GOVERNOR UMO ENO EMPOWERS ORO NATION WITH N335 MILLION GRANTS
The Town Square meeting held for the Oron Federal Constituency became a major empowerment event as Governor Umo Eno disbursed N335 million in grants to support local traders, farmers, and entrepreneurs across five local government areas—Oron, Okobo, Udung Uko, Urue Offong Oruko, and Mbo.
The grants included N51 million distributed to 108 farmers from the state’s N2 billion agricultural loan scheme, N225 million shared among 543 business owners, and N5 million each to 10 entrepreneurs. The initiative aligns with the Governor’s push for agricultural and entrepreneurial development under the ARISE Agenda.
Governor Eno, addressing the massive turnout, said the needs presented by the constituency would be used to shape the 2026 “People’s Budget.” He pledged fairness in project execution across all 31 LGAs, noting that at least one project from each of the five LGAs in Oron Federal Constituency would be prioritized.
He also announced progress on the long-awaited 14km Airport–Nsit Atai–Okobo Road and revealed plans to launch construction at the Ibom Deep Seaport City Gate and Sales Centre. The Governor was honored by community leaders with traditional attire, followed by a vote of confidence by local lawmakers and support from royal fathers for a second term.
GOVERNOR UMO ENO DEFENDS PROJECT DELIVERY TRACK RECORD
Governor Umo Eno has reaffirmed his commitment to delivering over 40 impactful projects across Akwa Ibom State without incurring any debt. Speaking during the second Monthly Delivery Meeting in Uyo, the Governor emphasized the importance of accountability, transparency, and inclusiveness in his administration’s development strategy.
He stated that through prudent management, cost-saving measures like trimming government size and reducing waste have freed up funds for key infrastructure and social projects. These include the Ewet Luxury Garden, Ibom City Bus project, Ikot Ekpene Market redevelopment, Ibom Sports Academy, and the ARISE Shopping City.
Governor Eno urged Commissioners and Delivery Advisors to maintain their pace and meet project deadlines, noting that these meetings function like a development “situation room.” Distinguished stakeholders present—including Senator Ekong Sampson and Ambassador Asam Asam SAN—praised the Governor’s leadership and development roadmap.
NATIONAL SENIOR CITIZENS CENTRE HONORS GOVERNOR UMO ENO
Governor Umo Eno has received the Distinguished Age-Friendly Public Service and Elder Justice Advocacy Award from the National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) in recognition of his commitment to the welfare of older persons in Akwa Ibom State.
In an emotional moment, the Governor dedicated the award to his late wife, Pastor Patience Eno, acknowledging her role in conceptualizing the state’s senior citizens’ center. He revealed plans to domesticate the NSCC Act and align state programs with national frameworks for elderly care.
Dr. Emem Omokaro, Director-General of NSCC, praised the Governor’s initiatives, including periodic N50,000 cash transfers, housing programs for vulnerable elderly, health insurance coverage, and the groundbreaking for the ARISE Geriatric Centre.
She also commended his inclusive policies and selection of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital as a training provider for Geriatric Social Care certification. The award ceremony was attended by other NSCC executives and community stakeholders.
GOVERNOR UMO ENO’S TRANSFORMATION TURNING VISION INTO VISIBLE CHANGE
If development had a voice, it would speak loudly from the riverine communities of Oron Federal Constituency, as Governor Umo Eno’s administration is reshaping landscapes and livelihoods. From strategic road infrastructure to social support, the transformation is visible and deliberate.
Among the completed and ongoing projects are the dualization of the 13.5km Okopedi–Oron Road with a 60-meter bridge, the 2.9km Secretariat–Ewene Road in Urue Offong/Oruko, and the 13.6km Orukim–Unyenghe–Universal Energy Road in Mbo—strategically paving the way for the Ibom Deep Seaport.
The Governor’s “One Project per LGA” policy has also ensured roads, schools, and health facilities reach the deepest parts of Oro Nation. Over 13 Compassionate Homes have been built and handed over to the most vulnerable, each recipient also receiving N500,000 to launch small businesses.
Under the ARISE Initiative, grants totaling N51 million have been given to 108 farmers, 10 entrepreneurs received N5 million each, and several others were gifted cars and buses to stimulate commerce.
