RismadarVoice Reporters, April 17, 2026
The member representing Essien Udim State Constituency in Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Prince Ukpong Akpabio II, KSJI, has called for the immediate resuscitation of Akwa Ibom State Education Trust Fund.
Prince Akpabio made the call on Thursday in a motion, presented on the floor of the House under Order III, Rule 1 of the Standing Orders of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly (Seventh Edition).
In the motion, entitled “Need to Resuscitate the Akwa Ibom State Education Trust Fund, Prince Akpabio noted that education remains the foundation of societal development, stressing that no meaningful progress can be achieved without a strong and well-funded educational system.
He commended Governor Umo Eno for what he described as sustained commitment to improving the education sector through various intervention projects aimed at reducing illiteracy and enhancing learning outcomes across the State.
The lawmaker recalled that the Education Trust Fund was established in 1990 to provide supplementary funding for education, but expressed concern that the agency has remained inactive, failed to fulfill its statutory mandate.
He further cited Section 7 of the Education Trust Fund Law, Cap. 49, Laws of Akwa Ibom State 2022, which outlines the objectives of the Fund to include mobilizing resources for educational development, supporting the production of educational materials, and reducing the cost of education for citizens.
Prince Akpabio also observed that some other States, including Ekiti, Kwara and Ogun, have operationalized similar education trust funds to improve infrastructure, learning environments and capacity building for teachers and students.
He warned that the continued dormancy of the fund represents a missed opportunity for sustainable education financing in Akwa Ibom State.
The motion received support of other lawmakers including the member representing Ibiono Ibom State, who spoke strongly in support of the motion, emphasizing that the Education Trust Fund remains a vital mechanism for sustainable funding of the sector.
After deliberations, the House presided over the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong mandated the Chairman of the Committee on Education to work with the Commissioner for Education to ensure the resuscitation of the Education Trust Fund.
