Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has called on Nigerians to rally behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as he undertakes bold reforms aimed at tackling the country’s most pressing challenges.
The governor made the appeal on Thursday during a courtesy visit by officials of the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development (SCDDD), led by its founder and former Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.
Governor Eno assured Nigerians that President Tinubu is working tirelessly to address the nation’s multi-dimensional problems, including insecurity, economic pressures, unemployment, and the effects of terrorism and banditry. He expressed confidence that the country will overcome its present hurdles.
He described Prof. Gambari—an internationally celebrated diplomat who rose to the position of United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs—as someone deeply familiar with Nigeria’s development trajectory and challenges.
“As patriots, we must support the President in his bold and audacious reforms, many of which are already yielding positive results across various sectors,” Eno said.
The governor also appreciated Prof. Gambari for taking interest in the ARISE Agenda of his administration. He highlighted ongoing efforts to sustain peace and security in Akwa Ibom while expanding the state’s tourism potential through investments such as the ARISE Palm Resort, the Smart Airport, hospitality facilities, and other strategic assets positioning the state as a top destination in the Gulf of Guinea.
Eno emphasized the need to strengthen human capacity development so residents can fully align with the values and goals of the ARISE Agenda. He stressed improved synergy between the civil and public service sectors and directed the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, and the Chief Delivery Advisor, Mr. Aniefiok Johnson, to develop modalities for enhanced collaboration and training.
He lauded Prof. Gambari for his distinguished service to Nigeria—spanning his tenure as an academic, Minister of External Affairs, UN Under-Secretary-General, and later Chief of Staff to President Buhari—describing his life as “a story of remarkable accomplishments.”
In his remarks, Prof. Gambari praised Governor Eno for the warm reception and the peaceful ambience of Akwa Ibom State. He commended the governor’s impressive developmental strides achieved just over two years into his administration.
Gambari said his visit aimed to introduce the Savannah Centre, an organisation committed to conflict resolution, peace building, and social development. He added that the centre also provides capacity-building training for senior management and permanent secretaries across federal and state civil services in Nigeria.
