If there is anything I would like to be remembered for at the end of my tenure as the governor of Akwa Ibom State, it is that never would people from other states across the country be coming to my state to look for and employ our children as their domestic hands. Rather, I would want to leave a legacy whereby our children after becoming successful in all spheres of human endeavours, would be employing people from neighbouring states as their maids and male servants.”
The above statement was made by Governor Godswill Akpabio during an interview session with a group of editors in Lagos in December 2010. The action and people’s governor has indeed ensured that the children are empowered to ensure people from other states look elsewhere for their maids and domestic hands.
If you doubt this, take a cursory look at infrastructural development witnessed by the state since Gov. Akpabio emerged. Not only that, he has also turned around education for good.
This was made possible because the governor shares Nelson Mandela’s thought that “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” Governor Akpabio, in 2008 initiated a complete overhaul of the education sector in Akwa Ibom. Though not part of his campaign promise to the people of Akwa Ibom, he nonetheless, declared a free and compulsory education from primary to senior secondary school level for all Nigerian children resident in the state. And pronto, schools’ enrolments jumped to an unprecedented level, as those who dropped out of school and those who were not in school at all for lack of basic tuition now go to school at no cost to their parents or guardians. After the declaration of free and compulsory education in 2008, schools enrolments quadrupled. For instance, post primary schools enrolment rose from 252,699 to 860,475. Before he became governor in 2007, enrolment figure for pupils in primary schools was 752,671. But it rose in September 2008 to 931,337.The free and compulsory education policy in Akwa Ibom is well thought out and adequately funded. With attendant availability of instructional materials as well as teaching aids; about 4,100 renovated schools, in addition to newly constructed schools and classroom blocks; well-equipped laboratories, libraries and vocational training workshops in schools across the three senatorial districts, the state has since become an enviable model and pacesetter in the education sector. Akwa Ibom sets aside huge resources, annually, to maintain the high standard that has been attained. This aligns with the UNESCO recommendation that governments should commit 26% of their annual budget to the funding of education.
It is a statement of fact that prior to the emergence of Godswill Akpabio as the governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2007, there was no enduring road infrastructure. As absurd as this may sound, it is the hard truth. The importance of roads to the overall development of any society cannot be over emphasized as it is the gateway or thoroughfare through which we walk, run, drive, as well as deliver goods and services.
In the first four years of this administration Eket had at least 49 new roads constructed, Ikot Abasi 18, Ikot Ekpene 32, 19 in Abak while Oron and Uyo can boast of19 and over 49 new roads respectively. All these compliment the flurry of activities in Ini and Ikono axis. The administration has shown no sign of fatigue in adding more mileages to existing ones as it is construction and more construction all the time.
A man like Governor Akpabio, who has delivered over 1009 km of brand new roads to Akwa Ibom people since 2007 till date and still counting, understands how important roads are to wealth creation and the overall growth of his people. These period have seen new roads and bridges emerge. Communities have been opened up, bonds of friendship have been extended while the people now have new lease of life. A typical example is the reconstruction of the Etim Ekpo/Iwukem road that last appeared in Nigeria’s budget in 1963. The reconstruction of this road links Etim Ekpo with other communities around it opening up the area for delivery of goods and services.
By the time the curtains come down on governor Akpabio’s administration in April 2015, nobody can tell how many more mileage he would have added to his already impressive kilometres of roads as he has shown no sign of easing off his foot on the throttle of road construction. For instance, this is the newly completed Uyo-Ikot Oku Ikono-Abak road dualization.
Road construction is a serious business in Akwa Ibom as all 31 LGA’s are experiencing what could rightly be termed a revolution. Some of the new roads either completed or under construction adding more mileage to existing ones include Ikot Uboh road with bridge, Ikot Edong road with bridge and Ikot Okoro road with bridges. Others are Ukanafun road, Afaha Ikot Ebak with some part already asphalted, Utu Nseghe road phase II.
Uyo, the capital city is experiencing more intervention in the maze of frenzy development. Substantial parts of the metropolis are experiencing an upsurge in development as well as movements of people on account of new roads under construction opening up new areas. The recently dualized Aka Nung Udoe road with street lights as well as the clusters of flyovers in the Itam axis bears testimony to the fact. Also, the inner roads in Osongama residential estate located on an expansive land have had some areas uninhabited for lack of roads. But the story is different now as the estate has practically been turned into a construction site by the Akpabio administration.
New roads are springing up everywhere, encouraging people to build new homes and businesses. Some of the new roads constructed in recent times and or rehabilitated include but not limited to Osongama road, Okon Adak Essien Crescent, New birth Avenue, Itiam Edem Akai-Uyo road and Itiam Utip Street.
Osongama Estate is not alone in this new lease of life and bustling with activities. Ewet Housing and Shelter Afrique residential estate inner roads in the capital city are having their share of road expansion and construction linking up the major ones. This new road right in the heart of the estate, passing through to Mbiabong Etoi is designed not only to create multiple entry points into the residential area but perhaps, most importantly, will serve to decongest traffic on Oron road leading to Akwa Ibom international Airport
Cruising all the way from the city centre towards the outskirts of the town around the 4th flyover, in front of the federal secretariat, not too far away from the Akwa Ibom international stadium; is located a flurry of link roads jutting into the ring road. All these are new roads just completed. A look at them from the top of the flyover is a sight to behold.
The Governor Akpabio led administration has demonstrated vigorous road construction and rehabilitation since 2007, more than any other period in the history of the state. With this scheme, all the 31 LGAs have been linked with more than 20km of tarred roads. Several roads that had existed without attention since the creation of the state, are receiving due attention. Kudos to the operation zero pothole initiative of the government
Governor Akpabio shone like a million stars by ensuring AKBC beats the 2015 deadline of moving from analogue to digital transmission. The Akpabio administration purchased new state-of-the-art digital transmitters for the state owned radio station, Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation, AKBC – FM in Uyo to make it conform with global standards.
The likeable governor is also making waves in the area of sports. For instance, apart from encouraging and motivating athletes from the state, he IS currently constructing a magnificent stadium in the state. Work on the gigantic project has reached advance stage
This stadium complex is sitting atop a massive 32 hectares of land .The main bowl will consist of a 4-tier terrace seating arrangement, all covered with a capacity for 30,000 spectators. The first phase of work on the pitch is completed, and training pitch equivalent in size to that in the main bowl is progressing well. There will be two parking lots and access; VIP and bus parking areas, VIP access and public access, coffee-shops, shops, restaurants, banquet-hall and many more.
Indeed, the construction of the stadium is already impacting on the local economy as more than 700 people have been employed with lots of small and medium scale businesses springing up. For example, food vendors and other petty traders are having a field day making extra cash selling food and other wares to hundreds of workers on site and environs. Most of the construction workers who are mostly from the catchment area say the vision of governor Akpabio is already impacting on their lives as they now have jobs.
Governor Godswill Akpabio’s achievements in the last seven years are too numerous to be accommodated in this report and in spite of this, he has continuously focused on more developmental projects.
