The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno has successfully followed through the implementation of the blueprint of his administration, by effective execution of programmes and policies outlined in the policy document, otherwise known as the ARISE Agenda. He achieved this effortlessly to the admiration of all Akwa Ibomites across Party lines. About 19 Months after the Governor resumed his duty, ARISE Agenda remains fully on course without any dull moment.
Just like a new born baby that had to be christened about eight days after birth, the golden era administration of Pastor Umo Eno kicked off on 29th May, 2023, but had to be named and given a direction to thrive effectively. Thus, on Friday 28th July, 2023, the newly sworn in Governor of Akwa Ibom State gathered the political stakeholders in Akwa Ibom and other well meaning professionals from all works of life, at the State-owned Ibom Icon Hotels and Resort to unveil the blueprint of his administration. After the lineup of activities that followed such event, the roadmap of the golden era administration was finally unveiled as the “ARISE AGENDA”. A much awaited policy document that will bring economic prosperity and reposition our State for greatness.
With the Vision Statement: A vibrant, inclusive, diversified and highly industrialized economy with long-life opportunities that engender improve social welfare conditions and a more broadly-shared prosperity and the Mission Statement stated as “The sustainable and efficient use of highly developed human and material resources within the framework of SMART solutions as well as innovative digital and green technologies in all sectors of the economy to create value and wealth and improve the quality of life of the people in a clean, safe and secured environment. The ARISE AGENDA successfully kicked off with five key aspirations as follows:-
✔️ Agricultural Revolution – Tourism and Environmental Management
✔️ Rural Development – Women and Youth Empowerment
✔️ Infrastructural Maintenance and Advancement, ICT Development
✔️ Security Management – Sound Educational and Health Sector Management
✔️ Economic, Industrial and Social Advancement/Wealth creation
Taking a cursory look at the giant strides of the administration of Pastor Umo Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, you agree with various individuals, leaders and organisations who have openly commended the Governor for his style of leadership imbued with compassion, inclusivity and empathy. It was not difficult for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, even with his very busy schedule to spot the leadership qualities of Governor Umo Eno and commended him openly. According to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR “We include in our National Anthem, the essence of service, I see many Governors both live and on TV, serving their people. They belong to other Parties and many of them are here tonight; thank you Governor Eno of Akwa Ibom State.” President Tinubu said.
The Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN), also honoured the Governor with an award in recognition of his early achievements in office as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, during the build up of event to celebrate the Governor’s one year in office on 29th May, 2024. About 19 Months after, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State has recorded an unprecedented success in all areas of the ARISE Agenda, maintaining a steady focus in delivering the dividends of democracy to his people and ensuring good Governance.
The effort of the Governor to ensuring peace, development and progress for Akwa Ibom State through political inclusivity is top-notch. His ability to relate with leaders across party lines, most of who were at the Ibom Dialogue Summit two months into his administration, has won him the title of “The most Friendly Governor”. According to the Governor, people does not need fight to prove to people that they are in different political Parties. Governor Umo Eno himself did not need to fight other politicians in his Party or other Parties to prove anything, rather, he went ahead quietly to achieving unprecedented success less than 2 Years in office. I will endeavor to mention some of the striking achievements in specific areas of the key Components of ARISE Agenda.
In Agriculture for instance, the Governor has recorded a very impressive result, his overbearing passion on the sector has let the State Government to declare the 1st and 3rd Fridays of every month as work free day for civil servants in the State to engage in farming activities. The Governor has always said that the Bulk Purchase Agency established by the Governor for the purpose of distribution of staple food items such as Rice, Beans, and Garri to the less privileged in our communities of which hundreds of thousands people have benefited from the exercise is not sustainable. Therefore, there is a need for everyone to go back to farm to ensure a sustainable agricultural system in the State. Governor Eno is the first Governor to undertake such Programme for the Civil Servants in the State, in a view to achieving food sufficiency. This has helped Civil Servants in the State to have home farms, and also engaged in other farming activities. Ibom Farming Model is currently undergoing construction at Ikot Edibon in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area. A massive Agricultural Project taken after Songhai Farming Model in Port-Novo, with the capacity to employ thousands of youth directly and indirectly.
During the Campaign, the Governor talked about most of the things he intended to do, should he is voted in as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, none payment of Gratuities was a big issue, it almost scuttle the chances of our most preferred candidate for the Governorship election, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, Today, out of about 93 Billion Naira inherited by this administration as Gratuities, over 47 Billion Naira has been paid in the last 19 Months. So far, the issue of backlog of Gratuities is gradually fading out. Soon other things will take the center stage as the Governor is fully determined to follow through with the payment of Gratuities and Leave Grants, by setting aside some money on monthly basis for the payment of Gratuities.
The tempo remain the same right from his day one in office to date. The same energy if not better, at the time we all believed supposed to be his down moment, due to the sudden demise of Her Excellency, Pastor Mrs. Patience Umo Eno, the Late First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, we were all wrong in our notion, as the Governor even embarked on commissioning of about 79 new projects in the State including 62 Arise Compassionate homes, 2 from each of the 31 Local Government Areas, Completed Road Projects in various Local Government Areas and a completed water Reticulation Project in Ini Local Government Area. Three days to the burial of his wife, precisely on Tuesday 26th November, 2024, the Governor instead of mourning his late wife was at the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly for the presentation of 2025 Budget of Consolidation and Advancement. This is not a mean achievements, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State has maintained the right focus as he pursued the implementation of the ARISE Agenda for the benefits of all Akwa Ibomites. In less than two years in office, about 157 Roads in the State have so far received premium attention. This is simply efficiency in Governance.
The ARISE Agenda has been effectively interpreted and implemented by Governor Umo Eno and his team. The Governor, since he was sworn into office does not have any idle time. Several other projects have been undertaken audaciously. The ARISE Park, a gulley erosion ravage ravin has been turned into what will emerge as one of the best relaxation center in the nation, the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO), at the Victor Attah International Airport ready for Commissioning within months, over 112 ARISE Compassionate homes completed and handed over to the beneficiaries, 62 more under construction, Aviation village, Judiciary village and Medical village underway.
With series of empowerment across all strata, including children, youth, traders, elderly, farmers and many more, ARISE Agenda remains the policy document to beat any time. ARISE Care Medical Insurance Scheme, of which over 10,000 Civil Servants are to benefit from is ongoing.
With the rising tempo of the ARISE Agenda, Model Schools and Model Healthcare Centres are popping up just like mushrooms, making one project per Local Government Area, the initiative of Governor Umo Eno to be realizable.
Given the deserved focus directed to the careful implementation of the “ARISE AGENDA”, 2025 is another year to watch out for, as the Governor is not relenting in seeing to the complete transformation of the State. One of the things to look out for in Akwa Ibom State in year 2025, is the passage of The State Electricity bill into Law, giving Akwa Ibom people the power to generate, distributes, transmit and Sale electricity when completed. Thanks to the visionary leadership of Pastor Umo Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
Pst. Solomon Essiet (ACIA)
Writing from Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, the Raffia City.
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