Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has eulogized the late Princess Affiong Samuel Ukot for her impactful life, especially for investing in her children and instilling in them the values of excellence and nobility in thoughts and actions.
In his oration at a funeral service for the late nonagenarian held at Ibeno Local Government Secretariat Grounds, Ukpenekang, he described the deceased as a virtuous woman and a God-fearing matriarch.
He also applauded her impactful professional life, stating, “Our mother, whose earthly remains we are here to bid farewell, spent most of her professional life as a Matron, taking care of people and helping mothers bring life to earth—a truly ennobling act.”
“She wanted the best for her children and went all out to instill in them the values of excellence, nobility in thoughts and actions. Today, one of her children, Professor Dorothy Udeme Ufot, SAN, sits on the boards of many blue-chip companies and has made history as the first Akwa Ibom State-born female lawyer to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and also an arbitrator of both national and international repute.”
He appreciated the presence of major players in Corporate Nigeria, including Chief Biodun Shobanjo, Chairman of Troyka, and Atedo Peterside, founder of Stanbic-IBTC Bank, at the funeral, and reaffirmed plans by his administration to hold a Corporate Akwa Ibom Summit. The summit, he said, aims to identify, integrate, and collaborate with Akwa Ibom indigenes in the corporate sector to enhance development in the state.
The Governor announced the appointment of the son-in-law to the deceased, Udeme Ufot, MFR, the Group Managing Director of SO&U, as Chairman of the Steering Committee for the proposed summit.
In attendance at the funeral were the immediate past Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, CON; State Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, Elder Aniekan Akpan; immediate past Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo, MFR; Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah; Chairman of Access Bank Plc, Paul Usoro, SAN; and many others.
