Gov. Eno’s weekly highlights, a King’s birthday, gains to less privileged

You and Your Governor with Pastor Solomon Essiet

“Don’t bring a cow to my house to celebrate my birthday, celebrate with the poor, vulnerable and the less privileged in our society.” Pastor Umo Bassey Eno.

It’s been a very special week. A week that the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, a man loved by all celebrated his 61st birthday. Should I say celebrated or marked his birthday, because even the celebrant was not in town on Thursday, April 24, 2025, the supposed birthday.

But, the Governor did not leave without an instruction, that for those planning to carry Cows and Elephants to his house to celebrate his birthday, there would be no one at his gate to receive it, as he had instructed everyone not to receive any gift on his behalf.

This is not the first time the Governor has acted this way. He will always choose to celebrate with the poor and downtrodden any time he has an opportunity to do so. He will often say that he comes from that stock. That is exactly what happened in 2024 when he marked his first birthday in office as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State. Other activities carried out by the Governor within the week are as follows.

Easter Broadcast by Governor Umo Eno, Sunday, April 20, 2025; Gov. Eno worshipped at All Nation Christian Ministries Int’l, Eket, Sunday, April 20, 2025; Gov. Eno attended Easter Evening of Hymns at International Worship Centre, Uyo, Monday, April 21, 2025. Declared that he had fulfilled his Ministry of Reconciliation.

Gov. Eno felicitated Lady Martina Bassey Edet on their centenary birthday, Tuesday, April 22, 2025; Governor Eno was nominated as outstanding Governor of the year by the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Wednesday, April 23, 2025; the Governor condoled with Pastor Bassey Umoh on wife’s demise, Wednesday, April 23, 2025; Gov. Eno celebrated his 61st Birthday with the less privileged and the vulnerable, Thursday, April 24, 2025.

That is the much that was captured as His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, traveled within the week, probably to spend some quiet time with his creator on his birthday and reflect on the bountiful grace of God upon his life and ministry.

Yes, the Governor deserves such a moment, as politicians can’t afford him such an opportunity should he stay back. Not that he can’t, but some politicians can be very funny. Some will still remind him of the contract even on his birthday. That is the unfortunate situation we find ourselves in, misplaced priority and its attendant effect.

Pastor Umo Bassey Eno is one of the people who is highly favoured by God, from a very humble background, he rose from an ordinary barracks boy to become the Governor of an Oil rich State, the number one Oil producing State in Nigeria; a testimony of resilience, hard work and extraordinary commitment to fulfilling his purpose on earth.

He was the son of a Policeman, a Chief Superintendent of Police, and his mother, an average petty trader. Who would have believed that their Son would become the Governor of Akwa Ibom State someday, managing the destiny of about 8 Million people, some of whose parents were former Governors, Ministers, Ambassadors, Commissioners, former this and former that! Can you see the grace of God in a man’s life?

That was why I chose to write about his humble beginning on his birthday. That very article will be featured in this week’s episode, should you miss it, you can read it, and understand the place of preparation for certain tasks ahead.

Opportunity will always come, but it will be ceased by those prepared for such tasks, nothing just happens in life, and that is the fact that many fail to take note of. Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State is a prepared man. His achievements in office in the last two years underscore the fact that he came prepared to lead the people of Akwa Ibom State to the promised land.

I am talking about a man who met over 90 Billion Naira as a backlog of Gratuities in the State. In just two years as of today, he has successfully paid 60 Billion Naira out of the much he inherited, carried out the road construction of over 750Km within just two years in office, built over 200 Arise Compassionate Homes for the less privileged across some of our political wards in the State, with a plan to complete about 400 units of Arise Compassionate Homes at the end of his first term in office. Other audacious projects of the Governor are littered everywhere in the State for all to see.

Within just two years in office, model Schools and healthcare centers sprang up from places considered too local for such advanced amenities, with State-of-the-art facilities. But for the Governor, more of such facilities are still coming in numbers to decorate the landscape of Akwa Ibom State, thereby bringing the needed change we so much desired in the scheme of things.

What I mean is that in this Golden Era Administration, a child in Obot Akara, Eastern Obolo, Udung Uko, Ika, Ukanafun, or Mbo now have an opportunity to access a model school right from his or her Local Government Area, not necessarily having to travel to the State capital in Uyo, to be admitted into such a school. Same with primary healthcare facilities.

