Governor Eno Announces 39 Project Commissionings, September Thanksgiving as Akwa Ibom Turns 39

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has declared September 2026 as a Month of Gratitude, urging residents to unite in thanksgiving to God as the state prepares to celebrate its 39th anniversary.

…President Tinubu Expected in Akwa Ibom to Commission Projects as State Marks 39th Anniversary.

The Governor also announced plans for the commissioning of 39 projects across the state as part of activities marking the anniversary, while disclosing that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to visit Akwa Ibom to commission some of the projects executed by his administration.

Governor Eno made the announcement on Sunday, August 23, 2026, during the Victory Thanksgiving Service marking the conclusion of the 2026 Discovery Convention of the All Nations Christian Ministry International, popularly known as The Lord’s Kitchen.

The Governor expressed appreciation to the clergy, members of the ministry and other stakeholders for their continued support and commitment to the vision of the church and his administration.

Describing members of the ministry as his “heroes,” Eno thanked them for believing in the vision of the church and for giving him the privilege to lead them.

He urged Akwa Ibom people to dedicate September to reflecting on God’s faithfulness to the state and participating actively in thanksgiving activities.

According to him, the 39th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service will hold on September 20 at the International Christian Worship Centre, while a State Banquet is scheduled for September 23 at the new banquet hall of ARISE Palm Resort.

On the expected presidential visit, Governor Eno said President Tinubu is expected to pay an official visit to the state to commission some of the projects delivered by his administration.

He described the anticipated visit as a significant addition to the 39th anniversary celebrations and called on residents to pray for its success.

The Governor also announced that the 2026 Akwa Ibom Christmas Carol will hold on Friday, December 18, with the theme, “Peace on Earth and Goodwill to Men,” drawn from Luke 2:14.

He disclosed that participating choirs would be selected through a pitching portal, adding that Harmonic Voices had already been prequalified.
Ministering at the thanksgiving service, Pastor Simeon Afolabi, who spoke on the theme, “Bought With a Price,” based on 1 Corinthians 7:23, urged Christians to allow Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary to transform their lives.

He encouraged believers to surrender themselves to divine direction, draw their self-worth from their relationship with God and live without fear, stressing that those who have God on their side have no reason to feel defeated.

The service, which featured prayers for Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, the government, the people and the Church, was attended by prominent political, religious and community leaders.

Umo Eno

Among those present were Deputy Governor Senator Akon Eyakenyi; wife of the Senate President, Dr. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio; Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Lady Helen Eno Obareki; Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong; the Chief Judge of the state; Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah; Head of Civil Service, Mrs. Elsie Peters; Executive Assistant and Chief Delivery Advisor, Aniefiok Johnson; serving and former senators; top government officials; and other spiritual and temporal leaders.

The event brought the 2026 Discovery Convention to a close and ushered in preparations for Akwa Ibom’s 39th anniversary, with thanksgiving, the commissioning of 39 projects and the anticipated presidential visit taking centre stage.
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Governor Eno Unveils Miva Study Centre in Uyo as University Student Population Hits 34,000

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has unveiled the Uyo Study Centre of Miva Open University, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to expanding access to quality education and developing human capital in the state.
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The study centre, located at No. 26 Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo, was officially unveiled on Friday by the Governor, who was represented at the ceremony by the Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Umanah.
Speaking at the event, Umanah commended the founder and management of Miva Open University for choosing Akwa Ibom as a location for its study centre, describing the initiative as a significant addition to the state’s growing educational sector.

The Commissioner described Governor Eno as an education-friendly leader, noting that education remains a key priority of the administration’s ARISE Agenda. He said the government had continued to implement policies and programmes aimed at improving access to education, strengthening human capital and equipping young people with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in a rapidly changing world.

Umanah assured private educational institutions and other stakeholders of the state government’s continued support and partnership, while expressing optimism that the presence of Miva Open University in Uyo would create more opportunities for students and contribute to the state’s human capital development.

