2.9km URUEOFFONG-UTUKU-IBOTONG ROAD: Ex-Dep. Governor's Wife, Atim Okpoyo Commends Gov. Umo Eno

•••Makes Case For Eyobiasang, Other Roads in Urueoffong/Oruko

    

The wife of the former Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Her Excellency, Chief (Mrs.) Atim Etim Okpoyo, has commended Governor Umo Eno for inaugurating the new 2.9km Urueoffong-Utuku-Ibotong Road, describing it as a positive step toward enhancing infrastructure within Urue Offong/Oruko.

It will be recalled that Chief (Mrs.) Atim Okpoyo notably represented Akwa Ibom as a delegate at the 2014 National Conference.

Speaking to a large gathering of Akwa Ibom State Government officials, stakeholders, royal fathers of Oro Nation, political groups, youth, and women who witnessed the inauguration ceremony on Monday, Mrs. Atim Etim Okpoyo emphasized the Governor’s commitment to rural development in line with the ARISE Agenda.

The Septuagenarian noted that the newly completed road, which connects various communities, is expected to stimulate economic growth by facilitating the movement of farmers, traders, and residents.

The former Deputy Governor's wife, who apparently referenced Luke 16:10, which reminds us that showing gratitude for small blessings attracts abundant ones, appealed to the Governor to consider the Eyobiasang Road project, which leads to the beach. She described it as vital to the local economy, serving as a major economic hub for Urue Offong/Oruko, just like the Ibom Deep Seaport.

Addressing the people, Governor Umo Eno announced that better days await the people of Urue Offong/Oruko Local Government Area, promising that the new 2.9km Urueoffong-Utuku-Ibotong Road is only a gateway to more road projects in the area.

Pastor Eno, represented by his deputy, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, said the road is the first constructed for the people of Urue Offong/Oruko by the state government, promising it will not be the last, as this administration plans to construct more roads in the Local Government Area.

According to him: “For instance, the road which connects Oruko Junction with Eyobiasang Beach, along with other important roads in this Local Government Area, is in the government’s plan.

“So far, the Model Health Centre in Eyulor is nearing completion, while the construction of a model school allocated to this Local Government Area will commence soon.

“We had earlier handed over a Compassionate Home to a beneficiary in Eyo-Eyekip, and another will be handed over today.”

Governor Eno, however, reassured the people of the administration's commitment to rural transformation, as encapsulated in his ARISE Agenda, and appealed for continued support.

Count Oku Ibom Ibibio Out Of Alleged Dispute In Midim Clan - TRC voices out

 

The attention of Oku Ibom Ibibio and President General of the Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, His Eminence, Ntenyin (Dr.) Solomon Daniel Etuk, CFR, has been drawn to a mischievous news reports alleging his involvement in a leadership tussle in Midim Clan in Abak Local Government Area.  

A press release by the State TRC, said "The report published by the online news outlet, Newsieevents.com on Monday, October 21, 2024, went further to claim that the Akwa Ibom revered premier monarch has waded into the said dispute in Midim Clan. This is nothing but a figment of the writer's imagination. 

The statement added, "The poorly written news reports went on to fabricate utter falsehood by insinuating that the Premier Monarch “has appealed to Governor Umo Eno to revoke the certificate of the Midim clan head in Abak LGA, which was mistakenly bestowed on Chief Paul Ebong.” 

"Again, the news medium erroneously claimed that Ntenyin Etuk “insists that the rightful heir to the clan council of Midim Clan in Abak LGA is Chief Sylvester Ibanga, who was unanimously selected by the community chiefs.”

"We wish to emphatically state that such assumption by the mischief makers, alleging the involvement of the President General of the State’s TRC in the said contention in Midim Clan is entirely misleading, untrue and fallacious since no such matter has ever been brought before him for mediation at all. 

"To this end, Ntenyin Etuk has called on the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the general public to disregard such spurious news report on Midim Clan as it is concocted to satisfy the whims and caprices of its sponsors. 

"For the sake of clarity, the news medium also erred by addressing the Premier Monarch incorrectly as “Chief Ntenyin Solomon Etuk” in their said report, which shows complete disregard or naivety about the person it was even referring to altogether. 

"Accordingly, the office of the President General of Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers wishes to make it clear that there are extant laws covering all aspects of the traditional institution in the state in which offices, such as that of a clan head are included.  Therefore, ascension to any office is subject to the law and where necessary, the convention as adopted by communities concerned. 

"Therefore, trying to rope in the President General of Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers in a matter he knows nothing about amounts to disrespect and we wish to warn that such callous acts will not be tolerated any longer, no matter who is involved.

"We therefore appeal to the media and members of the public to always seek appropriate clarification on any chieftaincy matter of interest firstly from the Paramount Ruler whose local government area is involved and secondly, the Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers to avoid making baseless assumption or publishing libelous contents."

Third Agribusiness Round-Table: Banks to Unveil Crucial Financing Solutions for Growth – Dr. Usen

Dr. Howard Usen

As preparations heighten for the Third Agribusiness Round-Table in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, participants are assured of valuable insights into financing options for agribusinesses, with financial institutions set to provide vital guidance and solutions.

Speaking at a press conference in Uyo, the South-South Coordinator of the Nigeria Agribusiness and Agro-Industry Development Initiative (NAADI), Howard Usen, said the international conference, holding from Sunday, October 27 to Tuesday, October 29 at the Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort, promises to be a game-changer for stakeholders in the sector.

