By Bassey Nkponam
UYO
The Akwa Ibom government is reflagging-off the commencement of work at the International Convention Center at the Tropicana Entertainment Center, Uyo.
The State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, who a66nnounced this Friday, during the Mid Year Assembly Seminar of the Rotary International, District 9142, which took place at Jackvile Event Centre, Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo, said government has concluded all the bid process of the project.
Eno noted that with the completion of the Convention Centre, and the combination of the world acclaimed Ibom Air, on ground, Uyo, the Akwa Ibom capital, will be the next Convention Centre in Nigeria.
He said the planned project will be completed within the first term of his administration, adding that government has as a deliberate policy engaged the Chief Delivery Advisor to the Governor with the mandate to build a delivery advisory units on all projects to ensure timely completion of government projects as government do not intend to leave any abandoned project.
The idea according to him, is a robust approach to managing a system and a way of bequeathing to the future generation, a State that will be able to increase its stream of income rather than depending in its entirety on the federal allocation.
“In the next 30 days, we will be reflagging-off the abandoned International Convention Centre at the Tropicana Hotel, Uyo.
“We have concluded all of the bid process, and we think when we finish and with the combination of our world acclaimed Ibom Air, Uyo will be the next convention Centre in Nigeria.
“All of these is planned to be completed within the life of the first term of this administration.
“We have as a deliberate policy engaged Chief Delivery Advisor to the Governor who is going to build a delivery advisory units on all of our projects to ensure that when we have a project, there are delivery advisers who will sit on the projects and monitor the projects and ensure that they are completed at the time line expected.
“We do not intend to leave any abandoned project. Of course, we are already completing those that we inherited.
“It is a robust approach to managing a system and it is a way to bequeath to the future generation, a State that will be able to increase their stream of income, and do not depend in its entirety on the federal allocation coming from Abuja”.
The governor explained that the economic development blueprint of his administration, the ARISE Agenda, focuses on ensuring the wellbeing and interests of the present and future generations as well as building peace.
Presenting a keynote address on “Peace and Ethical Responsibility,” Eno described peace as a major catalyst of development, noting that he has diligently kept to his electioneering campaign promise to reduce the flaming passion for partisan politics by politicians and replace it with the soothing balm of inclusivity which has made politics only an agent for development.
He said under his leadership, governance run across party lines, thereby portraying Akwa Ibom as an oasis of peace where leaders across party lines are accorded due respect and their thoughts on most issues taken seriously so long as they seek to promote the Akwa Ibom interest.
According to him, though a PDP State, Akwa Ibom does not operate governance based on the ‘winner-takes-it all’ approach, but in every major interventions government has made, political label is the not a factor considered but it has always been a pan-Akwa Ibom mindset from the distribution of palliatives, to the construction of ARISE Humanitarian Homes, grants given to Small and Medium Scale Entrepreneurs (SMEs), and projects executed in local government areas.
He noted that currently, most State functions are attended by politicians and stakeholders across party lines, embracing each other and celebrating their kindredship and oneness devoid of the zero-sum game machinations.
The governor mentioned some of his achievement to include: agricultural revolution and food sufficiency, opening up of 57 ARISE Road projects while completing inherited ones, creating a stand-alone Ministry of Internal Security and Waterways and the community-based security outfit – the Ibom Community Watch to deepen peace and security, establishing primary healthcare facilities across the three senatorial districts, and model primary schools whose standards can be compared to any such facility in the world.
Others are the ARISE Park and sustained obligations to Ibom Air including the outright purchase of two CRJ 900 Bombardier aircrafts and reception of two Airbus A-200-300 series, thus bringing the total fleet of the airline to nine, the ARISE Compassionate Homes, the ARISE Elders Initiative, Health Insurance Scheme, training of thousands of youths in marketable and entrepreneurial skills and paying down N47 billion in gratuities from the accumulated backlog since 2012.
He said he has run a government predicated on transparency, integrity which all align with Rotary’s Four Way Test, having come to serve the people with passion, fairness, and with the pledge to leave the State better than he met it, which he is dedicated to achieving under peaceful, inclusive and ethical atmosphere.
The state chief executive officer, himself a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International, appreciated the District Governor and members of Rotary International District 9142 for inviting him as keynote speaker, and urged members to stay true to the ideals and foundational principles of the body by promoting love and understanding rather than dabbling into areas that portend division and alienation.
The District 9242 Governor of Rotary International, Professor Nkemdili Nnonyele, described Eno as a true ambassador of Rotary International, thanking him for honouring their invitation and his impactful leadership in the State.
Discussion about this post