Umo Eno’s Leadership Model worthy of emulation – Arewa Journalists Forum

The Arewa Journalists Forum has described Governor Umo Eno’s leadership model in Akwa Ibom State in the last one year as one worth emulating.

The Forum upheld this position in a Press briefing on May 28, 2024, where they passed a Vote of Confidence on Governor Umo Eno.

They described him as a workable model, a shining example of good leadership and a light that attracts good governance.

In a Release issued after the briefing and signed by the President, Hassan Galadima and Secretary General, Abraham Awodi; their position was based on reports from their partnership with NISMA, and their members who reside in Akwa Ibom State and from media reports monitored over time.

They added that the Governor has distinguished himself in leadership in all criteria including development, inclusivity in governance, education, agricultural programmes, care for the vulnerable and general approach to governance.

“First of all, Governor Umo Eno has shown clearly that he stands for the unity and progress of Nigeria beyond the rubric of rhetoric. Governor Umo Eno has not only appointed non-indigenes into his government, he ensures that each ethnic group in Nigeria has been brought into his administration. This is not just novel, but has the capacity of strengthening the chords of Nigeria’s unity, dispelling distrust and unnecessary ethnic tension…This is the first time each ethnic group has its own representative in the government of another State in Nigeria”, they observed.

“We have also been informed that Governor Umo Eno has given grants to the non-indigenes doing business in Akwa Ibom State to help them grow their businesses, and keep them afloat during the economic hardship of the country. We do not think that Governor Eno owed them this gesture, it is done out of love and commitment to service. This is a portrait of a truly detribalised Nigerian”, they noted .

“In the areas of development, the administration of Governor Umo Eno has executed about 80 road projects, including those he inherited from his predecessor’s administration. Most of these roads and bridges are already commissioned while a few are at advanced stages of completion, just within one year in office”.

“There is an aggressive rural revolution where the governor has taken development to the grassroots, ensuring that projects are spread evenly across the State according to our collaborative partnership with NISMA”, they enunciated.

The Forum further described the Governor as one with a magical touch, changing the course of the State and steering the State in greater heights.

“The governor believes in the power of education, and that a society’s development is directly proportional to its investment in the education sector. Thus, he is massively investing in education beginning from the primary level. That has led to the construction and commissioning of two model primary schools so far, which will be replicated in all the local government areas of the State. The model primary schools come with sports facilities and accommodation for teachers, provision of free exercise books, school uniforms, school bags and school shoes to take away the burden from the parents and guardians.

“This is a governor who started with giving 100 Million Naira Education Trust Fund to persons living with disabilities who are studying in tertiary institutions. Under that scheme, the governor directed that it should be given to all Nigerians irrespective of States of origin provided they were resident in Akwa Ibom State.

“In the healthcare sector, the Governor is connecting the dots. The Governor has already inaugurated some primary healthcare centres while the construction of others are on-going.
Governor Umo Eno has given enough reason to be crowned as father of empowerment. He has empowered 400 entrepreneurs in the State with 400 Million Naira at 500 Thousand Naira each, and the programme is ongoing. This is unprecedented in any part of Nigeria, and we are proud to identify with the governor of Akwa Ibom State”, they observed.

“Governor Umo Eno has had a fantastic relationship with the workers in the State as well as those who have retired. He has so far approved about 20 Billion Naira for the payment of gratuities and other entitlements to retirees most of whom were primary school teachers, who have always been neglected. Those in service are equally given their due entitlements”.

Arewa Journalists Forum also acknowledged the Governor’s agricultural revolution stride in the quest to attain food sufficiency and food security in the State likewise, prioritising the security of the State and the people by creating a novel Ministry of Internal Security and Waterways Management headed by a retired General in the Nigerian Army and the Ibom Community Watch to serve as credible intelligence to the statutory Security Agencies.

The Arewa Journalists Forum which is an umbrella organization of all journalists of Northern Nigeria extraction, promised to continue to track developments and highlight such wherever they are found, irrespective of region and religion as well as poised to collaborate with relevant stakeholders in the onerous task of catalyzing meaningful development to drive positive change for the betterment of the masses.