Monday February 17, 2025 | TheNewsDESK
By Eneh JOHN
When the word, “compassion” is mentioned in Akwa Ibom State today, no one rarely comes to mind, aside Governor Umo Eno, who has established this word, not just as an empathetic word, but a political lexicon in the state.
How did an Entrepreneur and a Hotelier suddenly become so compassionate? Take a ride with me, as we delve into the grounds of compassion made possible by the Governor.
On the 11th of December, 1997, The Royalty Hotels & Recreations Limited in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, founded by Governor Umo Eno was opened for business. The company was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on February 12, 1996, about 22months later, it commenced full operations and became the cynosure in the Metropolitan town of Eket.
Interfacing with people from diverse backgrounds, from Guests to staff, to suppliers, and vendors, gave Governor Umo Eno an opportunity to understand how best to relate with humans, because in the hospitality industry, that is where you may likely learn civility, if you didn’t have any.
This background helps you employ the least of persons without educational qualifications, it helps one to offer help to the down trodden, because they see you as the Big Boss and will always bring their challenges to you to solve, even the people who will seek for just food to eat without payments. The hospitality business go hand in cap with compassion and this is where Governor Umo Eno carved a niched for himself.
The author once served as an accountant in a 3 star Hotel. The art of service and communication was the watchword despite being saddled with accounting tasks. This explains Dr Umo Eno’s compassionate walk with the people of the state.
With this training, nobody who has worked in a hotel as a staff or a management staff, that will not do well in public service.
The Governor once remarked, “If I don’t know how to do any other thing, this food business, I know it, and there’s nothing you will tell me about it, I have spent over 30years in the industry, so leave it for me.”
It is my opinion that, the connectivity that the Governor has with Akwa Ibom people, is not far fetched from his line of business. The hospitality business gave the Governor the opportunity to relate with the High, low and mighty, and these interactions has a way of making you humble.
Governor Umo Eno laid a foundation hinged on compassion for Akwa Ibom people, and everyday, he establishes the fact that, he could solve everyone’s need at the same time, if he had the strength to do so.
With 174 compassionate homes spread across the 31 Local Government Areas in the state, His Excellency, has not yet started. Akwa Ibom people should be prepared for more.
Today, 14 years old Abraham Akaniyene of Comprehensive High School, Idu Uruan, has also been a beneficiary of the Governor’s compassion, when he was using a street light to study in the middle of the night, and this act caught the Governor’s attention, who ordered the installation of solar light in Abraham’s house, a solar borehole and a total renovation of the property. Speaking in an interview, Abraham said, “May God bless Governor Umo Eno.”
How else can we appreciate a Governor, who has chosen to connect directly with the people of the state, and has encouraged educational excellence? He knows that, kids like Abraham Akaniyene are the beam of light for the future of Akwa Ibom State and should be encouraged in their academic pursuit.
The increment in bursary payment and grant for undergraduates, N550million Naira disbursement of funds to Farmers, Entrepreneurs, Sport Champions, and others, the disbursement of funds to IBOM LED Entrepreneurs, how else can a Governor show compassion?
Governor Umo Eno has continued to build on the foundation of compassion, and walked on the grounds of this compassion, so that, in the end, it will not be about him, but the number of Akwa Ibomites who were and who will be beneficiaries of his humane nature during his stewardship as Governor.
Governor Umo Eno’s stewardship to the Akwa Ibom people is fuelled by compassion and driven by Service.
*John, PhD is a Journalist, Associate Member, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, SA on Media to Governor Umo Eno, PhD and writes from Ikot Uso Ekong, Eket, Akwa Ibom State.
