Policy experts have called for deeper grassroots engagement and stronger data-based governance to enhance the impact of Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda in Akwa Ibom State.
They made the call during a high-level panel review session in Uyo, the state’s capital.
The lead discussant and renowned economist Professor Akpan Ekpo said that while the administration was on the right path, Akwa Ibom must institutionalise its progress as a model for subnational development in Nigeria.
“Without data there can be no planning. We must codify these achievements into a costed State Development Plan that no governor can ignore,” he stated. “With competent technocrats, you can codify this agenda into a State Development Plan and take it to the House of Assembly for approval. That plan will anchor continuity, ensure every village knows what is coming to them, and secure your development vision for the next six years.”
Professor Ekpo commended the state’s proactive role in initiating industries but stressed the need for strategic exit points.
“A state like ours must act as a catalyst — start these industries, but know when to disinvest,” he advised, adding that while the private sector is an engine of growth, “it is not an engine of development.”
He urged the creation of a reserve fund to safeguard against future economic shocks and recommended bringing in independent evaluators periodically for monitoring and evaluation.
“No matter how small, invest it and set clear rules for access; that’s how economies grow,” he said, envisioning a competitive federalism where “people will come here to invest instead of us going to Abuja.”
He further told Governor Umo Eno: “Delegate; if they don’t deliver, fire them.”
Financial analyst Nancy Illoh-Nnaji urged a shift from short-term assistance to lasting wealth creation.
“It’s fantastic to give people ₦50,000, but we must move from empowerment to entrepreneurship,” she said, also stressing the need for systematic, results-focused monitoring and evaluation.
Warning against overreliance on oil revenues, she added: “If oil prices fall to $20 tomorrow, your plans will be challenged.”
Media practitioner Terry Ikumi noted that transparency must go hand-in-hand with accessibility.
“Information must not only be available; it must be understandable to the people whose lives are shaped by these policies,” he observed.
Public affairs analyst, Reuben Abati called for wider grassroots consultation and needs-based planning.
“Town hall meetings should not be restricted to Uyo alone. Government messaging must reach ordinary citizens, not just the elite,” he said. “In God we trust; all others must bring data.”
Abati also advocated closer collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics to align state data with national indices.
“Without data, there can be no planning — and that’s why the next steps are as important as what has been done today,” he cautioned.
Civic educator and development advocate, Tijjah Bolton stressed that evaluation without open data leaves citizens in the dark, insisting that performance claims must be verifiable.
“When you tell the people you are performing well, you must show them the numbers, the baselines, and the targets. Without this, the conversation becomes feelings versus facts — and governance cannot be run on feelings,” he said.
Bolton added that citizens could only take ownership of development when allowed to verify claims for themselves.
“The ARISE Agenda belongs to the people. Give them the tools, and they will tell you exactly where the gaps are and where the applause is due,” Bolton added.
Responding, panel moderator and Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, said transparency and citizen input were already central to the state’s governance approach.
“Our budget is online, accessible to all. The governor is ticking off promises made to all 31 local government areas and has requested needs documents from each federal constituency for inclusion in the 2026 People’s Budget,” he said.
The session concluded with a consensus that Akwa Ibom’s next stage of growth should rely on stronger data-driven planning, deeper grassroots engagement, and an economy less dependent on federal allocations.
The ARISE Agenda, anchored on the five pillars of Agricultural Revolution, Rural Development, Infrastructural Maintenance and Advancement, Security Management, and Educational Advancement, covering more than 17 sectors, serves as the state’s medium-term development framework.
The review session brought together policy experts, civil society leaders, and the media to assess progress and recommend next steps for inclusive growth.
PIAK