This wave of progress is more than bricks and asphalt—it’s a return of dignity, opportunity, and inclusion. As the people of Oro Nation look ahead, Governor Eno’s leadership is not just a tenure—it is a movement of lasting change.
In a bold message to grassroots leadership, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has declared that local government councils have no excuse not to execute meaningful, people-centered projects. The governor’s remarks came during a landmark event in Eket Local Government Area over the weekend, where he inaugurated the newly constructed 5,000-capacity Eket City Hall and laid the foundation stone for an ultra-modern legislative complex.
Represented by Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Frank Archibong, Governor Eno hailed the Eket City Hall as a symbol of the ARISE Agenda in motion—a testament to progress, community pride, and economic opportunity. “I am excited to be in Eket. This is a landmark project,” the governor said. “Though it serves the Eket Senatorial District, the hall is also available for use by the state. This is the ARISE Agenda at work.”
Designed not only to host major events but to boost internally generated revenue, the City Hall is expected to provide jobs and economic activity for the local population. The Governor’s declaration that local councils “have no excuse not to execute projects” underscores his administration’s expectations of performance at all levels.
The event also featured the unveiling of a new legislative complex and the disbursement of N50 million in grants to 500 entrepreneurs under the Eket ARISE Empowerment Initiative SmallBiz Grant.
Eket Local Government Chairman, Akaniyene Tommey, described the new City Hall as “more than just a building,” calling it a beacon of unity and a cornerstone of economic revival. “This is a clear demonstration of our resolve to support small and medium enterprises,” Tommey said, adding that the grant will stimulate local business, boost productivity, and elevate living standards across the area.
GOVERNOR UMO ENO ANNOUNCES 2027 RUNNING MATE
Despite being less than two years into his first four-year term, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has confirmed that his current deputy, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, will remain his running mate for the 2027 gubernatorial election.
The announcement was made during a Town Hall meeting in Oron Federal Constituency, where Governor Eno, speaking to a packed audience, praised Eyakenyi for her steadfast loyalty and strong leadership qualities. “Given the opportunity to run for office by my people, she will still be my deputy governor,” he said, drawing loud applause from the crowd. “Very supportive, very cooperative deputy governor. A mother, and a sister.”
Akon Eyakenyi, a former senator who represented Akwa Ibom South District, hails from Oron Nation—one of the governor’s strong political bases. The gesture of retaining her on the ticket is seen as both strategic and symbolic, reflecting the administration’s commitment to regional balance and gender inclusion.
Governor Eno, who was sworn into office on May 29, 2023, has yet to reach the halfway point of his tenure, making the early declaration of a running mate unusual but clearly intended to solidify political alliances ahead of time.
SECOND-TERM SUPPORT SURGES AS ORON FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY ENDORSES GOVERNOR UMO ENO FOR 2027
In what is becoming a statewide momentum, Governor Umo Eno received a fresh wave of political endorsements over the weekend, this time from the five local government areas that make up the Oron Federal Constituency—Mbo, Okobo, Udung Uko, Urue Offong Oruko, and Oron.
The endorsement came during a Town Hall meeting held as part of the governor’s 10-constituency tour, which he previously announced would help shape the 2026 budget through direct community input. The event turned into a political rally, with leaders openly backing the governor for a second term.
“So you remain our governor from 2023 to 2031 and beyond,” declared Uno Uno, Chairperson of Urue Offong Oruko LGA, speaking on behalf of her colleagues. Earlier, a similar endorsement came from the Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency, where political leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rallied around the governor.
The endorsement from Oron was reinforced by the presentation of a formal booklet of demands from the region, handed over to Governor Eno by former Secretary to the State Government, Emmanuel Ekuwem. Governor Eno received the document with a promise that the people’s priorities would be reflected in the 2026 budget, though he tempered expectations by noting that not all requests might be accommodated.
“I am here to listen, to learn, and to act,” the governor told the crowd. “This is how we build a budget that reflects the true needs of our people.”
With growing support from grassroots and political leaders alike, the governor’s reelection bid appears to be gaining early traction across Akwa Ibom.
