. This is inline with the drive to boost tourism in Akwa Ibom as a major revenue earner.
Other socio- economic benefits in just two years of the ARISE Agenda include the 20000 Capacity Amphi-Theatre, Annual Christmas Unplugged, ongoing completion of the 5000 capacity Ibom Convention Centre, Ibom international Hotel, the 18 Storey Ibom Tower Project in Lagos, Proposed Four Star Ibom Hotels at Abuja, Ibom Model Farms, consistent inputs to farmers, ARISE Home Farm Scheme, Back to farm initiative, free food distribution to the vulnerable, the creation of the Bulk Purchase Agency, the commitment to push the Ibom Deep Sea Port Project in synergy with the Federal Government, entreprenural training for the Youths and the efficient security apparchik that has enhanced peace in the State.
Aligning with the submissions of Governor Umo Eno, the Lead Presenter on the occasion, renowned Economist and former Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Christopher Ekong stated that Akwa Ibom in the last two years was building a Smart economy that is launching new vistas into a bright future and prosperous horizon.
He commended the Akwa Ibom State Governor for the fiscal discipline, fiscal transparency and reduction of leakages from government revenue concluding that the State is fast becoming the economic pride of the nation.
For the Chief Delivery Advisor to the Governor, Aniefiok Johnson, his confirmation that the projects under the ARISE Agenda in the last two years align with the National Development Project Index of the Federal Government, is a clear testimonial of the focus of the administration to continue in the execution with more life touching projects especially with secured funds for the next two years, while Pastor Imoh Abasi Jacob, the Chief Executive Officer of the Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation, the outlook of opportunities has made the State a leading Industrial Hub with Economic Gateways, Economic Zones, Real Estate Investments, Tourism Assets and Energy Assets.
The contributions of eminent panelists at the event moderated by the Honorable Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Umanah and Civil Society Groups, offered constructive contributions towards the success of the ARISE Agenda and further underscores the inclusive leadership style, listening heart and the opportunity to process feedback by Governor Eno in making better strides for meaningful development in areas identified and challenges addressed. The assurances by the National Bureau of Statistics to work closely with the Akwa Ibom State Government on data evaluation is a welcome development as it provides realistic empirical facts with the policies implemented. It is worthy of note the teamwork approach to the success of the ARISE Agenda and the preparation of the event which took close to one month and with the new timelines set for the next two years and cordial working relationship with the Government at the Centre, the expectations will be manifest with realities of successful implementation of more life touching projects.
The Budget team led by the Honorable Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Linus Nkan has shown excellent teamwork in driving the templates for medium and long term development goals with the ARISE Agenda focal goals.
The icing on the cake was the recognition by the Nigerian Governors Forum of An Award of Excellence as Governor of the Year on His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, a befitting applause for a Servant Leader determined to redefine Governance, touching lives positively, rebranding the Akwa Ibom Philosophy and bringing a purpose of unity in development for the glorious horizon of today and the future.
Akwa Ibom Is Indeed Rising.
Comrade Amos Etuk is the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Local Media.
