Umo Eno: Celebrating A Leader Who Keeps His Word

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Umo Eno: Celebrating A Leader Who Keeps His Word

By Hilary Owowo
We came to serve our people, with passion, fairness, and with the pledge to leave the State better than we met it. This we are dedicated to achieving under peaceful, inclusive and ethical atmosphere,” – Gov. Umo Eno
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State gave hints for flag-off of the Senior Citizens Centre to be built by his administration just a day earlier, he was speaking as a keynote speaker during the Rotary International District 9142 Mid-Year Assembly held on Friday, January 24, 2025, in Uyo. Barely 24 hours later, the Governor on Saturday, January 25, 2025, performed the Foundation-laying exercise for the Centre.
This is the first time since the State’s creation 37years ago that senior citizens in the State would be given personalized attention that focuses strictly on their peculiar needs by a Governor of the State.
According to the Governor, the Senior Citizens Centre is one of the facilities that would be located along the medical corridor between the Ibom Specialist Hospital in Uyo and Four Point by Sheraton Hotel in Ikot Ekpene, with less than 20 minutes drive between the facilities. As a signal to the feasibility of the Centre, he also promised commencement of work on the fencing of the entire site of facilities that will be along the medical corridor and the construction of complimentary access roads. The centre is located in Itak, Ikono Local Government Area.
With the benefit of hindsight, Governor Eno attributed the vision for the Senior Citizens Centre to his late wife, Pastor Patience Umo Eno, referencing the project as her “brainchild”. His late wife, he said, was very concerned about the elderly and had desired to have a place where they can access some personalized services. As a matter of fact, through the Golden Initiative For All (GIFA), the pet project of the departed First Lady, lives and communities have been impacted. The Governor further disclosed that his late wife had worked with Dr. Itawan James, to develop a design for the Senior Citizens Center, and therefore, appointed Dr. Itawan as the Delivery Advisor for the project to ensure due compliance. Dr. Itawan James is a US-trained nurse and philanthropist. She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree (Houris Causa) by the University of Uyo during the combined 29th and 30th Convocation in October 2024.
Whatever the history of the laudable idea, Governor Umo Eno’s compassion towards senior citizens and the elderly in the State has never been in doubt. He is not the least bothered by the fact that the idea of the Senior Citizens Centre was envisioned by his late wife. All that concerns the Governor is the workability of the initiative, which means translating that lofty dream into reality and, in that way, perpetuating the humanistic disposition of his late partner. It also captures the Governor’s unwavering spirit of inclusion, emancipation, and integration in consonance with Arise Agenda.
A Senior Citizens Centre is a community center for older adults, especially senior citizens, in which they can gather for social, educational, and other activities. Governor Eno therefore is adopting in Akwa Ibom models that are working in top class countries of the world. The National Senior Citizens Act, 2018 was passed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, aimed at catering for the needs of the senior citizens. The act was signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari and canvased the establishment of the National Senior Citizens Centre in Nigeria.
It would be recalled that on Monday, August 2 in Abuja, the centre held its maiden dialogue chaired by the then Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq in Abuja, to discuss issues bothering on senior citizens and how to leverage on their experience and knowledge for nation.
Already, under the Arise Compassionate Home Initiative, brainchild of the Governor, house are being built by the State government for indigent or underprivileged members of the society, including the elderly, widows, orphans, etc.
Speaking in December 2024 in Ikot Nkan at the inauguration of one of such houses, Gov Eno promised to build 400 Compassionate Homes in the course of time. Adding these to the Senior Citizens Home further proves the governor as a truly compassionate leader who is determined to make better for all. In addition, the Governor said government was working towards making the Specialist Hospital a stand- alone hospital, and a quaternary hospital to truly reflect the yearnings and aspirations of its visioners. A medical corridor will then be opened for people to access within the shortest possible time especially in times of health crisis.
Thanking the Governor, the member representing Ikono and Ini Federal Constituency, Hon. Emmanuel Ukpong Udo, appreciated the Governor for his impactful development footprints in Ikono and Ibiono Ibom. Also on hand to thank the Governor were the member representing Ikono State Constituency, Hon. Asuquo Nana, Chairmen of Ikono and Ibiono Ibom Local Government Areas, Hon. Oto-Obong Essien and Hon. Asuakak Umoh, respectively.
Mkpisong Ememobong Essien, and Barr Emmanuel Archibong of the Akwa Ibom Elders Citizens Assembly, as well as the Paramount Ruler of Ibiono, HRM Okuku (Dr.) Ime Udousoro Inyang, also appreciated the Governor for keeping to his campaign promises.
The Governor therefore used the occasion of the flagging off of the Senior Citizens Centre to caution those fanning embers of tribalism to desist forthwith.
To the Governor, this writer joins other well meaning Akwa Ibom people to say: Thank you for keeping your word!
Hilary Sunday Owowo writes from Uboro-Isong-Inyang, in Udunguko Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

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