04/12/2024
Gov. Umo Eno: Transforming Akwa Ibom with Visionary Leadership
By Ekemini James
Leadership success always starts with vision. For instance, John Kennedy famously dreamt of putting a man on the moon. Eleanor Roosevelt envisioned a world of equal opportunities for women and minorities. Wendy Loop was still a college student when she dreamt of making American schools better by creating a cadre of young, enthusiastic teachers.
Visionary leaders have the ability to see what no one else sees. They find potential and opportunities in unfavourable times. Amidst, challenges, successful leaders are optimists. They see possibilities where others see impossibilities.
Everyone in the world may see challenges, but what visionary leaders see are potentials to eradicate these challenges, and how to lead the masses into getting this done without excuses. This is what Governor Umo Eno is doing in Akwa Ibom State.
Governor Eno, no doubt, has exhibited all these characteristics of visionary leadership in the last eighteen months of his administration, understanding the fact that compelling vision can truly change the world.
Interestingly, his efforts and passion for leadership have not only ranked him as a true leader, but as a man on a divine assignment, strongly committed to building the Akwa Ibom of our dreams.
In practical approach, the Governor has in the last eighteen months, worked so hard to translate the vision of his governance blueprint, “The ARISE Agenda”, across all the key five areas which are: Agricultural Revolution, Rural Development, Infrastructural Maintenance and Expansion, Security Maintenance and of course Educational Advancement.
He has painstakingly followed through on his vision to ignite agricultural revolution and ensure food security for the people as he declared every first and third Fridays of the month “Farming Days” so workers can return to the farm and plant.
Also, during the 2024 second planting season where he personally flag-off, the Governor distributed improved cassava cuttings, maize seeds, pumpkin seeds, fertilizers and other farm inputs. Work is ongoing at the 50 hectares Ibom Model Farm in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area.
In rural development, the Governor has shown total and comprehensive commitment by working hard to ensure that every local government has an ongoing project through the One Project Per Local Government Initiative. Some of these projects include Model Primary Healthcare Centre, Model Primary Schools, roads and other impactful projects.
In Infrastructural maintenance and expansion, Governor Umo Eno is passionately committed to the maintenance and expansion of critical infrastructures as about 57 strategic and economically-viable road projects, 11 direct labour road projects, and 37 other roads inherited from the last administration, bringing a total of roads project currently executed in all the local government areas to 156.
Some of the road projects include: Atiku Abubakar Flood Control Tunnel, Udom Emmanuel Boulevard, formerly Airport Road, the Ekparakwa-Ntak Ibesit Road, in Oruk Anam LGA, the Ikot Eyo- Edem Idim, Okpot-Mbiekene-Nnung Obong-Ikot Ntung-East West Road, in Nsit Ubium, the Ikot Obio Offong –Enen Nsit Road, the Mkpat Enin-Ikot Ubo Road-Ikot Ntot Road, the Urueffong-Utuku- Ibotong Road, in Urueffong Oruko Local Government Area, the Spring Road in Ikot Ekpene.
Recently, the Governor had a meeting with all the contractors working for the State Government where he advised them to seize the opportunity presented by the dry season to complete the works they have been awarded.
In Security Management, the current administration has worked assiduously to rid the State of criminal elements and ensure that the peace and security is maintained. He has offered employment to over 6,000 youths drawn from all the 31 Local Government Areas through Ibom Community Watch, provided 14 gunboats to the Joint Patrol Team headed by the Nigerian Navy as well as other 20 operational Hilux vehicles to aid the rapid response squad of the State Police Command.
In education, Governor Eno has since the inception of his administration been working hard in line with the ARISE Agenda to holistically develop, sustain and improve the sector. This is because he understands the strategic importance of education in moving a society forward.
His commitment in advancing the educational sector in the state is evident through the free and compulsory education from primary to secondary levels, payment of WAEC fees, subvention and other needs, building of Model Primary Schools in all Local Government Areas of the State and giving due attention to teacher's welfare.
In the area of healthcare delivery service, the Governor has commissioned model primary healthcare centers in Ikot Nkwo, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government area, Odot in Nsit Atai, Oboyo Ikot Ita in Nsit Ibom and many others ongoing. Also, he recently launched a comprehensive health insurance scheme to enroll civil servants and some elders who need critical care free of charge.
In addition to six ambulance trucks which he recently donated, aimed at fast-tracking the healthcare delivery service and ensuring real-time response to medical emergencies, the Governor plans to build a Medical Village along the medical corridor-from Ibom Specialist Hospital to Ikot Ekpene.
In the aviation sector, so far, the Governor has kept faith with all previous financial obligations entered into by previous administrations, which shows dedication to continuity and growth. In addition to new aircrafts fully paid for by the State government, the Governor is working to commission the Maintenance, Repairs and Overhaul (MRO) facility, build the Aviation Village for workers while operations will commence at the International Terminal at the Victor Attah International Airport soon.
In Humanitarian services, Pastor Umo Eno has shown humane disposition towards the vulnerable through extensive interventions. He is committed to building 400 compassionate homes before the end of his first term. To date, 42 of those homes have already been completed and handed over to the beneficiaries, 95 are ready to be given out while work is ongoing on the remaining.
He is also paying 50 thousand Naira monthly to 600 selected elders across the 31 LGA under the Arise Initiative for the elderly and this has helped them take care of their immediate needs and also providing free food for the most vulnerable through the Bulk Purchase Agency.
In the area of workers welfare, Pastor Umo Eno's administration has paid over 37 billion Naira out of 85.2 billion he met on resumption of Office as gratuities to retired civil servants, local government and teachers in the State.
The Governor is also dedicated to growing small and medium scale enterprises as the engine of economic growth. So far, the 2 billion Naira loan earlier granted to traders who have stalls in the market is now a grant. The Governor is also training budding entrepreneurs and giving them 500,000 naira each to establish themselves as exit strategy.
