By Bassey Nkponam
UYO
The State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, P.hD, has directed the immediate recall of all medical doctors serving in other ministries in different capacities across the State.
Eno, who gave the directive, over the weekend, during the official opening of the state government pavilion at the Christmas Village, Uyo, observed that posting medical doctors to ministries where their professional skills were not needed could make them lose their professional competence and expertise.
He said as government was revamping the health sector, there was a pressing need for more doctors, observing that despite the shortage of medical professionals, some were currently assigned administrative roles in other ministries, a situation he assured would currently be rectified by his administration.
Eno toured different stands by ministries, departments and agencies, where he was moved by compassion when a young graduate and an orphan, Miss Abigail Okon, was introduced to him by the management of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare.
Exercising his prerogative powers, Governor Eno waived all conditions and approved Abigail’s instant employment into Akwa Ibom State Civil Service, with deployment to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service to ensure proper mentorship.
He directed the head of civil service, Mrs Elsie Peters, to offer her immediate employment into the civil service to encourage her and motivate others who have a seemingly low background, as nature or place of birth should not be allowed to determine one’s destiny.
The governor, who made reference to the birth of Jesus Christ in the manger, said, “Anyhow you were born, you have a destiny. Don’t mind what people say or may say about you.”
Eno noted that the state government pavilion at the Christmas Village was an avenue for the different MDAs to showcase their products and services, as it would not have been proper for the MDAs not to have stands at the event, especially given the large number of people who visit the place on a daily basis.
He commended the different MDAs for their good outing, and for doing a lot to promote the ARISE Agenda.
Speaking with Government House correspondents, Miss Abigail Okon, who shared her emotional life story, recounted surviving abandonment, rejection, and multiple attempts on her life before being rescued in 2010 by the Akwa Ibom State Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare and admitted into the Special Children’s Home in Uyo.
She explained that her father attempted to kill her because she was labeled a witch, given the death of her mother after giving birth to her at Aminu Kano Hospital, Kano State.
She recalled that she was sent by her father to her uncle in Oron and after several unsuccessful attempts by the uncle to kill her, they gave her to a driver to be thrown under a bridge.
According to her, she was eventually thrown into a river in Oron, where she was rescued and handed over to government, adding that since then she has been under the care of government, who sponsored her education through primary and post- primary schools as well as university education.
Okon thanked the governor for the show of love and compassion and prayed that God will continue to bless him and Akwa Ibom State.
The orphan, who studied Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Uyo, graduated in 2023, and completed her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme on August 7, 2025.
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