Last week, the Abuja Municipal Area Council revealed that they named a crescent after Umo Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State. The chairman of AMAC, Christopher Maikalangu, said the crescent, located in the Idu Industrial Area of the Federal Capital Territory, was named after Umo to honor his achievements and contributions to the area. He also mentioned that Umo's development efforts in construction, agriculture, education, and other areas inspired the AMAC government to do the same in Abuja. The Supervisory Councillor for Special Duties, Emmanuel Inyang, gave an example of this.
The governor of Akwa Ibom State recently launched about 5000 cadets from the state to serve as local police and combat criminal activities beyond the scope of the law. This is expected to reduce insecurity. In response, AMAC launched the AMAC Marshals, civilians sent to various locations and hotspots to gather intelligence and provide it to security agents. This is intended to help combat insecurity.
During the event, a journalist asked the Akwa Ibom delegation about the state's education sector development, which used to be a strong point in the past. The delegation seemed rattled by the question, and the representative of the governor, Jeremiah Efeh, talked about the government's agenda encapsulated under the acronym ARISE – Agriculture, Rural Development, Infrastructure, Security, and Education.
The incident in Abuja is a clear example of the division of governance in Nigeria. Different administrations, even within the same political party, have different agendas, causing political fragmentation. This fragmentation makes it difficult to deliver effective governance and address the needs of the population, posing serious risks for democracy.
This is a governance problem in our country that is not always easy to recognize. While people are aware of abandoned infrastructure projects and initiatives across the country, they may overlook the underlying issue. State governors often prioritize creating new projects to leave their mark, leading to a cycle of abandoned initiatives and the need for new projects with each new governor.
In the past, people from Akwa Ibom were mainly known for working as domestic helpers, like houseboys and maids. This was especially noticeable in cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt. There was a cultural association with this, to the point that female domestic workers were often called Ekaette, regardless of whether they were actually from Akwa Ibom or not. A clear example of this is the characters of the servants named 'Giringori' and 'Clarus' in the well-known 1980s comedy series The New Masquerade. Even though the actors were not Ibibio, they learned the Ibibio accent and behaviors to improve their performance.
This became a concern for the Ibibio community. When Nigeria returned to civilian rule, the state focused on education for development. Under the leadership of Victor Attah starting in 1999, the state started building high-quality public schools with educational, recreational, and boarding facilities. This education support initiative selected students and provided them with learning materials, while also sending some abroad for further studies.
This was followed by Godswill Akpabio, who introduced free education for all school-aged children, supplying basic learning materials and uniforms. Even adults who missed out on schooling took advantage of this opportunity and got formal education. When Mr. Udom Emmanuel took office in 2015, the administration continued the project, expanding the concept to “free and mandatory education.” However, over time, the education infrastructure started to deteriorate, with school buildings becoming run-down, roofs losing zinc, and writing desks disappearing. Despite the free education policy remaining, most public schools in Akwa Ibom now lack the facilities to foster a good learning environment for students.
In my opinion, Governor Eno’s current administration should recognize the historical and pivotal significance of educational development for the state, especially at the local level. This goes beyond politics; it's a socio-cultural revolution. Two figures exemplify this shift in the state over the last two decades. The first is a fictional character in a Nollywood film. The second is a real person serving the people of present-day Akwa Ibom.
The movie is called Ekaette goes to school, released in 2005 to convey that the old Akwa Ibom was no more. It was aimed at those who typically went to the state to hire domestic help, security guards, gardeners, etc. The film follows the story of a young Ekaette (played by Ini Edo) who faced mistreatment from her employer (played by Eucharia Anunobi) and abuse from her employer’s son (played by Desmond Elliot). She endured hardship in her employer’s home and found solace only in a newspaper seller. Eventually, with the help of a fellow Akwa Ibo man who recognized her intelligence, she completed her education and went on to become a successful entrepreneur.
John Akpan is the second icon. He was born into poverty because his mother had to work as a servant after losing her husband. In 2000, he won a competition at Comprehensive Secondary School, Ukpom, organized by former Governor Attah's Education Support Programme. He received a scholarship and educational materials as a prize, which motivated him to pursue education despite challenges. By 2020, he became a lawyer and established his own Foundation, distributing educational materials to all primary schools in his Ikono Local Government Area. He was then nominated and currently serves as the Transition Committee Vice Chairman for Ikono, demonstrating a strong commitment to governance and the importance of education for development.
The government is a continuous entity. I hope to see a governor recognized for providing a successful model for educational development in the Federal Capital Territory. Currently, the FCT faces a stark contrast in its educational sector, with expensive private schools thriving while public schools suffer from poor infrastructure, overcrowding, and a shortage of teachers. This paradox is disgraceful for a city that hosts the country's symbols of power and beauty.
