Gov. Umo Eno: Boosting literacy through more tertiary institutions

Emmanuel Nicholas

On August 17, 2025, The Nation newspaper published a ranking of the ten Nigerian states deemed most advantaged in terms of literacy rate and education infrastructure.

The report placed Akwa Ibom State at number five, noting that it hosts a modest complement of tertiary institutions; by contrast, Imo State, ranked first, was listed with 33 tertiary institutions, while Lagos State, which came second, was credited with 66 tertiary institutions.

Different assessments of literacy in Akwa Ibom produce divergent figures: The Nation’s rating cited a literacy level of 67.8 percent, whereas the United Nations’ educational index placed Akwa Ibom fourth among Nigerian states, with an estimated literacy rate of approximately 78.9 percent.

The United Nations explicitly commended the Akwa Ibom State government for its free education policy, observing that the policy has contributed materially to the development of more literate communities across the state.

One fundamental reason literacy advances more slowly in some states is the inadequate availability of educational facilities; infrastructure scarcity constrains enrollment, limits access, and increases the likelihood of school dropout.

Admission policies and implementation of the federal character principle in Nigeria can also affect accessibility: when institutional quotas and domicile preferences skew opportunities toward indigenes of the host state, out-of-state applicants may face barriers that depress overall national educational participation.

On October 12, 2025, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, Ph.D., presiding at a State Executive Council meeting, approved the conversion of the Akwa Ibom State College of Education to the Akwa Ibom State University of Education.

The governor’s approval is intended to accelerate expansion of higher-education capacity, broaden academic offerings, and provide new pathways for students seeking careers in teaching and related professions.

Akwa Ibom’s higher-education landscape includes the University of Uyo, a major public university that serves a large student population and anchors research and professional training in the state.

Also located within the state is the Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi, which emphasizes applied sciences and technical education to meet regional and national development needs.

The University of Maritime Studies, Oron, specializes in maritime and ocean-related disciplines, responding to the state’s coastal geography and the country’s maritime economy, which has not fully taken off.

The University of Education, Afaha Esit, will concentrate on teacher preparation and pedagogical research, supporting the production of qualified educators for primary and secondary schools.

Akwa Ibom State University, situated at Ikot Akpaden, provides a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across the arts, sciences, and professional faculties.

Obong University, located in Obong Ntak, is one of the state’s private institutions, contributing to religiously affiliated and liberal arts education in the State

Ritman University, in Ikot Ekpene, offers private-sector higher-education options, with programmes designed to complement public institutions and provide alternative pathways for students.

Topfaith University, Mkpatak, and Southern Atlantic University in Uyo further diversify the state’s tertiary sector by adding capacity and programmatic options for local and regional students.

At the polytechnic level, Akwa Ibom hosts numerous institutions that focus on technical, vocational, and applied sciences training to prepare graduates for industry and entrepreneurship.

Heritage Polytechnic (Ikot Udota, Eket), Sylverline College of Technology (Eket), and Noel Polytechnic (Esit Eket) serve the southern part of the state with technical and career-focused curricula.

Uyo City Polytechnic (Uyo), Ideal Polytechnic (Nung Ukim, Ikono), and Shalom Polytechnic (Abak) provide urban and peri-urban students with practical programmes geared toward local labour markets.

Foundation Polytechnic and Foundation College of Technology (both in Ikot Ekpene), together with Canaan Polytechnic (Mkpat Enin), expand opportunities for technical certification and hands-on skills development.

Metropolitan Polytechnic, Uyo, Trinity Polytechnic, Uyo, and Edar Polytechnic (located at Km 2 Ekparakwa–Etinan Road, Mkpat Enin) serve broader student cohorts in and around Uyo and Mkpat Enin with diverse programme offerings.

The state’s public technical and specialist institutions also include the Akwa Ibom State College of Art & Science (Nung Ukim), Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic (Ikot Ekpene), Sure Foundation Polytechnic (Ukanafun), and the Federal Polytechnic, Ukana.

In the teacher-preparation niche and formal education training sector, the Federal College of Education, Ididep (Ibiono), remains a key federal institution producing cohorts of certified teachers for the state and the nation in general.

The recent upgrading of the State College of Education to a University of Education by Governor Umo Eno is intended to strengthen the continuum from teacher training colleges to a university-level institution capable of conducting research, awarding advanced degrees, and scaling teacher education.

Nursing and allied health training institutions in Akwa Ibom also contribute to human-capital development: the Akwa Ibom State College of Nursing Science operates five campuses to train nursing personnel.

Governor Umo Eno’s administration has converted all nursing schools into degree‑awarding institutions, and admissions are now conducted through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

Other nursing institutions include Maurid College of Nursing Science (Mbiaso) and the Sure Foundation School of Nursing, Ukanafun, which together augment the state’s capacity to produce healthcare workers.

Expanding the number and diversity of educational facilities has several direct advantages for literacy and the reduction of illiteracy: it increases geographic access to schooling, shortens travel times for rural learners, and raises enrollment capacity at all levels.

Just a few months ago, the President of the Senate of Nigeria announced that the Federal Government had approved the establishment of a Federal University of Agriculture to be located in Obio-Akpa, an institution intended to train and produce skilled professionals for the agricultural sub‑sector.

More institutions also create a competitive environment for quality improvement: when students and families have more choices, schools and colleges are incentivized to enhance teaching quality, curricula relevance, and student services.

Greater institutional capacity enables targeted programs for adult literacy and remedial education, which are essential for addressing historical deficits and integrating out-of-school youth and adult learners into formal learning pathways.

A broader network of educational facilities supports specialized teacher education, technical and vocational training, maritime studies, and health sciences, which aligns learning outcomes with local labor-market needs and promotes employability for graduates.

Investment in higher and technical education stimulates secondary enrollment by sending a clear signal that pathways exist beyond primary schooling, thereby encouraging families to prioritize sustained education for children.

When educational provision is expanded equitably, gender gaps in literacy tend to narrow: locally accessible institutions reduce cost and safety barriers that disproportionately affect girls and women.

Scaling educational infrastructure also yields socioeconomic spillovers: educated populations enhance civic participation, public-health outcomes, innovation, and a more skilled workforce that attracts private investment.

Governor Umo Eno’s administration’s policy on education will sustain gains in literacy by expanding facilities, coupled with supportive policies, freeing education from primary to secondary schools, granting scholarships, conditional cash transfers(Student Bursary), teacher recruitment/welfare and training, infrastructure maintenance, and inclusive admission practices.

Monitoring and evaluation systems are necessary to ensure that an increased quantity of institutions translates into improved learning outcomes rather than merely higher enrollment figures.

In conclusion, Akwa Ibom’s growing portfolio of universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and nursing schools positions the state to accelerate literacy advances and reduce illiteracy, provided expansion is matched by quality assurance, manpower equitable access, and targeted policy support.