Akwa Ibom Govt Lifts Visually–impaired Singer With N100m Studio, House

Governor of Akwa Ibom State Umo Eno has pledged that the empowerment of talented Akwa Ibom State people would continue to define his administration’s ARISE Agenda blueprint.

He called on the residents of the state not to be adversarial with the government for more dividends of democracy to get to them.

He urged the people to rise above political and ethnic sentiments as reflected in the state’s anthem and team up to sustain a united and prosperous state in the South-South region.

Governor Eno gave the charge during the State Unity Concert held at the International Worship Centre, Uyo, where he turned around the life of a vissually-impaired singer, who demonstrated the paradox of ability in disability in singing and dancing.

The governor who also ministered in different languages at the forum, explained that the concert was organised to herald the Christmas celebration and sustain the inseparable bond of the citizens, as children of God, with Jesus Christ.

He reminded the conferees that the state was founded with love and unity, stressing that the sacred bond would be guarded with diligence, irrespective of differences in political views and ideologies.

“Our forebears came together and formed the Ibibio Union, and they did not know Annang, Oro, Eket or Ibibio. All they knew was that we should have a State that we must fight for and protect for our children, and children’s children.

“This concert reminds us tonight that the blood of our forebears still run in our veins, and that Christ came that we might be united. It doesn’t matter the political party, a united Akwa Ibom is indivisible Akwa Ibom that rises above ethnicity, and believes in God” he noted.

Moved by the passionate display during the worship session by an the Akwa Ibom-born physically- challenged gospel music artiste, Chris Vic, the governor described the talented gospel artist as a rare gift to the state and “a divine instrument of God’s service whose talent must be encouraged.”

To relief him of his burden, governor Eno, directed the Commissioner for Lands, to allocate to him, a plot of land in Uyo for the construction of a 4 – bedroom apartment equipped with musical studio to the tune of N100 million, and pledged to support him with a N1 million monthly allowance throughout his tenure as the governor.

“I want to celebrate this young man that can still praise God in spite of what we see about him as a disability. I am told he lives in a rented house. So I am directing the Commissioner for Lands to allocate him a land in Uyo. I will sign the certificate of occupancy next week.

“As soon as he gets that C -of- O, we will build him a four bedroom flat. He will live in two rooms, and the other two rooms, we would develop a studio for him. We are ready to spend N100 million naira to acquire him a studio. That does not include the cost of the land, and the cost of the house. They will put a fence around it. So long as I remain governor, he will get N1 million Naira as monthly allowance.

“We need to encourage our talents. Let this be a reminder for those of us that complain and feel that God has not been good to us. Let Chris Vic be a reminder that we can still praise God, our prevailing circumstance not withstanding. And I want Chris Vic to also know that this government cares about those living with disability,” he stated .