The governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, has described his Governor of the Year Award by LEADERSHIP Newspaper as his most cherished accolade because he was selected based on the track record of achievements in the last 19 months by an independent non-political organisation.
He said the laurel to be accorded him on April 8, 2025, would spur him on to break more grounds in the delivery of the dividends of democracy to all manner of humans within and outside the state, especially the downtrodden.
The award, he added, would be dedicated to his late wife, Patience, who was his strong pillar of support, and encouraged him to weather the storm to victory, despite all odds.
Besides, the governor applauded the entire membership of the just dissolved State Executive Council (SEC), who worked with him since inauguration on May 29,2023, noting that their passion and dedication to the implementation of key policies and programmes, as encapsulated in the ARISE Agenda blueprint of his administration, qualified him for the award.
He also expressed special thanks to the Deputy Governor, Dr. Akon Eyakenyi; the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, the Permanent Secretary, Government House, and other top officials of government, the office of the late first lady coordinated by Mrs. Helen Eno Obareki, and other members of the first family for working assiduously for the administration to records numerous achievements in the last 19 months.
Addressing the management team of the LEADERSHIP Group Limited which paid him a courtesy call at Government House, Uyo, on Wednesday, led by the Vice Chairman, Mr. Mike Okpere, the governor, who shared his excitement with his visitors, noted that his recognition stemmed from his inclusive style of leadership devoid of party lines.
“I thank you for this general honour that you have bestowed on the state through me. I dedicate this award to the memory of my late wife, my family and the just dissolved Exco. The immediate past Exco did a lot of work that culminated in this award.”
While commending LEADERSHIP for being completely apolitical in the choice of beneficiaries of the award, Governor Eno vowed that he would tailor his administration’s focus on touching the lives of the very poor, explaining that having been outside the political system and monitoring successive governments since the return of democracy in 1999, he was in a better position to understand the challenges facing the people.
According to him, such experience helped him to identify key problem areas when he was sworn in as the fourth civilian governor since 1999, putting him in a vantage position to tackle core problem areas confronting the people.
He added that his bottom-to-top approach to governance was informed by his popularity before he ventured into the political space, first, as commissioner for Lands, and governor, about two years later.
“We must not always go to the electorate every four years to deliver rice, wrappers and cash for the people for their votes,” he stressed, assuring that he would continue to run an all inclusive administration that carries along the state’s 7.9 million population in terms of policies and programmes of government.
“This award will ginger us to do more because now, we know that we are on the national stage and the award is a validation of our efforts. We will continue to build bridges across party lines for peace, unity and development to thrive,” he stated.
Regretting the demise of the late founder and chairman of LEADERSHIP Group Limited, the governor thanked the management team for keeping the flag of LEADERSHIP newspaper still flying in the country and pledged his administration’s support.
The leader of the delegation, Mr. Mike Okpere, on behalf of the media firm’s management, expressed sympathy and condolences to the governor over the death of his wife, recalling that it was the same experience faced by LEADERSHIP when the founder died a few years ago.
He explained that the team was in Uyo to formally inform him of his nomination as Governor of the Year, along with his colleagues in Jigawa, Enugu, Kano, Osun and Bauchi states, including Alhaji Aliko Dangote and others, who are also expected to mount the dais for awards in different categories based on their laudable achievements.
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