A’Ibom Gets New Two-star General

ABUJA
An indigene of Akwa Ibom State is to be decorated today by the Nigerian Army as a two-star general.
He is Major General Idongesit Ekpenyong who hails from Ikot Andem Itam in Itu Local Government Area (LGA).
Ekpenyong belongs to the Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers.
He passed out from the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) as a member of Regular Course 42 in 1995, a year after obtaining a degree from the military university.
NDA cadets spend four years studying for a degree and pass out after one year of military training.
Ekpenyong was among the generals whose promotion was announced by the Army on Friday.
The Navy also announced the promotion of two-star generals, Rear Admirals, same day.
Similarly, the Air Force disclosed the elevation of Air Vice Marshals (AVMs), who are two-star generals, on Friday.
Ekpenyong is the only two-star general from Akwa Ibom promoted this year.
This is a sharp departure from 2023 and 2022 when the state had five and four two-star generals, respectively.
The last time there was a loner was 2021 when AVM Iboro Harry Etukudo, from Atan Ikpe in Ikot Abasi LGA, was promoted.
With Ekpenyong’s promotion, the number of serving two-star generals from Akwa Ibom has risen to 13.
When the retired ones are added, the total number is 42.
Ekpenyong is now the second serving two-star general from Itu LGA after Major General Effefiong Ekpenyong from Obong Itam.
Interestingly, the two Ekpenyongs hail from neighbouring villages in the same ward in Itu.
As a result of the latest promotion, Itu, which, with four, was at par with Uyo and Etinan, now holds the record of the LGA in the state with the highest number of serving and retired two-star generals.
In addition to the two serving, Itu boasts of three retired two-star generals, late Major General Okon Edet Okon, from Afaha Ube Itam, late AVM Emmanuel Aquaisua, from Obong Itam (the same village as Effefiong Ekpenyong) and AVM Uko Etim Ebong from Nung Ukot Itam.