GOVERNOR UMO ENO HONOURED ALONGSIDE TINUBU, MAHAMA WITH LIFETIME AFRICA ACHIEVEMENT PRIZE
In a moment that etched Akwa Ibom State into continental consciousness, Governor Umo Eno was presented the 2024 Lifetime Africa Achievement Prize for his innovative and people-centered leadership. The ceremony, held at the historic Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, Ghana, saw Eno join an elite circle that included President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Ghanaian President John Mahama.
What set Eno apart wasn’t flamboyance or political theatrics—it was his dogged focus on rural empowerment, job creation, and social welfare. In just over a year in office, his administration’s ARISE Agenda has created thousands of jobs, supported women and youth through targeted grants, and initiated rural infrastructure projects that prioritize the vulnerable.
Receiving the award under the gaze of the Asantehene, His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and several African dignitaries, Eno used the occasion to reaffirm his philosophy of “rural-first” development. “I dedicate this award to the people of Akwa Ibom who believed in a quiet, focused vision,” he said.
The recognition is widely seen as validation of a new leadership model—one that doesn’t seek the spotlight but earns it through service.
