Akwa Ibom Exco Ends Retreat, Reaffirms Commitment To Service Delivery      

The Akwa Ibom State Executive Council has concluded a four-day retreat at the Eko Hotel, Lagos, reaffirming its commitment to enhancing public service delivery across the state.

Led by the State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, the retreat, which featured the immediate-past governor of the state, Mr. Udom Emmanuel; the CEO of Financial Derivatives, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, and other distinguished resource persons, was themed ‘ARISE Agenda: Mapping the Future,’ as the retreat fostered strategic discussions on economic growth, infrastructure funding, and effective governance.

The resource persons facilitated knowledge-sharing sessions, where the economic outlook of the nation and state were analysed and targets set for the state government generally, and specific MDAs, with a view to bolstering the economy of Akwa Ibom State.

The governor, who participated in all the sessions, reiterated that “the holistic goal of the ARISE Agenda is the complete transformation of Akwa Ibom State from a civil service state to an industrial hub and investors’ haven”, and commended the facilitators for their excellent delivery of the retreat, and appreciated Mr. Udom Emmanuel for accepting to deliver the keynote address at the retreat in addition to his continuous selfless service to the state.

A significant outcome of the retreat was Governor Eno’s announcement of 31 projects for all the Local Government Areas, in line with the ‘one project per Local Government Area’ initiative of his administration.

Emphasising strict adherence to project timelines and quality standard, he underscored the pivotal roles of the EXCO members and other appointees in the state’s transformation, mentioning that they would be assessed by those indices.

Governor Eno, who expressed optimism that the entire state will feel the positive impact of the projects and his administration generally, announced the imminent commencement of the projects with available resources.

In attendance were key stakeholders, including members of the State Executive Council (SEC), the chairman of the State Internal Revenue Service, select Permanent Secretaries, aides of the governor, and representatives from Labour unions and journalists’ associations.

Commenting on the retreat, which lasted from the October 3 to 7, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information, Comrade Ini Ememobong, expressed confidence that the initiatives emanating from the four-day exercise would positively impact the entire state, and usher in a new era of progress and prosperity.