Gov Eno Acknowledges Late Ukpong Ekwere’s Virtues

… Urges Family Members To Sustain His Legacies 
By Timothy Ekpo 
ONNA
As the remains of late Elder Ukpong Ekwere Ukpong were laid to rest at his home town, Awa Atai in Onna Local Government Area, the Akwa Ibom governor has urged members of the bereaved family to be consoled with fact that the late Ukpong, aged 73 years, lived a life for the service of God and humanity.
   This was contained in Governor Umo Eno’s a message of condolence presented at Ukpong’s funeral, which took place over the weekend at Qua Iboe Church Primary School, Awa Atai/Awa Iman, Onna Local Government Area and conducted by the United Evangelical Church.
Represented by the deputy governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, the governor commiserated with the family of the deceased, saying the demise of late Ukpong evoked deep feelings of a great loss to his family, community and the State.
Describing the death of Ukpong, the elder uncle of the immediate past State governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, as a situation that came with great pain and sadness, Eno encouraged members of the family to take solace in the Scriptures which admonish Christians that the death of a believer was a key that opens the vault of Heaven.
He explained that the late Ukpong, having lived long to see his children excel in their profession, and having served as an elder in the United Evangelical Church, were testaments to the fact that he lived a fulfilled life.
  “Your late father lived a life of impact and fulfilment; he lived long enough to see his children flourish in their respective professions and are adding value to humanity. Magistrate Imaobong Ukpong is currently serving our State in the Judiciary arm”, Eno said.
The state chief executive expressed gratitude to God that Ukpong was a man of deep faith and his Christian virtues and values found expression in all his engagements. 
He urged members of the family to continue to emulate their late father’s moral rectitude, love and kindness to all, being the core values that characterised the life of their father while alive.  
Eno noted, “by doing so, you will write the most cherished epitaph in his honor and pencil his name in the hearts of the thousands who knew him”, the governor maintained. 
Earlier, the immediate past State governor and relative of the deceased, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, in his tribute appreciated God for the clement weather and the gathering for the honour done the deceased in death.
  Emmanuel acknowledged the love and supports of the wife and children, adding that without the exhibition of these virtues, Ukpong would not have lived thus far and described late Ukpong as a close confidant whose wealth of knowledge and wise counsel were of great value and asset to him.
  He maintained that the exit of the deceased was painful, observing that although he attained the age of 73, he never appeared as such as he was still strong and agile for continuous services to the family, community and the church.
In his sermon titled: “Save Yourself from this Corrupt Generation”, the chairman of Mbioto/Mkpat Enin Area Conference of United Evangelical Church, Revd Udo Akpan, who took his message from Acts 2: 36 – 41, charged Christians to abstain from corrupt practices and turn to Jesus Christ as their lord and saviour, adding that without holiness, no one will see the Lord Jesus Christ.
  Akpan harped on the need for Christians to turn away from wickedness, and yield to the Holy Spirit, count themselves dead to sin and constantly study the word of God to guide their actions against all forms of corruption.
The Area Conference chairman advised believers to live above the lives of Pharisees and Sadducees as captured in Mathew 5 : 20, adding that these are the ways which they would save themselves from this corrupt generation. 
   A biography read by deceased’s daughter, Magistrate Imaobong Ukpong, indicated that the late Ukpong was born in 1952 and attended Regina Coeli College in Essene, Ikot Abasi, from where he gained admission to study Accounting at the College of Technology, Calabar, and thereafter furthered his studies at Newcastle Upon Tyne Polytechnic, now Northumbria University, United Kingdom in 1977.
Ukpong, who was a devote Christian and committed community leader, whose heart was intertwined with the lives around him, died in July 2025 after a brief illness.
The funeral was attended by distinguished personalities including Dr. Martha Emmanuel, Senator Aniekan Bassey; Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem, Barr. Ini Ememobong, members of the National Assembly; representative of the State Chief Judge; State Executive Council members; members of the State House of Assembly, local government chairmen, captains of industries, royal fathers, friends of the family, invited guests and numerous sympathisers.