UYO — Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to charting a new economic course for the state — one that looks beyond oil — through strategic investments in tourism, technology, and human capital development.
Speaking on Thursday at the University of Uyo during a public lecture titled “Leading Economic Development in Sub-Nationals of the Nigerian Federation: The ARISE Agenda,” Governor Eno outlined his vision for a self-sustaining Akwa Ibom powered by innovation and diversified revenue streams.
Central to his administration’s reform agenda is the digitalization of government processes, which he said is already yielding results in reducing bureaucratic inefficiencies and plugging financial leakages.
“Soon, we will launch AKWAGIS, a digital platform for collecting ground rent, currently estimated at N16 billion. This platform will also facilitate seamless issuance of Certificates of Occupancy — a major step toward improving our ease of doing business,” Eno said.
Highlighting tourism as a major pillar of the state’s economic transition, the governor described it as “the new black gold”, pointing to several high-impact projects underway.
“We are investing in agricultural tourism through our Ibom Model Farm, and in medical tourism via the Ibom International Medical Centre — a 200-bed hospital with 24 departments designed to meet global standards,” he said.
Other major projects under his administration include the ARISE Resort, scheduled for commissioning within the year, the International Conference Centre, and the revitalized Ibom Tropicana Hotel — all aimed at positioning Akwa Ibom as Nigeria’s leading tourism hub.
Eno also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding the state’s aviation infrastructure, including ongoing development at the Aviation Village to support the growth of Ibom Air.
“Our administration is laying a solid foundation for a post-oil economy. Tourism and human capital development are no longer options — they are imperatives,” he said.
He further called on sub-national governments across Nigeria to adopt fiscal discipline and diversify their revenue sources to ensure long-term economic stability.
The event drew commendation from prominent figures including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Saviour Enyiekere, who lauded Eno’s alignment with the economic agenda of President Bola Tinubu and pledged the support of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom toward his reelection bid in 2027.
In their remarks, Prof. Akpan Ekpo, UNIUYO Vice Chancellor Prof. Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, and Prof. Christopher Ekong, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, praised the governor’s bold vision and his willingness to engage academic institutions in shaping the state’s development path.
Governor Eno’s ARISE Agenda, rooted in accountability, reform, infrastructure, security, and economic expansion, continues to position Akwa Ibom as a model for sustainable sub-national governance in Nigeria.