Earlier, the Chief Operating Officer of Miva Open University, Aniekeme Umoh, said the institution was excited to deepen its relationship with Akwa Ibom through the establishment of the Uyo Study Centre.
Umoh commended the Governor’s ARISE Agenda, particularly its focus on education, human capital development, youth empowerment and shared prosperity, saying the priorities align with the university’s mission of providing accessible and relevant higher education.

She disclosed that Miva Open University, which began operations with about 500 students, has grown to more than 34,000 students.
According to her, the Uyo Study Centre was established to provide students in Akwa Ibom with a conducive environment for learning, interaction with other students and access to opportunities within the university’s wider academic community.

Governor Enoum

She added that the university was committed to creating a new category of higher education that responds to the realities of modern students and the demands of a rapidly changing world.

A 100-level Computer Science student of the university, Solomon Egheose, also commended the founder and management of Miva Open University for maintaining high standards in the administration of the institution.

Miva Open University is licensed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and operates as an Open and Distance Learning (ODL) institution.
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Akwa Ibom Youth Coalition Passes Vote of Confidence in Governor Eno, Tinubu and Akpabio, Pledges Support for 2027

The Coalition of Youth Leaders and Stakeholders in Akwa Ibom State has passed a vote of confidence in Governor Umo Bassey Eno, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, while pledging continued support for their political aspirations and candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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The coalition made its position known in a communiqué issued at the end of its meeting and media briefing held in Uyo on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.

The youth leaders commended the Eno administration for what they described as its commitment to infrastructure development, human-capital development, youth empowerment and grassroots transformation across the state.

They specifically highlighted programmes and interventions including the DASAC training programmes, Ibom-LED initiatives, youth grants, Youth-Friendly Centres across the 31 local government areas and opportunities for young people in government and grassroots administration.

According to the coalition, more than 2,000 beneficiaries have received training and grants of ₦750,000 each through the Ibom-LED Centre on IBB Avenue, Uyo, while 62 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises have reportedly received ₦5 million each, amounting to ₦310 million in interventions.

The group also commended the administration’s educational support, citing the reported disbursement of about ₦1.69 billion in student bursaries at ₦50,000 per beneficiary, as well as monthly support of ₦20,000 for 98,000 National Youth Service Corps members.

On youth participation in governance, the coalition said the administration had created opportunities for young people through political appointments, Ward Personal Assistants and the involvement of Village Youth Presidents in community security initiatives.

It noted that approximately 91 per cent of the state’s youth structure reportedly serves as Ward Personal Assistants, describing the arrangement as evidence of deliberate efforts to promote grassroots youth participation.

The coalition consequently rejected claims that the ARISE administration was anti-youth, youth-unfriendly or had marginalised young people in the state.

It, however, called on the government to sustain and expand its youth-focused programmes while ensuring that access to opportunities remained equitable, transparent and inclusive.

The youth leaders also distanced themselves from recent social media statements attributed to Prince Akan Etteudoh concerning the state government and youth affairs.

They maintained that Etteudoh did not have the mandate to speak on behalf of the entire youth population or the collective youth leadership structure of Akwa Ibom State, urging stakeholders to avoid presenting personal opinions as the collective position of the state’s youths.

The coalition called on young people across the state to remain peaceful and united, while pursuing their aspirations through dialogue, responsible advocacy and constructive engagement.

In its concluding resolution, the group reaffirmed its commitment to a constructive partnership between the state government and Akwa Ibom youths, stressing that young people should be regarded not only as leaders of tomorrow but also as partners in building the state today.

Akwa Ibom

The coalition’s declaration comes ahead of the 2027 political season, with the youth leaders pledging their support for Governor Umo Eno, President Tinubu, Senate President Akpabio and the candidates aligned with their political platform.

The communiqué was signed on behalf of the Coalition of Youth Leaders in Akwa Ibom State.
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