Governor Umo Eno is placing agriculture at the centre of his development strategy as a pathway to food security, economic diversification, and shared prosperity in Akwa Ibom State, according to a performance review of his administration after two and a half years in office.
The focus on agriculture was highlighted by the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, who described the governor’s leadership as focused and phenomenal while speaking as a studio guest on “ARISE Akwa Ibom” on Comfort 95.1 FM on Friday, January 16, 2026.
Umanah said the governor’s agricultural programme is deliberate and strategic, designed to boost food production while creating sustainable economic opportunities. He cited the establishment of Ibom Model Farms, which are patterned after technology-driven agricultural models, as well as the Tree Crop Revolution initiative aimed at revitalising oil palm production across the state. According to him, the programme goes beyond cultivation by empowering farmers with modern processing tools to improve value addition and incomes.
Agriculture, he said, remains central to the administration’s vision for shared prosperity. Initiatives such as the Home Garden Scheme are encouraging households to grow basic food crops, while the Tree Crop Revolution, alongside the return of the Akwa Ibom Agricultural Development Programme (AKADEP) to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, forms a strong institutional backbone for agricultural growth and coordination.
Beyond farming, Umanah noted that the governor is driving rural development by opening up communities through the construction of rural roads, model schools, and health facilities across all 31 local government areas. He added that economic empowerment is being extended to business-minded citizens through SME funding initiatives rolled out during the governor’s Town Square Meetings across the state’s federal constituencies.
On security, the commissioner said sustained collaboration between the state government and security agencies has helped Akwa Ibom maintain peace and stability. He pointed to the hitch-free 32 Days of Christmas Unplugged celebrations as evidence of a safe environment for residents and visitors.
In the education sector, Umanah said the administration’s investments go beyond infrastructure. He highlighted the conversion of the State College of Education into a full-fledged university, as well as the steady operations of Akwa Ibom State University and Akwa Ibom Polytechnic, as indicators of a strong focus on human capital development and youth empowerment.
Healthcare reforms, he said, were reinforced by the declaration of a State of Emergency in the sector. Measures implemented include the recall of willing retired health workers, the recruitment of 2,000 new health professionals, and the construction of the Ibom International Hospital along the Medical Corridor. These efforts, he added, have expanded access to healthcare services, particularly through the State Health Insurance Scheme.
On tourism, Umanah described the ARISE Palm Resort as a flagship project transforming a previously unused site into a world-class leisure destination with facilities designed for visitors of all ages.
He reaffirmed that the governor remains committed to delivering the ARISE Agenda, noting that his leadership style combines vision, accountability, and focus. Umanah added that Akwa Ibom was the only state to hold a State Executive Council meeting on the first working day of the year, during which the governor launched a two-week ministerial briefing series to review 2025 stewardship scorecards and outline 2026 project projections, aimed at strengthening performance and service delivery across government.
