Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has provided accommodation for the family of the Akwa Ibom State-born Nollywood actress, Ms Abigail Edith Frederick, who died in a boat mishap on the River Niger estuary along with some of her colleagues and supporting crew members while on a trip to a movie location a couple of months ago.
Due to the family’s financial challenge, her remains were buried at the bank of Anam River in Anambra State as the parents could not shoulder the cost of bringing her remains home for burial.
However, her home government in Akwa Ibom State claimed it was not aware of such a situation and ordered her body to be exhumed and evacuated home for proper burial.
The governor, yesterday, fulfilled his promise of a better accommodation for her aged parents and handed over a remodeled fully-furnished six-bedroom bungalow to the family at Ikot Udoma village in Eket local government area.
The governor also donated a business support grant of N1 million to the family as well as an additional N1 million educational grant to the two younger sisters of the late actress.
Represented by the commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Frank Archibong, the governor recalled that on February 13, 2024, he had personally visited the grieving family where he offered automatic employment to the deceased’s elder sister, promised assistance to the undergraduate sisters and directed his aide on Humanitarian Services to renovate the family house and bring it up to a modern standard.
Special Assistant to the governor on Humanitarian Services, Prince Nsikanabasi Umoekpo, narrated how the governor returned from an official trip and went straight to commiserate with the family, and instructed that her remains be exhumed and brought back to the state for proper burial with automatic employment to the deceased’s elder sister.
Prince Umoekpo revealed that the building was ready a month ago but the governor insisted that it should be furnished before being presented to the family.
Father of the deceased, Mr Frederick Edet, expressed gratitude to the governor for his show of love and compassion during their moment of grief.
Also, Abigail’s mother, Mrs Veronica Frederick, fighting back tears, appreciated the governor for coming to their aid, describing him as a compassionate leader who has wiped the tears of the family, and prayed for God’s blessing on the governor and his family.
