By Idongesit Akpan & Mercy Ikpa
The Dr. Blessed Udo-Ekpo Foundation, a nonprofit organisation, and the Gov. Umo Eno 2027 & Beyond Advocates (G-10), a support group, have endorsed Governor Umo Eno for a second term.
Dr. Blessed Udo-Ekpo, convener of the groups, stated during a joint press conference held last week at the NUJ Press Centre in Uyo that Pastor Eno’s victory in Akwa Ibom State in the 2027 governorship election is a “done deal.”
Represented by Pastor John Archibong, Dr. Udo-Ekpo emphasised that his Foundation and other support groups are backing Governor Eno’s re-election because his administration’s “ARISE Agenda” and its programmes align with the Foundation’s humanitarian initiatives and the vision of G-10.
’PASTOR HAS BROUGHT TRANSFORMATION ACROSS AKWA IBOM STATE’
Udo-Ekpo pointed out that since assuming office, the Governor has consistently implemented transformative, people-centric, and humanitarian programs that resonate with the objectives of his Foundation.
He listed some of Pastor Eno’s initiatives, including the construction of compassionate homes for the homeless across the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State, provision of potable water in the state, and establishment of the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre and the Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Centre (Ibom-LED) to promote human capacity building through vocational training.
According to him, the administration has also ensured the construction of model schools and hospitals across all the local government areas of the state, built over 1,500 km of roads throughout the state, and guaranteed prompt payment of salaries and other entitlements to civil servants.
“Other interventions by the Pastor Umo Eno administration include the provision of agricultural equipment leasing companies to support mechanised farming, the establishment of an elders’ home to provide quality support for our elderly citizens, and the empowerment of citizens through minibuses, tricycles, and grants for business start-ups.
“The governor has also ensured the payment of additional financial benefits for youth corps members, which amount to millions of Naira, provided foodstuffs to vulnerable citizens across the 31 LGAs, reclaimed previously gully sites and transformed them into a world-class hospitality center known as Ibom ARISE Resort, and constructed 1,042 housing units for the state’s civil servants.
“Others are construction of a medical city to help reverse medical tourism in Nigeria, revamping of the Ibom Tropicana complex which houses the Ibom International Convention Centre, Ibom International Hotel, and Ibom playgrounds, granting of approval for the release of N51 billion for human capacity building, support for non indigenous people, and provision of N500,000 support for each of the 1,776 registered private schools in the state”.
Udo-Ekpo urged other groups in the state, as well as the people of Akwa Ibom and residents, to support the Governor’s re-election bid in light of his excellent performance.
He noted that his Foundation, founded in 2005, was established to promote the well-being of underprivileged individuals and communities.
He mentioned that so far, the Foundation has awarded scholarships to students, provided research grants to students in tertiary institutions, instituted academic excellence awards for the best graduating students in tertiary institutions, and donated minibuses and tricycles to some indigent individuals in the transportation sector.
