By Ekemini JAMES
|FEATURES| The exceptional performance of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has been recognized within and beyond the state.
Just yesterday in Lagos, the Management of ThisDay Media Group and Arise News Channel crowned him “Governor of the Year”, in recognition of his commitment to expanding infrastructure and ensuring all-round development in the State.
While presenting the Award, former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, lauded Governor Umo Eno’s transformative vision, highlighting the visible progress he has brought to Akwa Ibom.
Governor Umo Eno has since assumption of office on May 29, 2023, worked to ensure that the State is seen as an oasis of peace, where leaders across party lines are respected.
As a PDP Governor, he doesn’t operate governance on a ‘winner-takes-it all’ basis. Rather, in every major interventions he has made, political label has been de-emphasized, from the distribution of palliatives, to the construction of Arise compassionate homes, to grants given for business people, to even projects executed in Local Government Areas.
With his quiet but impactful approach to governance as well as the level of achievements seen so far in all facets of governance, you will agree that, Governor Eno came prepared with his ARISE Agenda to serve the people, with passion, fairness, and to leave the State better than he met her.
The ARISE Agenda which has five-pronged critical pillars; Agricultural Revolution, Rural Development, Infrastructural Expansion and Maintenance, Security Management and Educational Advancement, is purely people-centric and have transformed Akwa Ibom into a haven for tourists, visitors, and investors, boosting the state’s Internally Generated Revenues (IGR).
In Agriculture, the Governor has prioritized agriculture by supporting extensive and intensive agriculture, boosting productivity in crop farming, fisheries and animal husbandry as well as integrating complete value chain processes that will lead to self-sufficiency in food production.
He has established the Ibom Model farm in Nsit Ubium, which spans an impressive 50 hectares of land, initiated a revolution to ensure food security, declared every first and third Fridays of the month as “Farm Free Days” to encourage workers to return to the farm.
In rural development, the Governor has ensured that every local government has an ongoing project through the One Project Per Local Government Initiative. He has opened up the rural areas, initiated over 57 Arise Road projects while completing those he inherited from previous administrations.
In the area of security, the Governor has worked to deepen the peace and security for which the State is nationally known for by creating a stand-alone Ministry of Internal Security and Waterways, established the Ibom Community Watch to provide security at the local level and also provided gunboats and vehicles to aid the Rapid Response Squad of the State Police Command.
The Governor’s achievements in education are also noteworthy. He has maintained free education from primary to secondary levels, paid WAEC fees, subventions, and other needs. He has also increased the bursary for undergraduates and postgraduate students.
He has also built model primary schools whose standards can compare to any such facility the world over and is preparing our pupils to be competitive in the market place of ideas and innovations.
In the healthcare sector, Governor Umo Eno has made significant strides, including commissioning of Model Primary healthcare centers in Ikot Nkwo, Ibesikpo Asutan, Odot in Nsit Atai, and Oboyo Ikot Ita in Nsit Ibom. He has also launched the Arise Care, the State Insurance Healthcare Scheme, and provided six ambulance trucks to fast-track healthcare delivery services across the State.
The Governor’s commitment to poverty alleviation and social investment schemes is evident in the various initiatives he has launched. He has provided over 112 compassionate homes, enrolled over 10 thousand public service workers as well as elders into the Arise Care, paid 600 elders 50 thousand naira monthly for their upkeep through Arise Elders’ Care Initiative and distributed free food vouchers to the most vulnerable.
The Governor is also training thousands of our youths in marketable and entrepreneurial skills and has paid down 47 billion naira in gratuities from over 97 billion backlog he met.
In tourism, Governor Umo Eno has demonstrated exceptional commitment to developing the tourism sector. He has leveraged the state’s rich cultural heritage to create a tourist-friendly environment. One of his audacious projects is the Arise Park, a state-of-the-art recreational park built on a former erosion site. The park features artificial lakes, floating bars, waterfalls, and other attractions and when completed will be the best family-themed park in the nation.
He has also invested in other tourism-related projects, including the Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre, the Uyo Capital City Development Agency’s beautification project in Atiku Flyover, and the repackaging of the Christmas Park.
As a way of increasing the IGR, the Governor is converting previously moribund State assets into revenue generating ventures such as the Ibom Tower in Lagos, and the planned 4-Star hotel in Abuja.
In the Aviation Sector, Governor Umo Eno has kept his obligations with Ibom Air and since he came in, bought outright, two CRJ 900 Bombardier aircraft and received two Airbus- A-200-300 Series, thus bringing the total fleet of the airline into nine.
As Governor Eno continues to blaze the trail in good governance, it is essential for other leaders to take a cue from his exemplary leadership style. His recognition serves as a reminder that effective governance can be achieved when leaders prioritize the welfare and development of their people.
Congratulations our dear Governor on this well-deserved recognition.
|TheNewsDESK|
How Gov Umo Eno’s Outstanding Achievements Earned Him ThisDay Award
