NIGERIA, UYO – Governor Umo Bassey Eno, of Akwa Ibom State has received the Award of Excellence in Sustainable Development and Community Empowerment, conferred by President Bola Tinubu and presented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The award ceremony, held on Sunday at the Conference Centre of the Villa, recognized Governor Eno’s contributions to rural development, community upliftment and his administration’s ARISE Agenda, centred on sustainable growth and human-capacity expansion.
Governor Eno said the honour strengthens his commitment to extend development to communities across the state. He added that the award belongs to Akwa Ibom people, whose support, he noted, “makes our work possible and meaningful.”
Senator Akume, who represented President Tinubu, commended the governor’s rural development initiatives and described him as “a leader who places communities at the centre of governance” while presenting the recognition plaque.
A large delegation of Akwa Ibom dignitaries attended the event, including Senators Ekong Sampson, Aniekan Bassey, Effiong Bob and Emmanuel Ibokessien. Others were the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, and legal expert Chief Assam Assam, SAN.
Also present were the State APC Chairman, Stephen Ntukekpo; Managing Director of Hensek Integrated, Engr. Uwem Okoko; Elder Onos Obareki; Commissioners Eno Ibanga, Aniekan Umanah and Inibehe Silas, as well as leaders of the Akwa Ibom Community in Abuja.
In a separate engagement on Sunday, Governor Eno addressed worshippers at the Eket Field Annual Convention of The Apostolic Church, urging the public to embrace forgiveness, reconciliation and unity for the stability of the state.
He said no society progresses when its members hold on to bitterness. He stressed that “none of us is perfect” and added that forgiveness remains essential for social cohesion and personal growth.
The governor stated that he draws lessons from past challenges and avoids the repetition of old mistakes. He said forgiveness has shaped the state’s political climate and encouraged residents to adopt it for the common good.
He warned that communities guided by retaliation risk self-destruction, adding that “a community that lives by an eye for an eye will soon have everyone go blind,” prompting applause from the congregation.
His sermon drew immediate public reactions across social media platforms, including appeals for wider reconciliation and community development in different parts of the state.
In one reaction, a resident, Mr Israel Isaiah, praised the governor’s leadership but urged him to fast-track infrastructural growth in Eket Local Government Area. He highlighted two major roads—Eket-Oron Road and the Marina Junction–Afaha Uqua–Uqua–RCC corridor—as deserving dual carriage development.
He argued that such expansion would unlock economic value and enhance the aesthetics of the oil-rich town. He also referenced public concerns over the abandoned Amakpe Refinery and Federal Housing Estate projects, urging intervention in Ikot Uso Ekong community.
Another citizen, Akan Obot, issued an open letter appealing for reconciliation between the state government and the 5,000 teachers whose appointments were invalidated in 2016. He linked his appeal to the governor’s message on forgiveness.
Mr Obot argued that the issue has lingered for eight years and requires closure. He said reconciliation aligns with the governor’s statement that leadership must “reconcile and bring everybody together,” which he described as the core expectation of the affected teachers.
He explained that the teachers were duly appointed in 2015, later invalidated through a radio announcement, and have since travelled through lengthy court processes. He said many still hope for government-led peace, fairness and reintegration.
He insisted that resolving the matter would strengthen the education sector, promote justice and deepen unity. He noted that the teachers “hold no bitterness” and only seek closure and restoration of their careers.
Another public reaction came from a youth leader, Abundant Praises, who commended the governor’s achievements but drew attention to security and infrastructural needs in Atiamkpat Community of Uyo. The area, he said, has suffered four years of blackout due to a failed transformer.
He explained that over 200 households depend on the faulty transformer and that previous attempts to repair it provided only temporary relief. He said the blackout affects water supply, refrigeration, laundry services and night-time security.
He emphasised that the community hosts the Ibom Science Park and lies on an important road corridor, making electricity restoration critical to safety and economic activity in the area.
Situational ethics became central to public discourse following the governor’s sermon, with many residents linking reconciliation to development outcomes, social stability and fairness in policy decisions.
Analysts note that Governor Eno’s dual activities on Sunday—receiving a national honour and delivering a message on forgiveness—reinforced his administration’s emphasis on people-centred governance and community relationships.
The governor affirmed that he would continue to pursue policies that promote harmony, transparency and inclusive progress. He urged citizens to remain united and to support government efforts towards sustainable development under the ARISE Agenda.
He said the award from the Presidency serves as a reminder that impactful governance must remain rooted in service, humanity and the empowerment of local communities across Akwa Ibom.