Governor Eno @ First Week Of Akwa Ibom @ 39: Projects Take Centre Stage As Anniversary Celebrations Begin
The first week of Akwa Ibom State’s 39th anniversary celebrations has moved beyond the symbolism of another year of statehood, with Governor Umo Eno placing completed projects, aviation expansion and community-focused development at the centre of the anniversary activities.
Rather than treating the anniversary as a period of ceremonies alone, the administration has designed a month-long programme around the commissioning of 39 projects across the state, corresponding with the state’s 39 years of existence. The programme, themed “Gratitude,” draws from Psalm 136:1 and is intended to combine thanksgiving with a public presentation of ongoing development efforts.
An analysis made available by Pastor Solomon, Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media said the opening week offered an indication of the breadth of the programme. It began with the arrival of a brand-new Airbus A220-300 aircraft for Ibom Air at Victor Attah International Airport and continued with the commissioning of projects in healthcare, roads, youth development and education in different local government areas.
The arrival of the aircraft was particularly significant because the state’s aviation ambition is being pursued alongside an effort to develop local manpower. Governor Eno disclosed that 14 of Ibom Air’s 30 pilots and 16 of its 40 aircraft engineers are Akwa Ibom indigenes trained with support from the state government.
He also disclosed that 10 other indigenes were undergoing training at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, while another 10 cadet pilots were being trained in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Beyond the aircraft itself, the Governor said Ibom Air and the wider aviation ecosystem had created an estimated 2,000 direct jobs.
The aviation milestone also provided an opportunity for the state to connect its present achievements with the foundations laid by previous administrations. Governor Eno acknowledged earlier contributions to the development of Victor Attah International Airport, describing his administration’s approach as one of building on existing visions rather than starting development afresh.
Within the same period, the administration took the anniversary programme to the grassroots with the commissioning of a Primary Healthcare Centre at Ikot Uboh in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area. The project reinforces the emphasis on bringing basic public services closer to communities, particularly residents who depend on primary healthcare as their first point of contact.
Road infrastructure also featured prominently, with the commissioning of the 6.475-kilometre Amanyam-Mbiaso Road in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area. The road isamong a wider collection of road projects scheduled for commissioning across the state throughout the anniversary month.
Education and youth development received attention as well. A Model Primary School was commissioned in Nsit Atai, while the Arise Youth Development Centre in Ikono Local Government Area was also commissioned during the first week. The spread of such projects reflects an approach that combines physical infrastructure with interventions targeted at children and young people.
The Governor’s first-week engagements also extended beyond project commissioning. During a meeting with the management of C54 News, Eno urged the media to uphold objectivity and credibility, describing journalists as a kind of referee in public discourse. He specifically charged the organisation to avoid partisan reporting and to promote responsible journalism.
The anniversary period has equally been used to outline programmes with direct social and economic implications. At the September Covenant Service, Eno announced plans to update the State Social Register and provide additional palliatives ahead of Christmas, while also unveiling a cooperative-based empowerment programme targeting women across the state.
The administration also disclosed plans to allocate ₦20 million in October to 200 women through cooperative societies in each ward, alongside a proposed ₦1 billion youth empowerment programme for each of the 31 local government areas. The Governor said the interventions were designed to stimulate local economic activity and improve household livelihoods.
Another initiative receiving attention is Christmas Unplugged 4.0, for which the Governor announced a new participation system designed to give all 31 local government areas an equal opportunity to feature at the Christmas Village. The local governments will draw lots for participation dates and the indigenous delicacies they will showcase, while choirs will also participate in a draw for slots at the Christmas Carols Festival.
As the anniversary programme progresses, nine major projects are expected to receive presidential commissioning, including the international terminal and associated airport infrastructure, Aviation Village, International Airport Hospital, Ring Road 3, Airport-Okopedi Road, Command and Control Centre, Governor’s Office Annex, AkwaGIS Building and Arise Palm Resort.
The first week has therefore offered more than a schedule of official engagements. It has presented a picture of an administration using the 39th anniversary to showcase infrastructure, human-capital development, social intervention and economic expansion across communities. With the remaining weeks expected to bring further project commissioning and major anniversary events, the ultimate measure of the programme will be how effectively the facilities and initiatives improve everyday life for Akwa Ibom residents after the celebrations have ended.
@VVCWATCH
