By Jeremiah Edoho
The story of Akwa Ibom is, at its heart, a story of transformation. From the โglorified villageโ that Uyo once was in 1987, the state capital has evolved into a bustling city of sprawling housing estates, a world-class airline, and a vibrant spirit of enterprise.
On September 23, 2025, Governor Umo Eno used the stateโs 38th anniversary broadcast not only to celebrate this journey but to set out a bold vision for the years ahead, a vision anchored on unity, peace, and sustainable development.
โIt has been a journey of renewal, of phenomenal growth, of undiluted peace, of the deepening of bonds of unity,โ the governor declared, paying tribute to the founding fathers and to General Ibrahim Babangida, whose decree in 1987 birthed the state. โThirty-eight years ago, Uyo was, for all intents and purposes, a rural backwater. Today, Akwa Ibom stands as a testimony to Godโs blessings and the resilience of its people.โ
๐ง๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐บ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐๐ผ๐น๐ฑ.
Governor Eno placed tourism at the centre of his economic diversification drive, describing it as the โnew black goldโ for Akwa Ibom. He announced that the audacious Arise Resort, slated for commissioning in December, alongside a 5,000-capacity International Convention Centre and a 200-room hotel within the Tropicana complex, will transform the state into Nigeriaโs foremost tourism hub.
๐๐ด๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐๐น๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐.
Agriculture, another pillar of his Arise Agenda, is being repositioned to secure the stateโs food future and create wealth. โWe have reignited our passion in agriculture and the need to produce our staple food,โ Eno said, unveiling plans for a Tree Crop Development Project aimed at reclaiming Akwa Ibomโs historic place as Nigeriaโs leading oil palm producer.
๐๐ป๐ณ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐.
Road infrastructure remains a key measure of progress. To date, the administration has delivered over 771 kilometres of roads, both new and inherited, across the three senatorial districts. Today, Wednesday, September 24, the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, will commission the 15.8KM Ikot Esu-Otomo-Azumini Road, and 1.53KM Internal Roads in Ikot Udom in Ika LGA, a symbol of the stateโs growing collaboration with the federal government.
๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐, ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ต, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป.
Determined to keep Akwa Ibom among Nigeriaโs safest states, the governor recently launched the Akwa Ibom Security Trust Fund, drawing private sector support to strengthen security operations.
Healthcare and education are receiving equal attention. With a declared health emergency, the state is advancing work on a 350-bed Ibom International Hospital, an Elders Care Centre, and model schools and health centres in all three senatorial districts. โThese are deliberate investments to address gaps in critical sectors,โ Eno explained.
๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป.
Governor Enoโs compassion-driven governance is evident in practical interventions. Over 205 solar-powered, fully furnished two-bedroom bungalows have been built for vulnerable families, while a massive food distribution programme has reached more than 500,000 households. Just last week, the state hosted a Power Summit to chart a path toward universal access to electricity.
๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐
As the political season approaches, Eno urged Akwa Ibomites to safeguard the peace that underpins development. โElections will come and go, but the Akwa Ibom spirit of love and brotherhood will remain,โ he said, calling on leaders to rise above ethnicity and warning youths against becoming instruments of violence.
๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐.
Closing his address, the governor expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio for their support, pledging continued cooperation with federal reforms. His parting charge resonated with both prayer and purpose: โLet us all Arise to a Renewed Hope for Akwa Ibom and for Nigeria.โ
At 38, Akwa Ibom is not merely celebrating its past. Under Governor Eno, it is boldly charting a future defined by peace, progress, and the promise of shared prosperity.
โ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐บ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ต ๐๐ฑ๐ผ๐ต๐ผ ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฎ ๐ก๐๐ฎ๐ธ-๐๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ด, ๐๐๐ถ๐ ๐๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐๐.
