The Oku Ibom Ibibio and President General of the Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, His Eminence, Ntenyin (Dr.) Solomon Daniel Etuk, CFR, has received in audience the leadership of the Abasi People’s Foundation (APF), a cultural movement committed to uniting ethnic nationalities under the shared reverence for Abasi Ibom—the Supreme God.
The courtesy visit took place on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at the monarch’s palace in Ikot Ukobo, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area. The delegation, led by Dr. Victor Udo, was charged by the royal father to propagate values of love, unity, and development among the people.
Commending the Foundation’s vision, Ntenyin Etuk described the initiative as timely and strategic, noting that it embraces a wider cultural family that extends beyond the Ibibio, Annang, Efik, Oro, Ekid, Obolo, and Ekoi peoples. He made specific reference to the Arochukwu people of Abia State, who also share a deep spiritual connection through their reverence for “Abasi,” reaffirming their inclusion in the broader Abasi cultural identity.
“It is imperative that we recognize and reconnect with our kith and kin across all ethnicities,” the monarch stated. “Let genuine love be our guiding principle. Let us live in harmony and cultivate a spirit of forgiveness, as a people created for a divine purpose.”
He urged the APF to stay committed to its core values—integrity, generosity, and a shared sense of destiny—while pledging the support of the Akwa Ibom traditional institution to the movement.
In his remarks, Dr. Victor Udo outlined the objectives of the Foundation, noting that it seeks to emulate other ethnic nationalities that have used cultural cohesion as a catalyst for development. He explained that the Abasi people—spread across 31 local government areas in Akwa Ibom State and seven in Cross River State—have the potential to build a globally impactful identity, given their estimated population of 20 million, their demographic strength, and rich natural resources.
Udo emphasized that with the backing of traditional rulers and cultural stakeholders, the Abasi People’s Foundation aims to drive a renaissance of identity and purpose across the region.
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