GOV. UMO ENO INSPECTS FACILITIES AT DASAC AHEAD OF MAIDEN GRADUATION CEREMONY

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno has expressed satisfaction with the facilities and trainings at the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre (DASAC), Ikot Ada Edem in Ibiono Ibom Local Area.

Governor Eno bared his mind during a brief stop over at the Centre while on his way to flag-off road constructions in Ibiono Ibom and Ikono Local Government Areas.

He said, "I am quite impressed by the standard of facilities, and training here. I came here unannounced and from what I have seen, it looks like the school is ready. You have seen it yourself. The Rector and her team are doing a great work here, and I am very proud of them."

The Governor also used the opportunity to visit Akwa Ibom State contingent to the Niger Delta Sports festival to be hosted in the State, who are camped in the facility, and charged them to strive for victory.

The Rector of the Institution, Prof. Enoidem Usoro, who conducted the Governor round the facilities at the centre spoke on the viability of the center, noting that the facilities and their products are world class.

She assured everyone that the trainees are equipped with requisite skills to enable them excel in their chosen professions, and invited the Governor to the graduation ceremony of the first batch of trainees scheduled for Saturday March 29, 2025.

The Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre boasts of schools of Fashion, Catering, Agribusiness, ICT, Metal Technology, Wood Technology, among others.

Media Unit
Government House, Uyo
27/3/25

*EXCERPTS OF THE AKWA IBOM STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 26TH MARCH, 2025*

The meeting presided over by His Excellency, the Governor-in-Council, Pastor Umo Eno, and attended by the Deputy Governor, Sen. Akon Eyakenyi, Secretary to the State Government, Head of the Civil Service, the Executive Assistant/Chief Delivery Advisor, All Commissioners, and Special Advisers, commenced at about 12pm.

After extensive deliberations, some key resolutions reached were as follows:

1. The Executive Council ratified and approved the implementation of a modern City Bus transportation system for Uyo metropolis. The project will provide safe, reliable and eco-friendly bus service that will enhance public transportation and accessibility, while driving socioeconomic development to improve the quality of life for citizens.

2. Council also approved the refurbishment and renovation of the Ibom Hotels and Golf Resort, to restore its lost glory. This will involve a total overhaul of furniture, electrical, mechanical components of its appurtenances to give a completely new experience.

3. A request was also brought before Council for the extension of the Julius Berger contract for the maintenance of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium to ensure the facility maintains its standard as Nigeria’s best and home for the Super Eagles.

4. The Executive Council reviewed the report brought before it on the status of the Eket International market and directed the Inter-ministerial Committee to thoroughly analyze the project, its status and all of the issues surrounding it and submit its report within one month to ensure that the project is brought alive in the interest of the people.

5. EXCO also considered and deliberated on ministerial reports from several ministries, to ensure their short term programmes and plans align with the ARISE Agenda and follow through implementation timelines.

6. Council also approved commencement of pensioners verification exercise from the 1st of April, 2025 so that the State can have a clean pensions record and continue the process of seamless payment of pensions to beneficiaries.

7. In line with the provisions of the Road Traffic Law, cap 115 of Akwa Ibom State 2001 and Akwa Ibom State Transport Regulation of 2022, the Executive Council considered the current menace and issues associated with motorcycles and tricycles operations in the State Capital and directed a strict implementation of the prohibition order on motorcycles in every part of Uyo metropolis.

On this, Council also reaffirmed the prohibition of tricycles in some sections of the metropolis, such as Wellington Bassey Way and four other roads including Abak road by Nsentip street up to Ibom Plaza, Aka road by Etuk Street before the plaza, Ikot Ekpene road by Udi street up to the plaza and Oron road by Okokon Etuk Street to the plaza area.

His Excellency, the Governor in Council has therefore directed the Ministries of Transportation; Internal Security and security agencies to ensure strict compliance to enable government curb criminality and the menace experienced lately.

8. Council also acknowledged the hosting of the Niger Delta Sports Festival in Uyo and commended the Niger Delta Development Commission for bringing the event to Akwa Ibom State, while calling on the people to come out en-masse and support the event to ensure success.

The meeting ended at about 6:30pm.

Rt. Hon. Aniekan Umanah
Commissioner for Information, AKS
26/03/2025

Former Nigeria Coach Bonfrère Jo After Super Eagles draw against Zimbabwe: “How do you expect to qualify for the World Cup if you don’t win games?” he questioned.

He continued, “In the past, if we didn’t beat Zimbabwe 3-0 or 4-0, the fans would throw stones at us.

“With the huge number of Super Eagles players in top European leagues, a 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe is unacceptable. I don’t see how they can qualify for the World Cup, except maybe through the play-offs.

“If that happens, good. But it’s embarrassing that the Super Eagles are struggling against teams they should be beating convincingly.”

When asked what could be have gone wrong in game:

He said, “I didn’t watch the match, but did the coach not have enough information on Zimbabwe? Did he use the wrong tactics? Or did the players fail to execute the game plan?

“Was it a loss of concentration? Why couldn’t the attackers score more goals? If they had put away two or three chances, Zimbabwe’s late goal wouldn’t have mattered as much.