The Governor has leveled the dichotomy between the rich and the poor in Akwa Ibom State in just two years of being at the helm of affairs as Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

So on his birthday, precisely Thursday, April 24, 2025, it was normal for Akwa Ibomites from home and in Diaspora to celebrate this Governor who has brought so much joy and happiness to the people considering his style of leadership. Just as the Governor directed, everyone towed that line, from members of the State Executive Council, Permanent Secretaries, Board Chairmen, Local Government Chairmen, College of Personal Aides to the Governor, private individuals, and notable organizations, all went out to celebrate the Governor’s 61st birthday with the vulnerable at different locations.

While some went to orphanage homes, some went to Prisons, some visited the prisons, and others went to hospitals to identify with the sick and maimed. Yet, others visited the rural communities to identify with the poor, giving them beautiful gifts to celebrate the birthday of a man largely known as “A friend of the poor and downtrodden”.

Form a humble beginning to Hilltop mansion

Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State is a King. This very special King loved by God, has been so many things on Earth, the positions God helped prepared him for a time like this. Head Boy (Victory High School, Lagos); A Sunday School Teacher (The Apostolic Church); An Interpreter of the Gospel (The Apostolic Church); An Elder in His Vineyard; An Ordained Pastor; An astute Banker (Union Bank Plc) and A responsible Manager (Norman Holdings Ltd).

A seasoned businessman (Royalty Group); An under-shepherd (All Nation Christian Ministries Int’l); Board Chairman (Hotels and Tourism Management Board); an Employer of labour (Evidently over 2000 workers in his private capacity); Executive Director (AKICORP); Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources; an astute Politician per excellence; the Governor of Akwa Ibom State; the leader of our Party (Peoples Democratic Party) Akwa Ibom State and a successful family man.

April 24, 1964 was not an ordinary day. That was the day the King was born. A man set aside for leadership, predestinated for Kingship and made to reign in life. Not all kings rule with love, not all Kings rule with empathy, not all Kings rule with the fear of God, and not all Kings rule with compassion. But this King that we all know, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, is a Compassionate and Peaceful King.

One thing I would love to mention in this piece is how exceptional Pastor Umo Bassey Eno is in matters of Leadership. Not just as a Governor, but all his life. If you must know, what he is giving out as a Governor has always been with him. He has always lived a life of service to mankind. The last thing you will not be able to give is what you don’t have. The repercussion of giving what you don’t have is grievous. So, on a special day of nativity, I choose to celebrate this special King who has distinguished himself through a lifetime of dedicated service.

Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, serves with integrity and dignity whenever duty calls. In his early days in the Apostolic Church, as a Sunday School Teacher, he offered his best and was very consistent. One of his Sunday School Students at Apostolic Church Maboju, Lagos, Mr. Israel Sunday Udoh, still talked about his experience with his noble Sunday School Teacher as a child.

Later on, as an Interpreter in The Apostolic Church, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno excelled in the act of interpreting God’s words to the people of God. As a spirit-filled interpreter, he looked forward to that role with preparation and never disappointed the Church in his capacity as an Interpreter of the Gospel of Christ. That was where he attracted the spirit of discernment.

A good Interpreter of the Gospel must be ahead of the Preacher spiritually, to be able to give the right and cohesive interpretation to the words of God spoken by the Preacher of the Gospel. This level of preparation has paid off in his office as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State. With the Wisdom and the grace of God upon his life, before you start talking to him, he knows where you are going. And he already has the right answer waiting for you.

Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, started assuming a leadership role from a tender age, as evidenced by the responsibilities highlighted above from his youthful age. If as a young man or woman, you are not serving in any leadership position right from college or even in Church, I doubt the kind of leader you will become when you grow up. There is something called potential, it must be discovered at various stages in life. What is your potential? Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, discovered his leadership potential from a very tender age. His life and achievements should be a lesson and inspiration to the young generation, that with the right focus, God can take us to any level we desire in life.

