Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has marked his 62nd birthday with a sweeping package of scholarships, automatic employment, housing and empowerment initiatives for children and caregivers in orphanages across the state.
Speaking during a special celebration at Divine Children’s Home, Atan Offot, Uyo, the Governor said he deliberately chose to celebrate with the less privileged to inspire hope and reaffirm that circumstances of birth do not define destiny.
“We are here to encourage them and give them hope. They must arise with renewed hope, knowing they are not rejected or desolate. We are with them, and that gives me a happy birthday,” he said.
The Governor reiterated that since assuming office, he has consistently dedicated his birthdays to acts of compassion, noting that the greatest fulfillment in leadership lies in impacting lives and fostering unity.
Highlighting key interventions, Governor Eno directed the immediate employment of 22 volunteer caregivers and four adult inmates into the state civil service, mandating the Head of Service, Mrs. Elsie Peters, to ensure compliance.
He further approved advanced training for 15 beneficiaries at the Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Centre, and Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre, with starter packs and shop allocations upon completion.
The Governor also ordered the provision of proper accommodation for them to begin independent living.
In a landmark gesture, one inmate, Abigail Okon Edet, was granted an automatic overseas postgraduate scholarship, while two other graduates already in the civil service were awarded houses.
Addressing the plight of 22 abandoned children, the Governor assured that the state would nurture and support them to achieve their full potential, emphasizing that “no child is born by accident.”
He also cautioned against the indiscriminate establishment of orphanages, insisting on strict adherence to regulatory standards, and called on citizens to continue supporting vulnerable groups.
Governor Eno used the occasion to preach peace and unity, urging political actors to conduct themselves with humanity as the political season approaches.
“Politics will come and go, but Akwa Ibom will remain. We must play politics with a human face,” he advised.
He expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and former Governor Udom Emmanuel, among others, for their goodwill messages.
In her remarks, the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, described the Governor as a compassionate leader, whose policies have consistently improved the welfare of vulnerable citizens and restored dignity across the state.
