By The Evangelist News
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has been honoured with the 2026 AfriSAFE Government Safety Leadership Award, in recognition of his administration’s commitment to promoting safety culture and strengthening institutional safety across the State.
The award which was received on behalf of the Governor on Friday November 6, 2026, by his Senior Special Assistant on Health, Safety and Environment, Mrs. Jayne Ufot, at the AfriSAFE Awards ceremony held at Labadi Beach Hotel, Accra, Ghana, was presented to Governor Eno on Wednesday, November 11, at the EXCO Chambers, Government House, Uyo.
Presenting the award, Mrs. Ufot explained that the recognition followed a competitive selection process involving more than 5,000 entries from 42 African countries, with Governor Eno emerging as Safety Leader of the Year for his administration’s efforts in advancing safety standards across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as through the ARISE School initiatives.
She noted that the award is in recognition of the Governor as a leading advocate of workplace safety and the establishment of a dedicated occupational safety department within the State Civil Service.
She noted that AfriSAFE is an African safety organisation supported by international occupational health and safety institutions, describing the honour as a reflection of the Governor’s determination to making safety an integral part of public administration.
In his remark, Governor Eno described the award as a recognition for Akwa Ibom State rather than a personal achievement, expressing appreciation to the organisers for acknowledging the State’s efforts in safety management.
He observed that Akwa Ibom State had distinguished itself as the only sub-national government in the region to have institutionalized occupational safety within its Civil Service through a dedicated department, stressing, however, that the achievement must be sustained and strengthened.
The Governor therefore, urged MDAs to support Safety Officers in their respective establishments to intensify effort towards identifying and addressing workplace safety gaps, and also lead in public safety awareness.
He specifically directed Safety Officers deployed to the various MDAs to undertake regular safety audits, assess existing conditions and recommend practical measures to prevent workplace hazards.
The Governor approved the hosting of a public safety Week in 2027 which, he said, would avail ministries and government establishments good opportunities to conduct comprehensive safety audits, assess compliance levels and roll out initiatives to improve workplace safety.
