RismadarVoice Reporters
September 23, 2026
Governor Umo Eno has highlighted his administration’s investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, aviation, housing and youth development as Akwa Ibom State marks the 39th anniversary of its creation.
In a statewide anniversary broadcast, Eno presented an account of projects and programmes undertaken since his administration assumed office on May 29, 2023, while outlining priorities under the next phase of his development agenda.
The governor said more than 1,500 kilometres of roads, alongside dozens of bridges, had either been undertaken, commissioned or were at different stages of implementation.
He said the infrastructure programme was designed to connect communities, improve rural access and strengthen links to markets, schools, healthcare facilities and investment opportunities.
Recent figures presented by the state government put ongoing infrastructure works, including projects under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, at more than 1,500 kilometres.
EDUCATION, SCHOLARSHIPS AND TEACHER RECRUITMENT
On education, Eno said the government had sustained free and compulsory education at the primary and secondary levels while providing bursaries and other assistance to students.
He said ₦1.69 billion had been disbursed as bursaries, while 3,000 teachers had been recruited, with approval given for additional recruitment.
The governor also announced two scholarship awards.
Uwakmfon Unwana Jacob is to receive ₦30 million for a full scholarship to study Software Engineering at Nile University, Abuja.
Eno also announced ₦160 million in scholarship support for Dr Joseph Akpan, a former Best Graduating Student in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Uyo, for postgraduate studies at McGill University in Canada.
258,000 ENROLLED IN HEALTH INSURANCE
The governor said investments were continuing in primary healthcare infrastructure and personnel alongside development of the Ibom International Hospital.
According to him, about 258,000 people, including elderly residents, had been enrolled in the state’s health insurance programme.
He said ambulance services had also been provided across the local government areas to strengthen emergency medical response.
AGRICULTURE, YOUTH EMPOWERMENT
Eno said the government was supporting agriculture through grants, farm inputs, equipment, model farms and its Palm Tree Crop Revolution.
He said 1,700 farmers had benefited from grants, while the government was investing in hundreds of thousands of oil-palm seedlings as part of efforts to expand tree-crop production.
Earlier in 2026, the state government announced approval of ₦2.5 billion for 620,000 oil-palm seedlings under the programme.
On youth development, Eno said more than 4,000 young people had received training through IBOM-LED and the Dakada Skills Acquisition Centre.
More than ₦2 billion in grants, he said, had also been deployed to support youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and skills development.
OVER 500 COMPASSIONATE HOMES COMPLETED
Eno said more than 500 housing units had been completed and handed over to vulnerable residents through the ARISE Compassionate Homes initiative.
Beneficiaries, according to the governor, also received financial support intended to help them rebuild their livelihoods.
The governor said his administration had also paid more than ₦98 billion from approximately ₦111 billion in inherited gratuities and other obligations to retirees.
Earlier official figures showed the administration progressively reducing the inherited liability, including more than ₦83 billion reported as paid by May 2026.
IBOM AIR, DEEP SEAPORT
Turning to aviation, Eno highlighted the arrival of another Airbus A220-300 acquired for Ibom Air as part of the state’s continuing investment in the airline and aviation infrastructure.
He said preparations were also continuing to expand international operations at the state’s airport.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the proposed Ibom Deep Seaport, describing the project as important to the state’s plans for trade, logistics, industry, employment and investment.
He said development of the project would continue through the required regulatory and approval processes.
TOURISM, ELECTRICITY
Eno also highlighted investments in tourism infrastructure, including the ARISE Palm Resort, International Convention Centre and ARISE Shopping City.
The administration is also preparing Christmas Unplugged 4.0, including the Akwa Ibom Christmas Carols and other cultural and tourism activities.
On electricity, Eno said the establishment of the Akwa Ibom Electricity Regulatory Commission and Akwa Ibom State Electrification Agency was intended to strengthen the state’s role in electricity regulation and expand access to underserved communities.
CALL FOR UNITY
The governor urged residents to protect the state’s peace and unity and avoid allowing political, ethnic or other differences to create division.
He said political disagreements should not become personal conflicts and called on residents to place Akwa Ibom’s collective interests above temporary political differences.
Eno has made similar appeals during the anniversary period, urging residents to preserve the state’s peace despite political or ethnic differences.
Looking ahead, the governor said the next phase of his agenda would seek to move the state from infrastructure development towards industrialisation, from agriculture towards agro-industrialisation and from skills acquisition towards enterprise creation.
The proposed ARISE 2.0 framework has previously been described by Eno as a second-phase development blueprint intended to build on programmes implemented under the current ARISE Agenda.
He called on citizens, businesses, communities and other stakeholders to participate in the state’s development, saying building Akwa Ibom should be a collective responsibility rather than that of government alone.
