THE ARISE AGENDA: A CHRONICLE OF PURPOSEFUL PROGRESS

Emphasises the agenda as a framework for transformation

By Sixtus Patrick Etukudo

Within the quiet ambience of the Government Banquet Hall, members of the academia, media, civil society, political elites and public service waited with controlled excitement as the man of the moment, His Excellency Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, PhD strutted in with elegant confidence like a Secretary Bird, except he came not to take notes but to reel out notes from his compassion driven administration and the Socio-economic impact of the ARISE Agenda within the last two years.

He has since followed up that presentation with physical inspections, perhaps to convince naysayers once and for all that his projects are not those “audio or billboard” projects of our history, but physically verifiable bold interventions etched in gold and applauded by 7 million grateful citizens.

And so as the pages of Akwa Ibom State’s history of human and infrastructural development continue to turn, with measured pace and intentionality, under the Pastor Umo Eno administration, it is my delight to reflect on the key achievements of a really busy landscape of unprecedented performance and rare delivery of the dividends of democracy:

When Governor Umo Eno, PhD chose to give his performance report, now a document for public consumption, the evidence of intentional excellence became immediately irrefutable because it revealed that his administration has not only brought a breath of fresh air but also laid down concrete pillars of progress across all sectors of governance, blending strategic vision, grassroots inclusion, and prudent resource management to birth a truly people-centered governance model under the ARISE Agenda. Perhaps the picture will be sharper if we use a multi-dimensional review:

It is pertinent to remark that the most remarkable testament to Governor Eno’s human-centred leadership is his administration’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of workers and retirees. In a time when many States are grappling with a backlog of payments, Akwa Ibom under Governor Eno paid over ₦78 billion in pension and gratuities. Teachers received ₦1.2 billion in wardrobe allowance, while the prompt implementation of ₦80,000 minimum wage brought smiles to the faces of civil servants, and his introduction of the 13th-month salary further scores Pastor Umo Eno’s value for workers and their welfare.

Pastor Umo Eno’s investment in human capital is unmissable. With more model primary schools constructed across Local Government Areas, Akwa Ibom’s educational ecosystem is being consciously transformed. The education policy includes free education, bursaries, examination fees, and subventions to schools, even extending support to disabled students.

On the healthcare front, the government launched a 31-model healthcare centre project, ensuring each local government benefits. Most of these projects have been commissioned, bringing health care closer to the people and creating employment opportunities. With a robust health insurance scheme, Akwa Ibom is securing the health of its people, one Ward at a time.

While armchair critics wrestle with information without performing any independent data analysis, the evidence on the ground speaks for itself. From Nsit Ubium to Abak, Oron to Ikot Ekpene, infrastructural footprints of the administration are visible, with major roads, interlocal government roads and other internal roads in various local governments and cities either commissioned or in various stages of construction. Thus over 770 kilometres of roads and 31 new bridges have been completed, drastically improving mobility and access to rural communities, creating development.

He has not ignored the aviation sector, and with two new aircraft acquired for the best airline in Nigeria, Ibom Air, a new terminal building, and the ongoing Aviation Village and MRO project all nearing completion, Akwa Ibom is fast becoming Nigeria’s aviation hub.

It is said that security is the foundation of prosperity. Governor Eno has prioritised it by establishing a Ministry of Internal Security and introducing the Ibom Community Watch, a 5,000-man local security network. Coupled with gunboats, surveillance equipment, and a Security Command Centre, the State is better prepared to combat threats and maintain peace within its borders and along its rich coastline.

Tourism development is another area where Pastor Umo Eno’s intentional excellence shines through. The ecological remediation project, the 5,000-capacity Ibom Convention Centre, the 2,000-seat amphitheatre, and the ARISE Resort are some of the tourism projects not only boosting the economy but positioning Akwa Ibom as a regional tourism destination.

Youth empowerment is woven into every project of this administration because Governor Eno has been brilliant and creative in this area. From indirect jobs created through construction projects to IBOM-LED, to empowerment during ARISE Town Square Meetings, to entrepreneural equipment empowerment, more than 100,000 have been empowered through one channel or the other, while the launch of a dedicated portal, ARISE Youth Employment Portal will help in sorting out the best 3000 candidates for employment in the State civil service, ensuring continuity and sustainability of government initiatives, and lifting many out of unemployment and poverty.

With hunger as a national concern, Governor Eno tackled it head-on. His administration distributed free food to over 500,000 vulnerable households in the first and second phases of the ARISE Food Programme. The third phase is just a few days away. Meanwhile, the Ibom Model Farm, Arise Home Farms, and Back to Farm initiatives are stimulating and revitalising agriculture, ensuring food security through consistent support and input to farmers.

True to the ARISE spirit, compassion finds expression in the construction and handover of 205 housing units to indigent citizens spread across the 31 LGAs. Public servants also benefited from housing schemes such as Ewet Luxury Gardens and the Judiciary Village.

With an eye on the future and adding more revenue streams to the State, a stated policy of government, Governor Eno has invested in strategic economic projects like the Ibom Deep Sea Port, an 18-storey smart tower in Lagos, and Ibom Hotels in Abuja; drivers poised to open new revenue and employment opportunities in the State and beyond.

Pastor Umo Eno’s commitment to inclusive development ensures that all 31 LGAs benefit from multiple impactful projects. From the Oron Maritime Infrastructure Development to the establishment of bulk purchase and asset management agencies, the administration is decentralising growth and delivering equitable development.

The good news is that local government councils’ chairmen are borrowing copiously from the Umo Eno blueprint and domesticating same in their spheres of administration. Local Government councils have never been this vibrant and relevant to development.

Indeed, Governor Umo Eno’s leadership reflects a rare blend of vision, compassion, and competence. With 57 new priority projects rolled out, Akwa Ibom State stands as a beacon of intentional governance. Each initiative; whether in education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, or youth development, speaks to a clear purpose: to uplift lives, develop the State and secure the future. This is not just governance. This is intentional excellence in motion and Akwa Ibomites are not just living witnesses to a new dawn, they are living it.

May God bless the visionary Governor of Akwa Ibom State.