Beyond furore over Ibom science park

By Essien Ndueso

In public policy, the true measure of development is not the size of a building but the number of lives transformed by an investment. This is a principle that appears to guide the administration of Governor Umo Eno as Akwa Ibom State continues to pursue a people-centered approach to youth empowerment and economic development.

For some critics, the conversation around technology and innovation in Akwa Ibom State remains fixated on the Ibom Science Park, a project conceptualized nearly three decades ago during the administration of Obong Victor Attah. Their argument is simple: until the Science Park is completed, every other initiative in the technology sector falls short.

However, a closer examination of present realities suggests that development is not about preserving old dreams at all costs; it is about adapting to current realities and creating solutions that meet today’s challenges.

Governor Umo Eno has chosen a different path one that prioritizes accessibility, inclusiveness, and practical impact over monumental structures.

Across Akwa Ibom State, the administration has established technology and development hubs designed to equip young people with skills relevant to the 21st-century economy.

These centres provide training in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), digital innovation, creative arts, communication, entrepreneurship, and a wide range of vocational and professional skills.

Unlike a centralized facility that primarily serves those living within urban centres, these hubs are strategically positioned to ensure that youths from all 31 local government areas have access to training opportunities.

The model is simple but highly effective.

Each training cycle accommodates approximately 100 participants. With multiple training sessions conducted throughout the year, each centre can train up to 1,000 youths annually. Replicated across the state’s local government areas, this translates into at least 31,000 young people gaining practical skills every year.

This approach democratizes access to opportunity.

A young person in Eastern Obolo, Ini, Mbo, Ika, or Oron now has a pathway to digital skills acquisition without needing to relocate to Uyo or any major urban centre. The emphasis is no longer on building a single iconic structure but on creating multiple access points where innovation and learning can thrive.

This raises an important question: what delivers greater value to the people a single technology complex serving a limited number of beneficiaries, or a decentralized system that reaches thousands of youths annually across the state?

The answer appears increasingly obvious.

The debate becomes even more significant when viewed against the current condition of the Ibom Science Park site itself. Survey indicates that the facility has suffered decades of abandonment and environmental degradation. Significant portions of the area have been threatened by erosion and ravine encroachment, while the existing structures may have to pass an integrity test.

Any attempt to revive the project would first require substantial investments in land reclamation, environmental remediation, structural assessment, and reconstruction before any meaningful technological activities could commence.
Such realities inevitably raise concerns about cost-effectiveness and return on investment.

Indeed, modern innovation ecosystems have evolved considerably since the original Science Park concept was conceived in the early 2000s. Around the world, many successful technology ecosystems now thrive through networks of innovation centres, university-based research hubs, startup incubators, and distributed digital learning platforms rather than stand-alone science monuments.

Innovation no longer depends solely on large physical infrastructure. It depends on people, skills, connectivity, and access to knowledge. The most valuable investment is often not concrete and steel but human capital.

Governor Umo Eno’s strategy appears to reflect this understanding.
Rather than pursuing projects for their symbolic value or public spectacle, the administration has consistently emphasized investments that directly impact citizens.

The state’s technology hubs represent an effort to meet young people where they are and prepare them for opportunities in the digital economy.

The administration’s investment philosophy also reflects a broader commitment to prudence and sustainability. Every major project undergoes rigorous evaluation to determine its viability, economic value, and long-term benefits to the people of Akwa Ibom State. That exactly explains the role of the Special Purpose Vehicle, Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation, (AKICORP), headed by Pastor Imo-Abasi Jacob.

This team scrutinizes, weighs, measures and filters the pros and cons of any idea or concept before making recommendations to the Governor for execution. This is in line with the belief of the State Chief Executive who has repeatedly stated that he would not be coerced into pumping public funds, into a project that may not be viable.

The objective is not to build monuments for applause but to create assets that generate measurable outcomes.
This practical approach is particularly important at a time when governments worldwide are increasingly required to justify every expenditure against competing developmental priorities.
For thousands of Akwa Ibom youths who have gained access to digital training, entrepreneurship support, and innovation programmes through the state’s development centres, the benefits are already tangible.

They are acquiring skills that can lead to employment, self-reliance, and participation in the global digital economy.

Development, after all, is not merely about preserving the past.
It is about preparing for the future.
While history will always remember the vision behind the Ibom Science Park, today’s realities demand solutions that are scalable, accessible, and responsive to the needs of the people.

There is also a practical economic question that cannot be ignored. If the Ibom Science Park remains as viable and commercially attractive as its protagonists profer, why has there been no significant scramble by investors to take advantage of the opportunity? In every thriving sector, investors compete vigorously for projects capable of generating sustainable returns and long-term value.

If the Science Park still represented a compelling business proposition in today’s technology-driven economy, one would reasonably expect strong interest from private-sector players eager to participate in its redevelopment. Yet, despite years of public advocacy for the project, there has been no visible rush from investors willing to commit resources to its revival.

Governor Umo Eno has, in fact, made it clear that the state is open to credible investors who can unlock value from the site, and has expressed a willingness to support alternative investments that may deliver greater economic benefits to Akwa Ibom State. Rather than channel their energy into abusing the Governor, the naysayers should come with at least one credible investor who is ready to accept the challenge of transforming that failed project into a viable productive technology incubation venture.

But such would be with an embargo that such an investor will not end up roofing the building for use as hostel accommodation for nearby Uniuyo or Uyo City Polytechnic Students.