AKSG Confers IPOMA On 13 Eminent Personalities, Ibom Air

By Usiere Akpan

UYO

 The Akwa Ibom government Ibom Productivity Order of Merit Awards, IPOMA, has been conferred on 13 eminent persons and one institution in the state.

 The category of awards and recipients are: patriotic service to the state conferred on the minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Obong Umana Okon Umana and a lawyer, Mrs Mfon Usoro; education, a student, Ephraim Inyangudo and an educationist, Dr. Emmanuel Abraham; exceptional service delivery, an indigenous contractor, Engr. Uwem Okoko, entrepreneurship, Kufre Nnah aka Kayzplace and Elder Akpan Dick Ntekpere aka Nteps; excellence in business, Elder Ubong Obot aka Ubotex and special recognition to a police personnel, ACP Francis Osagie Erhabor.

 Other award categories and recipients are on Information and Communication Technology, ICT, Hanson Johnson; Media, Anietie Usen; Entertainment, Moses Eskor; Excellence in service, Ibom Air as well as sports, Imabong Uko.

 Gov Udom Emmanuel presented the Ibom Productivity Order of Merit Awards to the select illustrious indigenes to mark part of events for the 35th anniversary of the state creation,which took place at the Ibom Icon Hotels and Golf Resort, Uyo, Saturday.

 Emmanuel, watched by a cream of personalities, said the awardees have distinguished themselves in various careers, adding that the awardees worth proper place of ambassadors for spectacular service with added value to the image profile of Akwa Ibom and to national growth. 

 The governor stated that the service of the recipients would be added to the contributions of past leaders for the building of legacies for the state, stressing, “I want to thank our past leaders for their contributions which have taken us to where we are today.”

 He specifically appreciated the former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, rtd, for the courage to grant the request for the creation of Akwa Ibom, acknowledging that the decision has paved way for impacts in the aviation sector, foreign direct investments, education, agriculture and human capacity development through governmental and nongovernmental organisations.  

 A former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, said through dint of service, Akwa Ibom has experienced phenomenal economic growth under various leadership since its creation in 1987, commending Emmanuel for expanding the frontiers of development laid by past leaders in the state.

Jonathan, accompanied by his wife, Dame Patience,mentioned that at 35 Akwa Ibom requires all hands to be on deck for the sustaining of development, emphasising that it was necessary to support the succession plans considering the time left for the Emmanuel administration to exit.