By Emmanuel Uffot
As part of the activities to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the creation of Akwa Ibom State on September 23, which kick-started on Monday September 12, the Governor on Tuesday September 13 inaugurated the remodeled and re-equipped General Hospital at Ikot Abasi LGA. Reaffirming his commitment to his administration’s Completion Agenda, Governor Emmanuel said the Ikot Abasi General Hospital project, being in line with his promise to provide atleast one referral medical facility in each of the ten federal constituencies of the state, will cater for the healthcare needs of the people of Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin and Eastern Obolo LGAs. “When I came in, I made a promise that each federal constituency will have a referral General Hospital such that if a case is referred from a Cottage hospital or a primary healthcare facility, in less than 30 minutes, they should be able to access the best facility. Today we have done and commissioned 11, and we have three more running. The last one I will commission first quarter of next year is in Ukanafun and that will give us fifteen”.
He stressed that Ikot Abasi was very strategic for the state and Nigeria at large, being home for NNS Jubilee Naval Base, the Federal University of Technology recently approved for the state, the Petrochemical, Ammonia fertilizer plant, Liquified Natural Gas plant, the coconut refinery, the 600 Mega Watts Ibom Power Plant and the soon to be revamped Aluminum Smelter Company.
He stressed that Ikot Abasi was very strategic for the state and Nigeria at large, being home for NNS Jubilee Naval Base, the Federal University of Technology recently approved for the state, the Petrochemical, Ammonia fertilizer plant, Liquified Natural Gas plant, the coconut refinery, the 600 Mega Watts Ibom Power Plant and the soon to be revamped Aluminum Smelter Company.
The Governor disclosed that the state would soon take delivery of 13 of the 26 container-load of medical equipment acquired by his government and assured the Nigerian Mediacal Association in the State of the importance his administration places on healthcare and training of medical personnel adding that work is is ongoing to bring to fifteen the number of such secondary healthcare facilities in the state.
“The new chairman of NMA asked me about training. I stand to be corrected, there is no state government that has given more preference to Medicare generally like we have done here. Every single month, we are training in one way or the other. Even the technicians, we are training. The people that are coming with trainers that will also train our technicians that will handle those equipment”
Highlight of the event included the flag-off of the 7th free medical service programme sponsored by an indigenous construction firm, Hensek Group in partnership with the Nigerian Medical Association. NMA
Giving an overview of the project, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Augustine Umoh said the hospital which was built in 1904, having passed through several dispensations was left in a deplorable state and appreciated Governor Emmanuel for remolding and re-equipping the General Hospital and the Hensek Group for constructing and donating a fully equipped laboratory to compliment the state government’s effort.
Similarly, member Representing Ikot Abasi State Constituency in the State House of Assembly Rt Hon. Uduak Odudoh, in his goodwill message re-echoed the appreciation of the people of Ikot Abasi to Governor Emmanuel for giving the General Hospital a face-lift, pledging their loyalty to the governor’s completion agenda.
Dr Emem Abraham, Chairman Akwa Ibom Chapter of NMA appreciated the gesture of the Governor for making health top most priority to address the challenges of Ikot Abasi people and appealed for some personnel to be trained for efficient service delivery.
Also, speaking at the occasion, Dr. David Umoh, Chairman Hospitals Management Board thanked the governor for remodeling and re-equipping the hospital in Ikot Abasi and 13 other hospitals in the state, so as to give the people access to quality healthcare, including training of medical personnel in the state.
Also Engineer Uwem Okoko, CEO of Hensek Integrated Services, stated that about 1500 surgeriess have been performed successfully in the hospital without recording fatalities through his medical outreach intervention scheme.
In furtherance of his commissioning trend to herald the state creation anniversary which happens to be the last to be celebrated by his administration, Governor Emmanuel on Wednesday September 14, inaugurated multiple internal roads in Atan Offot Community and Shelter Afrique Estate all in Uyo. Among the roads that he commissioned in both areas were, the Secretariat Drive, Okon Eyo Road, Udokang Spur 1 and 11, Joshua Eyo Road with 1.2km outfall.
While inaugurating the road projects, the Governor said his administration’s intention is to continue to put smiles on the faces of people through such live touching projects. According to him, a lot of people have told him that they could not believe that his government could achieved all these projects in seven years especially in an economy that experienced two recession and global Covid-19 pandemic that stifled the global economy, “ even with all that we did not give excuses, but continued to work for the people. This particular commissioning, marks the one hundred and thirteenth internal roads done by my administration across the state across the state”.
Giving an over view of the project, the Commissioner of Works and Fire Service, Prof Eno Ibanga said the roads were constructed to specifications with 1.2km drainage linking the entire area to the Ibrahim Babangida Avenue flood control channel.
At the Shelter Afrique axis, he also commissioned a number of newly constructed roads which included Rev Akwatang Road, Rev Amaowo Avenue, Obong Okon Essien Road, Mbiabong Ikot Essien Road and Prof Stella Idiong Arts Gallery Street.
The Village Heads of Atan Offot, Ette Idung Idongesit Alfred Ekong and that of Mbiabong Ikot Essien, Ette Idung Hosea Okon all expressed their appreciation of their respective communities to the government kind gesture.
Among the dignitaries from Uyo LGA that graced the occasion to identify with the governor were the Chairman of Uyo Capital City Development Authority and former Commissioner Prince Enobong Uwah, Member Representing Uyo State Constituency in the State House of Assembly Rt. Hon Aniekan Eka and Chairman Uyo Local Government Area Dr Uwemedimo Udo.
