By Solomon OKPO
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has reaffirmed the critical need for fiscal discipline and revenue diversification among sub-national governments as a pathway to sustainable development.
Governor Eno made this known while delivering a public lecture titled “Leading Economic Development in Sub-Nationals of the Nigerian Federation: The ARISE Agenda,” at the University of Uyo. Addressing an audience of scholars, policymakers, and development experts, the Governor emphasized that sustainable progress in states and local governments can only be achieved through strategic economic planning and prudent financial management.
He described the ARISE Agenda as a visionary development blueprint designed to transform Akwa Ibom’s economic landscape and uplift the living standards of its citizens. The agenda, he explained, encompasses eight strategic objectives including poverty reduction, job creation, price stability, environmental sustainability, human capital development, and enhanced security.
According to him, ARISE stands for:
Agricultural Revolution, Tourism Development, and Environmental Management
Rural Development, Women & Youth Empowerment
Infrastructural Maintenance and Advancement
Security Management, Sound Educational and Health Sector Management
Economic, Industrial, and Social Advancement
Highlighting his administration’s achievements, Governor Eno noted that wastage in government has been significantly reduced and revenue-generating operations are being digitalized. He announced the upcoming launch of AKWAGIS, a digital platform expected to help generate over N16 billion in ground rent and streamline the issuance of Certificates of Occupancy, thereby enhancing the state’s business environment.
He further spoke of massive investments in tourism, citing projects such as the ARISE Resort, the Ibom Tropicana Hotel, and the upcoming 200-bed Ibom International Medical Centre designed to drive medical tourism. The Governor also stressed the expansion of Ibom Air and ongoing development of the Aviation Village as part of a broader push to boost the state’s aviation ecosystem.
On human capital development, he highlighted the state’s progress in reducing the out-of-school children rate to 3.5%, far below the national average of 25.6%, a feat acknowledged by the Federal Government and the World Bank.
Governor Eno called on stakeholders to support policies that strengthen institutional capacity, boost internally generated revenue (IGR), encourage inter-state economic cooperation, and create a conducive environment for private sector-led development.
In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Dr. Saviour Enyiekere, praised Governor Eno’s inclusive leadership, which he said has fostered peace and security in the state. He also commended the Governor’s collaboration with President Bola Tinubu’s administration and assured him of APC’s support for his second-term bid in 2027.
Other dignitaries, including Emeritus Professor Akpan Ekpo, the University Vice Chancellor Prof. Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, and several faculty heads, lauded the Governor’s commitment to intellectual engagement and economic vision. They described the ARISE Agenda as a robust and replicable model for other sub-nationals.
The lecture drew participation from across academia and governance, with notable discussants such as Prof. Okechukwu Onuchukwu, Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, and development expert Prof. Ebebe Ukpong offering insights into effective economic strategies for sub-national growth.
