… Pastor Umo Eno Has Become Second Uncommon Governor Of A’Ibom – Akpabio
… President Tinubu Has Not Forgotten His Promise To Support Realization Of Ibom Deep Seaport – Gov Eno
By Bassey Nkponam
UYO
Akwa Ibom women across the 31 local government Areas of the State have unanimously endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and Akwa Ibom governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for re-election in 2027.
The endorsement was made over the weekend, when thousands of women from across the State converged on the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, for the 2026 International Women’s Day celebration with the global theme, “Rights. Justice. Action For All Women and Girls”, with the wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as special guest.
The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, commended Akwa Ibom women for their massive turnout and vibrant participation at the event and thanked them for their continued support for President Tinubu, assuring that the administration was working hard to ensure Nigeria’s economy grows stronger while improving the welfare of women and families across the country.
Tinubu applauded Governor Eno for his immense support for women development and inclusive governance in the State, saying, “Governor Umo Eno has done remarkably well, and has continued to deliver on the dividends of democracy to the women and the people as a whole. I am so proud of him and Senator Godswill Akpabio for the tangible presence of unity and progress among women and among the people in the State.”
She noted that the theme for this year’s Women’s Day celebration, “Rights, Justice, Action for all Women and Girls,” was a call to action, protecting the rights of women and girls by ensuring access to education, economic empowerment, health, social protection and equity.”
The First Lady enjoined every woman to be a positive tool for change in their homes, businesses, communities, and states, and to continuously support and stand behind governor Eno, who has greatly distinguished himself in visionary and impactful leadership and development.
Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, said the large turnout demonstrated the strong political voice of women in Akwa Ibom State, noting that the women of the state have clearly expressed their readiness to support President Tinubu’s return to office.
The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio who moved a motion for the endorsement of President Tinubu’s re-election come 2027, also told Eno that the women have affirmed their support for his leadership in the state, alluding that “when the righteous is on the throne, the people rejoice”.
While commending the governor’s unifying leadership style, the Senate President acknowledged with satisfaction the achievement of Eno in the State, saying, “Pastor Umo Eno has become the second uncommon governor of Akwa Ibom State”.
Governor Eno, said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not forgotten his promise to support the realisation of Ibom Deep Seaport project, assuring Akwa Ibomites that the Federal Government remains committed to projects that will boost the economic fortunes of the State.
Eno expressed gratitude to the President for key federal projects impacting the state, most outstanding of all, the ongoing construction of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway project and the promised Ibom Deep Seaport which, he said, would open up new economic opportunities for Akwa Ibom and the Niger Delta region.
“Your Excellency, please convey the greetings of Akwa Ibom people to the President for the coastal road that he is doing and that is passing through Akwa Ibom. In no distant time, we shall go to Lagos within five hours. Thank you so much.
“Thank you, Mr. President, for the expectation of the Ibom Deep Seaport, because many times when I discuss with him, he tells me, ‘I will give you the Ibom Deep Seaport. I hold on to that promise and I know it shall come to pass”.
The governor thanked the President’s wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for visiting the State to inaugurate the Senior Citizens Centre, one of three such facilities planned to provide succour for elderly citizens in the state.
“Thank you, Your Excellency, for honoring my wife today by commissioning the Elderly Citizens Centre that we have named the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Senior Citizens Centre.
“This is just one of three that we will do, and we are sending a bill to the House of Assembly to pass a law, even just as the National Assembly is about to do so, to be able to take care of our elderly”, congratulating women on their successful celebration of the 2026 International Women’s Day, and promised to continue to support the growth of women and empower them for greater family support in the State.
Akwa Ibom deputy governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, alongside the coordinator of the Office of the First Lady of Akwa Ibom, Lady Helen Obareki, led other women in the State to make a public proclamation endorsing President Tinubu for a second term in office as a result of his result-driven projects aimed at stabilising the nation and for promoting women’s participation in politics, recognising them as a vital force in national development.
Eyakenyi added that the women have equally pledged their unalloyed support for the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio and the State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for their outstanding leadership and commitment to women’s participation in politics.
She recounted the massive turnout by women during rounds of sensitisation tours of the 31 local government areas of the state and the awareness created on civic responsibility, saying Akwa Ibom women were solidly behind the trio of Tinubu, Akpabio and Eno’s re-election come 2027.
The wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, said women across Nigeria were increasingly clamouring for their rights and recognition, expressing happiness that Akwa Ibom women have thrown their support behind President Tinubu, Senator Akpabio and Governor Eno.
In her welcome address, the coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Akwa Ibom State, Noble Lady Helen Eno Obareki, said it was an honour for Akwa Ibom to be selected to host the celebration, explaining that the theme of the celebration highlights the need to promote women’s rights, ensure justice and take concrete actions to support women and girls.
Obareki highlighted some of the achievements of the Golden Initiative For All (GIFA) and commended Governor Eno for adopting the Senior Citizens Initiative, which currently supports more than 10,000 elderly citizens in the state.
The minister for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Suleman-Ibrahim, praised the administration of President Tinubu for his unprecedented investment in women, saying Nigerian women were pleased with the government’s policies and programmes.
Ibrahim commended Akwa Ibom’s initiative to form women into cooperative societies as it aligns with the Federal Government’s plans to empower them through cooperative grants and collective initiatives.
Commissioner for women affairs and social welfare, Mrs Inibehe Silas Etukudo, thanked Nigeria’s First Lady for choosing Akwa Ibom to celebrate the 2026 International Women’s Day, noting that women across the State had spoken with one voice in endorsing the leaderships of President Tinubu, Senator Akpabio and Governor Eno.
The event featured several cultural and artistic performances, including a welcome song by women from Uyo Senatorial District, presentations by Women Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (WALGON), cultural displays by women from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, a drama presentation by women from Eket Senatorial District on the 1929 Women’s Riot, special talk by Mrs. Mfon Ekpo, and the official proclamation and endorsement of President Tinubu, Senator Akpabio and Governor Eno by Akwa Ibom women led by Senator Eyakenyi, alongside Lady Obareki.
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