Usen, who is also the Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, informed that the roundtable with the theme, 'Unlocking Agribusiness Opportunities for Economic Sustainability,' is organized by the Nigeria Agribusiness and Agro-Industry Development Initiative (NAADI), the Federation of Agricultural Commodity Association of Nigeria, and the Federal Ministries of Industry, Trade, Investment, and Agriculture.

While emphasizing the vital role banks and financial institutions will play during the conference, the agribusiness expert noted that professionals from these institutions would be available to offer invaluable suggestions and guidelines on how agribusinesses can access financing, paving the way for sustained growth and export opportunities.

His words: "Financing has been a major challenge for many in the agribusiness sector, but this round-table will address that concern. Banks and financial institutions will provide participants with insights on how to access credit, structure their businesses for success, and present commodities for exports that can earn foreign exchange."

The round-table is set to feature key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, including ministers from the Ministries of Water Resources, Trade and Investment, and Niger Delta Affairs. It will serve as a platform for discussions on unlocking agribusiness opportunities, with a focus on sustainability, job creation, and non-oil exports.

According to Usen, "Agribusiness has the potential to generate thousands of jobs along its value chain, but for that potential to be realized, there must be a sustainable system in place, driven by proper financing and strategic partnerships."

Participants will also have the opportunity to network, explore various agricultural exhibitions, and gain access to practical solutions for the agribusiness sector's challenges. Usen hinted that the conference will offer hope to over 500 delegates and attendees, particularly with regard to securing funding and technical expertise needed to propel their businesses to new heights.

Meanwhile, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, Ph.D., will serve as the Chief Host, with the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, as Special Guest, while six South-South Governors and other selected Governors from across the country are expected to attend. The keynote address will be delivered by the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Aneti.

Other distinguished guests include the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, the Honourable Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Joseph Utsev, and the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Hon. Abubakar Momoh, among others.

Oku Ibom Ibibio Admonishes Families Against Keeping Corpses For Too Long

 

Oku Ibom Ibibio and President General of Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, His Eminence, Ntenyin (Dr.) Solomon Daniel Etuk, JP, CFR, has advised bereaved families against prolonged embalmment of corpses due to financial constraints to hold burials.

Ntenyin Etuk, who spoke in an interview in Uyo at the weekend, expressed concern over the growing trend of delaying burials, particularly in rural areas, which has raised serious detrimental issues.  

According to the premier monarch, keeping corpses for extended periods in government or private mortuaries often incurs substantial costs, leading some families to abandon their loved ones in mortuaries altogether.

He noted that more disturbing is a situation where some deceased families resort to preserving bodies at home or in medically uncertified mortuaries with inadequate embalming processes, thereby posing significant health risks to people within such vicinity or the community as a whole.  

“We have reports of dead bodies sometimes being kept by their families at home for up to three years or more, where the corpses decompose to the point of resembling dried wood. This is despicable. We have to accord due respect to the dead by conducting burials as soon as possible,” he emphasised. 

Ntenyin Etuk cautioned against burdening families with extravagant burial ceremonies that exceed their financial means, urging them not to sell off family assets to fund costly funerals which could lead to further economic hardship on them. 

He pointed out that while some churches set timelines within which burials should be conducted, others give the families the right to choose when they are ready, but advised that delays should be minimised, especially when there are insufficient resources to sustain prolonged funerals.  

The Ibibio patriarch called on the leadership at the family and village levels to assist in collaborating with bereaved families, especially those facing financial challenges,  to ensure dignified but modest burial arrangements.

He condemned the unwholesome practice where excessive demands are imposed by some families before allowing a deceased to be buried in their communities, and also frowned at the uncharitable demands over female corpses by her family of origin for the children and husband to pay, something akin to seeking a "pound of flesh" before her burial is allowed.

Furthermore, Ntenyin Etuk encouraged churches to take an active interest in the welfare of their members, even after they pass away, by assisting bereaved families in organising timely funerals. He also praised churches that are already extending such support to their congregants.

IDOFED Group CEO Pays Tribute to Late First Lady, Commends Gov. Eno for Helen Eno-Obareki's Appointment

 

   

As messages of condolences continue to pour in for the Akwa Ibom First Family over the passing of the First lady; Pastor Patience Umo Eno, CEO of IDOFED Group, Pastor Idongesit James Ekanem, has added his voice to the tributes.

In a condolence message addressed to Governor Umo Eno, Pastor Ekanem commended the State Chief Executive for appointing their daughter, Mrs. Helen Eno-Obareki, as Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, describing the decision as thoughtful and significant. 

“The appointment not only honours Her Excellency’s memory but also ensures that her vision of service and compassion will continue to flourish under the capable leadership of her daughter,” he said.

Ekanem praised the late First Lady for her unwavering commitment to uplifting the vulnerable through her Golden Initiative For All (GIFA), which he noted has touched countless lives. He expressed confidence that Mrs. Obareki would continue her mother’s work with excellence.

“The decision by Governor Umo Eno to entrust their daughter with sustaining her mother’s impactful programmes is commendable and will help keep her legacy alive,” he added.

Pastor Ekanem extended deep sympathies to Governor Eno and his family, even as he offered prayers for strength during this period of grief. 

IDOFED Group Boss emphasized that the late First Lady would be remembered for her life of love and selfless service, expressing confidence that her legacy would continue to inspire many across the state.