ETINAN Thrives: Governor Umo Eno, an Enlightened People and a Leadership That Inspires

ETINAN Thrives: Governor Umo Eno, an Enlightened People and a Leadership That Inspires

N.T.A.EFO

Etinan, another legacy Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State, prides itself as the home of some of the most enlightened people in the state.

Why would they? And why wouldn’t they? Both answers lie in the fact that the area had a very early exposure to western education and all that goes with it like enlightenment, knowledge and wisdom. Etinan Institute, founded by early missionaries, remains a flag ship of early education in Akwa Ibom State. And possibly, also, because the President of the Ibibio Union when it first sent its ‘Merchants of Light’ to study overseas was an Etinan man, the late Obong Sampson Etuk, in whose honour the Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio now has an annual lecture.

Like most parts of Akwa Ibom State, Etinan’s economy is driven by agriculture, commerce and craft.

Governor Umo Eno in Etinan

One of the very first model primary schools in the state was commissioned in Ikot Isong, Etinan by Governor Umo Eno, where he stated that foundational learning is critical to education as a pillar of the ARISE Agenda, his government’s development blueprint.

The school, equipped with a range of modern facilities, including an ICT laboratory, fully furnished classrooms, solar-powered electricity, a well-equipped sick bay, an assembly hall, a standard library, and residential quarters for staff, also features Early Child Care Development Classes (ECCDC), a playground, and a security post designed to monitor and regulate the movement of pupils in and out of the school premises.

A model health centre, a part of the one per Local Government Area project, now in its second phase, is under construction in Etinan.

The same Ikot Isong is home to Usen Jones, a physically challenged person who Governor Eno gave a wheelchair to during an Arise free food distribution exercise in the area. The programme, in its third phase, has seen many vulnerable Etinan people benefit from free staple food.

Mrs Affiong Sunday David of Ikot Akpabio is one of 5 recipients of Governor Eno’s compassionate homes in Etinan, in fulfillment of the administration’s resolve to touch the lives of citizens, especially those who are poor.

Governor Eno has also built roads across Etinan. One of the roads, the 8.6km Ikot Ekan -Abak Road, which links Etinan with Uyo and Abak, is under construction.

Speaking at a brief flag off ceremony which took place at Ikot Ekan in Etinan, Governor Eno said government has mobilized for the construction of 20 economically viable roads across the State, adding that it remains committed to development projects that will fulfill the ARISE Agenda.

The governor restated his commitment to ensuring that Akwa Ibom has the best road network in Nigeria, to allow people live and work in any part of the State.

He reassured that his administration is determined to reach every part of the state with live – touching development projects and sued for cooperation of the citizenry by creating an atmosphere of peace, stressing that no price should be seen as too much for peace.

The State Commissioner for Works, Prof Eno Ibanga, said the Ediene Abak-Ikot Ekan road which crosses Uyo at Ikot Nsung is also designed to have drains through the 8.6Km length of the road, with an outfall drain at the lowest point of the road to ensure quick evacuation of water, adding that the road upon completion will enhance a network of the Abak-Uyo-Etinan axis and allow for ease of security and other services.

Another major road, the 14.28km Ikot Ufang -Ikot Umiang -Mbioto -Efa road, with a 30m span bridge, is a testament of the Governor’s commitment to rural development.

There is also a 2km access road to the State College of Health Technology being constructed.

Governor Eno has also rehabilitated the moribund Peacock Paint at Etinan, converting a monumental waste to wealth, and rebranding it as Ibom Paint.

A business man himself, Governor Eno, while inaugurating the paint factory, said the paint company was a legacy that must be sustained.

Pastor Imoabasi Jacob, managing director of the state Investment Corporation which superintendent the take over and revamping of the factory, said the entire production lines was salvaged, and new production lines with modern day manufacturing technology were installed. Today, Ibom paint is back to the market, and several workers, including Etinan people, have been employed.

Etinan people have also been a beneficiary of Governor Eno’s appointments, student bursary, salaries, pensions , gratuities and business support grants.

During the Etinan/Nsit Ibom/Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency Town Square meeting, Etinan people were among the 844 empowered with farming, trading and equipment support grants worth over N361million. Two indigenes received N5m and three others cars and mini buses to aid their micro, small and medium enterprises.

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