According to an elaborate programme of activities lined of for the state creation anniversary, Ibom Ignite Conference 2022 was held at Ibom Hall on Wednesday September 14 before the road commissioning.
Activities slated for Thursday September 15- included a courtesy call on Governor Udom by wives of Nigerian governors at the office of the governor by 10am and Commissioning of the Centre for victims of gender based violence and skills acquisition in Uyo.
Friday September 16 will have Anniversary Lecture Topic:Â Akwa Ibom: The Journey to World Class at Ibom Icon Hotels and Golf Resort at 12pm,
Saturday September 17, there would be Ibom Cultural Day and Arts Exhibition at Unity Park, Udo Udoma Avenue at 10am and Ibom Cultural Nite at Ibom Hall by 7pm.
On Monday September 19, there would be a facility tour of the following projects site namely- Coconut Refinery, Jubillee Syringe, Kings Flour Mills, Eket Stadium, Nto Edino road/bridge, Ituk Mbang Isolation, MRO/ Victor Attah International Airport, IBB Flood control, Dakkada Smart 21-Storey Building, Worship Centre, Ring Road 111, Etinan- Ndon Eyo road, Ufani PKO Factory Phase 2 across the state.
Tuesday September 20 will witnessed the unveiling of the Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (Rtd) Statue at Idongesit Nkanga State Secretariat by 11am and commissioning of the World Bank assisted 1BB Flood control project at IBB Road, Uyo.
According to the outlined programme, on Wednesday September 21st, a Photography contest and Exhibition and 7th anniversary celebration of FEYREP will take place at Ibom Hall, Uyo by 10am and 11am respectively.
Thursday September 22- Grand Finale of the Essay & Quiz competition competitions among secondary schools in the state in Uyo by 10am and commissioning of Idongesit Nkanga Avenue (Ring Road 111) in Uyo by 6pm.
Friday September 23 (Anniversary Day) – There will be Anniversary Match Past by all LGAs, Groups, Socio-Cultural Groups, Organisations, Professional Bodies, Police, Army, Navy at the NEST of Champions International Stadium, Uyo by 11am.
Activities slated for Saturday September 24 will be, the Swearing- In of New Paramount Ruler at Akwa Ibom State Council of Chiefs, Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo by 10am. Other activities slated for the day include State Banquet, Ibom Productivity Order of Merit Award, Prize Giving for Essay/ Quiz winners, Recognition of the SS3 Student with Parallel A1 in WAEC & 343 in JAMB Master Inyang, Vanour Mbre.
Recognition of Master Uwakmfon Unwana Jacob, winner of the African Gold Medal and other awards in Mathematics.
Recognition of Mr. Ephraim Jacob Inyangudo ( Outstanding Teacher’s Excellence Award- FullBright Award in US and Inoyo Toro Foundation Awards) all to take place at the 5-Star Ibom Icon Hotels & Golf Resort by 7pm.
Then on Sunday September 25, a Special Thanksgiving Service with the Theme: The Author and Finisher (Heb. 12:2) will be held at Ibom Halls Grounds by 10am to be followed by a Luncheon at Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo by 2pm.
Monday September 26 will witnessed another round of project commissioning with the Commissioning of the dualized 29km Etinan- Ndon Eyo Road with two bridges and spur from Mbioto- Ekpene Nten to Ikot Akpan in Etinan and Commissioning of the 2.59km Atiamkpat – Ikot Ese Ishiet Road with spur in Onna.
Tuesday September 27 – Commissioning of the 9km Secretariat Road- Uliong- Edikor – Uduetta Road with spur in Udung Uko LGA.
Wednesday September 28- Commissioning of the 13.1km Anua- IFA -Mbak Etoi- Adadia Road two Roundabouts in Uyo by 12pm.
Thursday September 29 – Commissioning of the 14km Abak Nsekhe – Ikot Akpa Nkuk – Ikot Etim – Ikot Ikara Road Phase11 (Section A) and Commissioning of the 4.9km Ibesit Okpokoro/ Ikot Ibritam Road all in Oruk Anam LGA and Launching of the IBOM 3000 Project Phase 2 in Uyo.
Friday September 30 – Commissioning of Eket Stadium Access Road, Commissioning of Eket Stadium by 3pm and Football Match between Akwa United and Katsina United at Eket Stadium by 4pm, while the Governors will address the people of the state in a programme the Governor Speaks on Sunday October 2nd  at the Office of the Governor by 5pm
The 3-week activities will climaxed on Tuesday October 4 with a  Coconut Day in Ini LGA by 11am, Commissioning of Nnung Ukim Ikono Akpa Etok – Nnung Ukim Ikot Ekpang Road with spur to Ibiaku Ntok Okpo Road in Ikono LGA by 1pm and Commissioning of the Palm Oil Processing Depot in Ukana West, Essien Udim LGA by 3pm.
Akwa Ibom State was created on September 23, 1988 alongside Katsina State by then Military President General Ibrahim Babangida.
In the 35 years of the state, no fewer than eight governors have governed the state from the milititary dispensation to the current democratic dispensation. Some of them are Brigadier Tunde Ogheha( Rtd), pioneer military governor, Brigadier Ibrahim Bako (Rtd), late Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, late Obong Akpan Isemin, Obong Victor Attah, Senator Godswill Akpabio and the incumbent Governor Udom Emmanuel.
