AKWA IBOM STATE IN LEAPS AND BOUNDS
This phrase, leaps and bounds, rightly underscores the developmental feats of Akwa Ibom State and the resilience of her citizens in 38 years of existence.
While critics don’t really see much happening in Akwa Ibom State to deserve a rousing celebration, as hosted by the Government of Pastor Umo Eno, PhD, this publication holds a contrary perspective. While we agree that we have not been where we should be in 38 years, we must be careful not to close our eyes against what God has helped us to accomplish in the last 38 years.
Think for a minute how Uyo, the capital city, has evolved over the almost four decades of the State. Before the creation of Akwa Ibom State on 23rd September, 1987 by the federal military government of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, IBB, Uyo, though commercially vibrant, served as a major entry and exit route into the heartlands of the then western part of Cross River State now known as Akwa Ibom State.
Business people from Aba, Abia State and Ikom, Cross River State, penetrated the riverine communities of Oron, Eket, Ibeno and Ikot Abasi for off – taking of commodities like fish, palm oil and other food items through Uyo.
Consequently, Uyo attained the notoriety of a bustling commercial town.
It harboured hundreds of mud houses, dilapidated buildings and unplanned scenic of rural features all around. It showed a potential of a mega city but it was chronically backward up until 1987. Street urchins around motor parks made life dreary, as they disposed unsuspecting travellers or visitors of their belongings.
Fast forward to where Uyo is today in terms of infrastructural development, and you are amazed to discover hundreds of well-planned living quarters in Uyo. Beautiful architectural and structural buildings adorn major streets of Uyo. Notable estates you can put your fingers on are the Ewet Housing Estate, Osongama and Shelter Afrique estates.
The Pastor Umo Eno administration is pushing for completion of smart estates like Dakkada digital estate along airport road, the luxury estate along Uruan Street, near Ewet Housing Estate.
The capital territory now boasts first-class hostels and sports facilities of world-class standards, such as the Nest of Champions International Stadium, also known as Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, and the Uyo Township Stadium, which has undergone significant infrastructural transformation under Pastor Umo Eno, PhD.
Governor, Akwa Ibom State
In terms of road networks, Uyo parades some of the best in Nigeria, complemented by numerous flyover bridges that ease transportation within the city. Imagine where all these development projects would have emanated from if Akwa Ibom State had not been created 38 years ago! It is understandable that many expected more for the city and the state, given the trillions of oil and gas revenues, but Rome was not built in a day.
Akwa Ibom State therefore deserves a thumbs-up for her landmark achievements at 38. Achievements, especially under the ARISE Agenda of Pastor Umo Eno, PhD, are not necessarily measured by gigantic infrastructure alone but by how much government has directly and indirectly touched lives.
Pastor Umo Eno has done exceptionally well in positively impacting the lives of the neglected. His administration has carved out life-touching projects for citizens across the state.
Through the office of the First Lady, the Governor has reached out to less-privileged persons in rural areas with the free food programme and has undertaken housing projects for the homeless and poor elderly. Two-bedroom apartments, complete with solar-powered lighting and pipe-borne water, have been constructed in every ward of the state, these initiatives are aimed at improving the living standards of the citizens.
Economically, the old narrative of citizens roaming aimlessly in search of civil service jobs is over. More young graduates are now acquiring skills in the emerging digitally-driven economy, youths are leveraging opportunities in information and communication technology (ICT) for self-employment, contributing immensely to the economic development of the state.
Nowadays, you hardly find young people hunting for meagre paid jobs like cleaning and laundry services, even rural-based school dropouts and leavers have since turned away from the houseboy or house girl ideology, as skills in the ICT economy have changed their world.
Today, with a smartphone, Akwa Ibom youths earn a decent living working remotely. Credit must be given to Pastor Umo Eno, PhD, who has revolutionised government business with ICT, digital verification exercises for civil servants have succeeded in flushing out 3,000 ghost workers and fake pensioners, saving millions of naira for the state. The digital transformation of government operations has enhanced the efficiency and productivity of workers. In tourism, the state boasts one of the best airlines in the West African region – Ibom Air.
As the government leads the state in
celebrating the 38th anniversary of Akwa Ibom’s creation, we expect more achievements in the coming months, especially in environmental management, healthcare service delivery, and stronger support for the state’s private-sector economy.