“It’s sad, painful, and unfortunate. Small teams are now looking the Super Eagles in the eye and asking, ‘What can you do?’ No team fears them anymore, and that is worrying,” Bonfrère Jo lamented.
(Via CompleteSports)

"Women's sports is not a charity, it's a right." - Billie Jean King

"You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great." - Zig Ziglar (for women taking the first step in their sports journey)

Philadelphia!

Philadelphia, commonly referred to as "Philly," is the:

1. *Largest city in Pennsylvania*: Located in the southeastern part of the state.
2. *Sixth-most populous city in the United States*: With a population of approximately 1.6 million people.

Philadelphia is known for its:

1. *Rich history*: Playing a pivotal role in the American Revolution and serving as the temporary capital of the United States.
2. *Cultural attractions*: Home to numerous museums, galleries, and performance venues, such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Kimmel Center.
3. *Iconic landmarks*: The Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the "Rocky Steps" outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
4. *Diverse neighborhoods*: From the historic Old City to the vibrant South Street, and the eclectic Fishtown.

Philadelphia is also famous for its:

1. *Cuisine*: Philly cheesesteaks, soft pretzels, and tomato pies.
2. *Sports teams*: The Philadelphia Eagles (NFL), Phillies (MLB), 76ers (NBA), and Flyers (NHL).

Some popular attractions and events in Philadelphia include:

1. *Independence Day celebrations*: Held annually on July 4th.
2. *Made in Philadelphia Festival*: A showcase of local artisans, makers, and musicians.
3. *Philadelphia Flower Show*: One of the largest and oldest flower shows in the world.

What's your favorite thing about Philadelphia?

New chapter for Toni Kroos in football as he becomes a shareholder at Sports 360, the sports agency that represented him.

Kroos: “I’m excited to offer advice to some players on their sporting journeys and sharing my experiences”.

Mauricio Pochettino says he wants to return to Tottenham one day...

"Look, when I left the club I always remember one interview I said I would like one day to come back to Tottenham and that is of course."

"I still feel in my heart that, yes, I would like one day to come back." (Sky Sports)

JUST IN: Manchester United is now the club with most supporters in Africa.

Arsenal ranks second and Chelsea third. Liverpool football club and FC Barcelona appear in 4th and 5th spots respectively. [Source: PulseSports].

AT COMMISSIONING OF MODEL SCHOOL IN ORON, GOV ENO CHARGES SCHOOL HEADS ON MAINTENANCE CULTURE

... directs head teachers to live in school

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has charged heads of schools and other institutions to ensure preservation of government infrastructures within their custody and to ensure that the intended benefits of government investments in the sector are delivered to the targeted beneficiaries.

He also tasked headmasters and headmistresses of model primary schools built across the State to utilize the live-in facilities to enhance their care for the pupils, and protection of the facilities in line with the aspirations of his administration's ARISE Agenda.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the Model Primary School, Uko-Oyukim in Oron Local Government Area, Governor Eno said a special education monitoring team was about to be activated to monitor the model schools, warning that any headteacher found not living on campus or whose school facilities are not well managed would be replaced.

He, therefore, tasked the Akwa Ibom State Infrastructure & Assets Management and Maintenance Agency to step up their vigilance over the educational facilities, adding that he was willing to bring to bear his private business experience as a hotelier, where he would work round the clock to ensure every guest enjoys utmost comfort, to make Akwa Ibom children receive the best from government investment in the education sector.

"Very soon, we are setting up education monitoring teams, and the team will help us ensure that all of these facilities are intact. They will monitor all these schools we are opening, from the washroom to the classrooms, all the facilities, the curriculum and of the work they are doing.

"The Headmasters or Headmistresses will also ensure that non of these facilities are destroyed. We must continue to maintain the standard. I am setting up a Governor's Monitoring team, but they will work with the Honourable Commissioners to ensure that they give us the right information.

"If we come to your school, particularly our schools that are remodelled, and we find out that the standards are dropping, we will change the head Master or Mistress immediately. If we come to the school and discover that you are not living on the school compound, we will send you back somewhere else.

"We can not use your money to put this edifice in place, only for it to go down in few months," the Governor stated.

Speaking on behalf of Oron stakeholders, the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, described the emergence of Governor Umo Eno as God's blessing to Akwa Ibom State and particularly thanked the Governor for accepting to be used to extend God's love to Oron people.

According to Senator Eyakenyi, Governor Umo Eno's value for education which fueled his drive to pursue and obtain a PhD has been demonstrated in his identification of primary education as being fundamentally imperative and therefore investing in giving Akwa Ibom children a good start up.

The Commissioner for Education, Professor Ubong Umoh, presenting an overview of the project, commended Governor Umo Eno's model primary school initiative, maintaining that such underscores his administration's dedication to transforming the educational landscape thereby fostering academic excellence and social development.

He said the Uko-Oyukim Model Primary School, designed to accommodate 495 pupils in 19 fully furnished classrooms on a 25:1 pupils to teacher ratio, was fully equipped with library, early childcare development facilities, solar-powered ICT laboratory, modern sick bay, spacious auditorium, dedicated staff quarters, seperate gender-specific sanitary facilities, with comprehensive human kinetic facilities that enhances education and sports development.

Pupils of the school, little Miss Happiness Antai and Master Godwin Asuquo, conveyed the feelings of the school community through a special address and a ballad which expressed the gratitude of the pupils, teachers and their parents to the Governor for the kind gesture he has extended to them through the state-of-the-art facilities.

Media Unit
Government House, Uyo
12/3/25