Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has used the state’s 39th anniversary to highlight his administration’s record in infrastructure, education, healthcare and agriculture while paying tribute to past leaders and citizens who contributed to the state’s development.
In a statewide broadcast, Eno said traditional institutions, workers, teachers, farmers, professionals, entrepreneurs, clergy and community leaders had all played roles in building Akwa Ibom.
He said his ARISE Agenda was designed as a service compact rather than merely a policy document.
According to the governor, the administration has undertaken, commissioned or continued work on more than 1,500 kilometers of roads and 43 bridges since May 29, 2023.
He said road, school and healthcare projects were being commissioned across the state as part of the anniversary activities.
On education, Eno said the government had sustained free and compulsory primary and secondary education and disbursed about N1.69 billion in bursaries.
He added that 3,000 teachers had been recruited, with further recruitment approved, while plans were advancing to transform the Akwa Ibom College of Education, Afaha Nsit, into a University of Education.
The governor also announced full scholarship support for two high-performing students.
He said Uwakmfon Unwana Jacob would receive N30 million to study Software Engineering at Nile University, Abuja, while Dr. Joseph Akpan, the best graduating Medicine and Surgery student at the University of Uyo for the 2024/2025 session, would receive N160 million towards postgraduate study at McGill University in Canada.
Eno said the government was also investing in primary healthcare and the development of Ibom International Hospital, with interventions targeted at underserved communities.
In agriculture, he said 1,700 farmers had received grants and the government had approved the acquisition of hundreds of thousands of oil-palm seedlings under its tree-crop programme.
He said government alone could not build the state’s future and urged citizens to participate actively in development.
