By Aniekan UMANAH
|FEATURES| The grand halls of the Convention Centre at Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos, January 27,2025, shimmered under the glow of brilliance and prestige, as THISDAY marked its 30th anniversary in a night woven with excellence. Themed “When the Going Gets Tough…the Tough Get Rewarded,” the event was a celebration of resilience, vision, and impact, an ode to those who have dared to dream and deliver.
And in that constellation of greatness, one star, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, whose revolutionary strides in governance earned him the Governor of the Year 2024 award, shoned bright.
Like a sculptor chiseling through stone, he molds a state into beauty unknown. Brick by brick, dream by dream, Akwa Ibom rises, steady as a stream through his hard workmanship.
From the moment he took office, Governor Umo Eno set forth on a mission, not of grandeur, but of purpose. With a heart rooted in humanitarian service and hands stretched toward inclusivity, he has bridged the gaps between rural communities and urban centers, ensuring that no corner of Akwa Ibom is left in the shadows; he weaved political divides into a basket of inclusivity for the growth and progress of the State.
It was this profound revolution that earned him accolades on the THISDAY stage. Presenting the award, former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, spoke with admiration:
“I must tell you a story…”And stories are the echoes of history, Stories of a leader who hosts with grace; A governor whose heart is a warm embrace.
Anyaoku recalled his visit to Uyo, where Governor Eno hosted him with kindness and dignity, a reflection of a leader who does not govern from a distance but walks with his people, listens to their needs, and builds their dreams into reality.
Chairman of THISDAY Media Group/Arise News Channel, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, CON, also hailed Governor Eno’s leadership, describing him as a man who “blazes the trail quietly, using the state’s resources meticulously to transform Akwa Ibom across board.”
He does this, not with the clamor of drums or fanfare’s might, but with the whisper of progress, steady and bright. The roads he lays, the homes he builds are legacies written across the fields.
Prince Obaigbena noted that the Governor of the Year category was fiercely competitive, with Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), and Uba Sani (Kaduna) also emerging as recipients.
Not one, nor two, but four did rise, Governors of vision, of truth, of ties.
For democracy thrives where leaders dare, to govern with wisdom, with justice, with care.
When Governor Umo Eno took the stage, his symphonic voice carried not pride but gratitude, his words a melody of humility. He dedicated the honor to his deputy, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, PhD, as well as past governors whose footprints paved the road he now walks.
“Most importantly today, I dedicate this award to my political father,the man who saw me, believed in me, when no one else gave me a chance. He is Deacon Udom Emmanuel, the immediate past Governor of Akwa Ibom State,”
The applause was not just for the moment but for the journey, a journey of faith and perseverance of a leader who understands the weight of trust bestowed upon him.
Governor Eno also acknowledged THISDAY and Arise News TV, drawing a symbolic connection: “Incidentally, we share the same acronym, ARISE,
Which is the acronym for our economic blueprint in Akwa Ibom State.” and indeed, like the rising sun, his ARISE Agenda, his development primetuer for Agriculture, Rural Development , Infrastructure Expansion , Security Management and Educational Advancement illuminates the path toward a prosperous Akwa Ibom State.
Governor Eno arrived at the event as a symbol of a united front. By his side stood his predecessor, Deacon Udom Emmanuel, CON, whom he rode in the same vehicle to the venue with, the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, and First daughter of the Governor, (Mrs.) Helen Eno- Obareki, and a host of other distinguished Akwa Ibomites, including:
Senators Aniekan Bassey, Effiong Bob, Emmanuel Ibokessien, Chief Assam Assam, SAN, Paul Usoro, SAN and
Prince Enobong Uwah, Secretary to the State Government, leading a host of senior State government officials and associates to the event.
Draped in an elegant short-sleeved white lace, adorned with golden studs and a hand crafted shoes, Governor Eno was the very picture of poise in simplicity, an embodiment of tradition and modernity, of humility and grandeur even as he took his bold yet stylish walk through the aisle that led to the Centre. In his ever humane disposition , he exchanged pleasantries and acknowledged everyone possible before resuming his seat.
Pastor Eno is not just a Governor and man of God , but a symbol of grace, a leader whose steps leave time’s embrace. The path he walks is paved with light and led with wisdom’s sight.
The THISDAY awards night was a spectacle of culture and class, where music became the heartbeat of the evening.
The soulful rhythms of Flavour electrified the room, paving the way for the legendary Diana Ross, whose voice wrapped the audience in nostalgia.
Hosted by Ojinika Okpe and Akinremi, with laughter interwoven by Bovi Ugboma, the event was a tapestry of elegance, history, and entertainment in a digitally resplendent stage that gave panache and effects to the event.
For Governor Umo Eno, this was not merely an award, it was an affirmation of his journey and a reminder that leadership is not about power but about purpose. It was a continuation of the recognition that was announced two weeks earlier, when Leadership Newspaper also named him Governor of the Year 2024.
As the echoes of applause trail Governor Eno”s accomplishment, the true work continues. The Governor does not bask in accolades; he builds upon them. His vision for Akwa Ibom remains unwavering, his dedication to service untiring. To him, the award is a call to redouble effort at good governance and sustainable development, he said.
For the people of Akwa Ibom, the future is not a distant dream, it is unfolding before their eyes. And at the heart of it stands Governor Umo Eno, a leader whose steps are measured, whose heart is open, and whose hands are ever building a state that shall rise, and rise, and rise.
|TheNewsDESK|
*Hon UMANAH, is a former Akwa Ibom commissioner for information, and a Media Consultant.
Gov Umo Eno: A Beacon of Inclusive Leadership and People-Centric Governance
