Unruffled by the allegations and barrage of litigations which marked the first six months of his tenure as the governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2023, Governor Umo Eno has remained resolute in implementing his blueprint christened the “ARISE Agenda.”
To show his audacious determination to transform Akwa Ibom and silence his detractors, the governor, through his “ARISE” agenda—which means Agricultural Revolution, Rural Development, Infrastructural Maintenance and Advancement, Security Management, and Educational Advancement—has left no stone unturned in ensuring that these focal sectors are positively impacted.
To set the ball rolling, Eno, during his inaugural ceremony in May 2023, expressed his resolve to invest heavily in agriculture and implement reformed policies and programs that would cause a revolution in that sector.
His actions in the agricultural sector for over 19 months in office underscore Thomas Jefferson’s assertion that “Agriculture is our wisest pursuit because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness.”
This could be the reason the governor described agriculture as the “new black gold” and promised to get Akwa Ibom people fully involved, raising it from the subsistence level to a huge industry that would position the state to feed its people and become a net exporter of food—a promise he has steadfastly fulfilled!
The prioritization of agriculture as the first leg of the “ARISE” agenda is not happenstance but an indication of the importance and value the governor places on it in driving his economic policies.
In August 2023, less than three months into his administration, Eno took the bold step of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an internationally renowned agricultural firm, Songhai Farms, to bring in its expertise in the agricultural development of the state and youth employment.
The governor explained that the Benin Republic-based agricultural firm would initiate technologically driven food production and establish model farms in the state to achieve food security and improve the living standards of its people.
To prove that he was walking the talk, the governor set aside a 50,000-hectare farming settlement for the Ibom Model Farm, which serves as a training ground for a new generation of farmers and a potential tourist attraction.
He said the model farm, when completed, would have various sections such as crops, animal husbandry, aquaculture, and agro-processing facilities to extend the value chain, quality, and profitability of its outputs.
Before establishing the model farm, Governor Eno proactively sent 31 people for training outside the state, with another 31 youths currently undergoing training in various agricultural enterprises to ensure desired results.
This is to say that Akwa Ibom State’s shift towards innovative agriculture signals a new era of prosperity, job creation, and sustainability.
Furthermore, Eno empowered farmers across the state’s three senatorial districts with 12,000 bags of fertilizer, improved seedlings, and other farm inputs to boost production during the 2024 second planting season.
He said this gesture demonstrates his administration’s commitment to elevating agriculture to a level where young people, including students, view farming as a viable business.
To ensure civil servants were not left out in this revolution, the governor declared the first and third Fridays of every month as work-free days to enable them to engage in farming activities effectively.
He explained that with Akwa Ibom’s flourishing vegetation, there is no excuse for anyone not to plant at least what they consume.
Drawing from his hospitality background, Governor Eno understands the importance of food security. He inaugurated a bulk purchase agency and launched the “ARISE Food Security” initiative, managed by the agency, to distribute staple food items to vulnerable people at no cost.
He ensured direct delivery of food items to beneficiaries’ doorsteps through “food trucks” stationed in each local government area.
Notably, Eno adopted a food voucher model before its recommendation by the IMF/World Bank during the 2024 Annual Meeting as an alternative to cash transfers for addressing food insecurity.
Within eight months of this initiative’s launch, 474,000 households—324,000 in Phase 1 and 155,000 in Phase 2—have benefited or are scheduled to benefit from free food vouchers and distribution across the state’s 31 local government areas. By December 2024, Akwa Ibom could meet the national benchmark as a sub-national entity.
The agricultural revolution has also positively impacted rural development, empowering rural farmers and increasing agricultural output.
In infrastructural maintenance and advancement, the governor has rehabilitated and constructed nearly all collapsed internal roads in Uyo metropolis and its suburbs, including the infamous Uyo Village Road, particularly during the festive season.
On security, the governor prioritized peace and safety, establishing the Ministry of Internal Security, led by retired Army General Koko Essien, and inaugurating the state-owned security outfit Ibom Watch. This outfit ensures peace, protects government infrastructure, and performs general community policing.
The governor has supported all security agencies and proscribed notorious cult groups in the state.
In educational advancement, Eno has built model primary schools, offered free tuition and WAEC fees for senior secondary students, and provided free school bags, uniforms, sandals, and exercise books for primary school pupils, endearing him to the youth.
He has also partnered with a UK-based institution to sponsor Akwa Ibom students studying abroad.
From these initiatives, it is clear that Governor Eno remains focused on achieving his governance blueprint, with the potential to accomplish even more before the end of his tenure.
