Jeremiah Edoho
Accepting leadership roles and its accompanying responsibilities require more than higher academic attainment. Leadership entails being instilled with foresight, courage and innovative power to create and a vision to develop and empower followers to achieve a common goal.
According to John Maxwell, an American author and orator, “A leader knows the way, goes the way and shows the way.” By this definition, a leader must have the power to influence and motivate people to change, grow and achieve common goals.
In our context of leadership in today’s political space, for one to be genuinely loved and valued, such a person, whatsoever position he or she occupies, must evidently and practically live by example as exemplified by the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno. The
Governor has shown unshackled resilience to inspire, develop and empower, taking into cognizance landmark achievements his government has recorded through conscientious effort in translating his ARISE Agenda to cover all sectors, including health, education, economy, job creation, agriculture, aviation, rural areas and security. His aim is to ameliorate poverty through youth empowerment and wealth creation.
Eno, a symbol of humility, class and style, is loved by Akwa Ibom youths for keeping faith with his promise of empowering over 50,000 unemployed youths. This was demonstrated on Thursday, December 19, 2024, when he officially presented ₦750M business grants to the first batch of 15,000 selected through the Arise Youth Employment Portal. Each received the sum of N50,000 while awaiting sustainable job opportunites.
In his meticulous effort to tactically connect with the people at the grassroots to make them feel the impact of governance and equally salvage the sufferings of widows and the downtrodden, the Governor has significantly improved their lives through the ARISE Compassionate Homes Initiative (ACHI), free food programme, business grants for traders, ARISE Elderly Initiative, free medical care, among others.
Specifically, Eno has completed 98 ARISE Compassionate Homes and handed over to beneficiaries with the sum of N500,000 to each of them as business seed fund. Another 104 is ongoing with a target of achieving 400 homes in the 368 wards of the state before the end of his first term in office.
In his apt approach and determination to ensure criminals do not have free operation in the state, the Governor has donated Toyota Hilux vehicles and 14 gun boats to security agencies in the state, to boost their operations.
As a leader with penchant for quality education, women development and workers’ welfare for efficient delivery, Eno approved the rehabilitation of dilapidated public schools across the state, provided incentives for teachers, approved payment of N2.1 billion examination fees and payment of bursary, launched N100 million Education Trust Fund for students living with disabilities studying in Nigerian public tertiary institutions and approved payment of over N37Billion out of N85.2Billion backlog of gratituities owed to retired civil servants, local government workers and teachers in the state. He has also allotted 150 out of 236 units of two-bedroom apartment at the Grace Estate to civil servants in the state, as part of his efforts to improve their welfare.
The establishment of one model school each across the 10 federal constituencies with standard facilities, approval and release of N1.5 billion, (N500m per senatorial district) interest-free loan for traders and empowerment of over 77,000 women with various food processing equipment across the state are some of the many reasons why the Governor is loved and valued.
His thoughtful decision to establish the Ibom Model Farm and Resort, in partnership with the Songhai Farms of Porto Novo, to significantly increase food production and price stability, upgrade the Victor Attah International Airport, investment in real estate and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), diversifying the solid minerals’ sector with the establishment of the Ibom Oil Mineral Exploration Company and ensuring Green and Clean environment are other undeniable achievements.
It is also noteworthy to point that the welfare of the traditional institution in Akwa Ibom State has received unprecedented attention from the Governor. Through his pragmatic approach, the government has recorded regular payment of all entitlements to traditional rulers. All Paramount Rulers have been issued with brand new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado vehicle as an official vehicle.
This underscores the robust relationship existing between members of the traditional institution and the Eno Administration.
And so, when the management and board of editors of Leadership Newspaper nominated Eno to be honoured as Governor of the Year 2024, many saw it as another channel to further add credence to his style of leadership and amazing peculiarities which endeared him to the people of Akwa Ibom State.
As a reputable leader, known for his financial prudence and passion for sustainable growth, he chronicled his administration’s achievements in the past 18 months in office for public evaluation at the recently-held three-day ministerial briefing and end of year review. This gathering of critical stakeholders availed him the opportunity to openly receive encomiums and commendations for exhibiting impeccable leadership attributes and good governance.
The Governor’s decision to continue inherited projects while initiating new ones including the smart international terminal building, Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) building, the taxiway, laying the foundation for the Aviation Village, all at the airport, international market in Ikot Ekpene, flagging off the Judicial Quarters in Uyo and the special ambulance service in the state, the ARISE Shopping City in Uyo, commercialisation of the state’s existing facilities in Lagos and Abuja, medium density housing estate in Ewet Housing for upwardly mobile professionals, approval for a second round of one project per LGA, construction of more strategic rural roads and the proposed town hall meetings, beginning from February 2025, for stakeholders to engage, interact and contribute their quota for policy formulation ahead of the 2026 fiscal year estimates, call for uncompromising love, fervent prayer and support for the Governor to ride on the current developmental pace.
*_Jeremiah Edoho is a Personal Assistant to the Governor on New Media_*
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