Given his ever-focused lifestyle, while working at Norman Investment Limited between 1991 to 1997, he distinguished himself as a man of excellence and towering integrity, He developed a financial roadmap and increased revenue generation in the said Company, moving the growth rate from 5% to 15% in a year. He rose through the ranks from Finance and Investment Manager to General Manager. As if it was not enough, through a dint of hard work, he rose to the position of the Group General Manager of the Holding Company (Norman Holdings Ltd).

From a humble beginning in 1997, he established Royalty Hotels and Recreation Ltd. With just five rooms, the business gradually evolved into a conglomerate of hospitality and allied services, that has become one of the leading brands in the hospitality industry both in Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria. The Royalty Group provides employment opportunities in most cases to 2,500 people across the Country. 80% which are the indigenes of Akwa Ibom State.

In 2004, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno was called into public service, and appointed as Chairman, Hotels and Tourism Management Board, by His Excellency, Arch. Obong Victor Attah, the then Governor of Akwa Ibom State. He held that position till the end of that very administration in 2007. Key among his achievements in that position was the first ever State-Wide Hotel inspection for categorization and classification. He also developed and printed the first Akwa Ibom Hotels Directory, which serves as a veritable source of information for the sector and guide to travelers and tourists visiting the State.

In September 2019, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno was appointed as the Executive Director, of Agricultural Investment in Akwa Ibom State Investment Corporation (AKICORP). He distinguished himself in the Investment Corporation through selfless service, leading to his recommendation to be appointed to the Akwa Ibom State Executive Council as Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, on January 4, 2021, by his political father, Deacon Udom Emmanuel.

The reward for good work is more work. As the Bible says, “Seest thou a man diligent in his business, he shall stand before Kings, he shall not stand before mean men”. Proverbs 22:29. His level of commitment and exceptional dedication to assigned duty, while serving as the Honourable Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, was enough to convince his political father, Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, that Pastor Umo Bassey Eno would do well as the next Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

Thus, despite the number of opposition and the trouble encountered, Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel stood his ground and anointed Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, as his worthy successor on January 30, 2022. This is what God alone can do for his faithful servant. The mantle of leadership fell on him right from that day. All the noise during the campaigns counted but a little, because God Almighty was involved in the business of choosing a King that was prepared by God alone for Akwa Ibom people at a time like this. A man of peace.

Then came the gubernatorial election on March 18, 2023. Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, destined to reign as King and Governor over the Akwa Ibom people won convincingly with a landslide number of votes. Sworn into the office peacefully on May 29, 2023. All hail the King.

On behalf of my family, I wish your Excellency a happy birthday. I pray for maximum strength to carry on.

How the First Lady designate celebrated the King’s Birthday

As part of activities to mark Governor Umo Eno’s 61st birthday, the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Akwa Ibom State, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, on Thursday, April 24, 2025, led aides and staff of her office to Mother Charles Walker Childrens’ Home in Uyo to share love with the children there.

Speaking at the Home, the First Lady Designate said the visit was arranged to celebrate the Governor’s birthday with vulnerable and less privileged members of the society.

Lady Obareki encouraged the children to be obedient and take their studies seriously as they could still become what God had designed for them to be, irrespective of their current situation.

While thanking the managers of the facility for taking good care of the children who were all looking radiant and healthy, the First Lady Designate urged the children to pray for the continued peace and prosperity of the state and for Governor Umo Eno to lead the state well.

“I want to thank you for hosting us. The little we have brought here is just a token to celebrate the Governor’s birthday with you. We hope that it will last for the coming weeks.

“I just want to also encourage you that regardless of where you are you will still fulfill that destiny that God has for you. I was very impressed when I was informed that some of the children were in school. I want to say that you should take your studies seriously and you can be anything thing that you want to be,” she said.

Responding, Sister Faustina Ita who stood in for the Manager of the Mother Charles Walker Children’s Home, Rev. Sister Matilda Inyang, expressed joy over the visit, noting that it has provided the children with necessities and given them a renewed sense of belonging.

She extended the children’s appreciation and best wishes to Governor Umo Eno, offering prayers for greater grace to enable him to fulfill his responsibilities effectively.

Accompanying the Coordinator on the visit were a member of the First Family, Mr. Eno Umo Eno, several aides to the Governor and staff from the Office of the First Lady.

Arise, that same God.

Pastor Essiet, ACIA
Writing from Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, the Raffia City.