The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) has presented the Best Governor of the Year 2024 Award to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, for exceptional leadership qualities, fiscal responsibility, and measurable development across sectors.
Speaking during the award presentation in Uyo, the Director-General of the Forum, Abdulateef Shittu, described Governor Eno as “a leader whose intellect, vision, mission, proactiveness, pragmatism, respectability, responsibility, acceptability, adaptability, humility, and care for all and sundry have raised his standard in this country among his fellow governors.”
Represented by Professor Abba Gambo, the Agriculture Adviser to the Forum, he commended the Umo Eno led administration for achieving significant progress through prudent management of the State’s resources.
“Without borrowing, you are doing all this. When you look at the debt profile of other states, and then see that you are not having a single debt, it is amazing — but I am not surprised,” he said.
He stated that Akwa Ibom’s governance and performance indicators surpass those of many nations. “If you were a country, Akwa Ibom would be more than 40 different African countries,” he said.
Gambo particularly commended the level of agricultural security in Akwa Ibom State remarking; “... security is a very serious issue….Is there any farmer in Akwa Ibom who cannot access his or her farm? And in Akwa Ibom, virtually everybody is a farmer. Is it not true? Then definitely, if we are talking about food security, which is the number one state in Nigeria.
Presenting the award, on behalf of Director General of the Nigerian Governors Forum, during the Governor’s ARISE Agenda two-year scorecard Review, he added “You are worthy of it, and you deserve it,”
Responding, Governor Eno dedicated the award to the people of Akwa Ibom State, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to transparent, people-oriented governance.
He expressed gratitude to the NGF for the recognition, noting that his government’s achievements were rooted in prudent resource management, institutional reforms, and a well-defined development plan anchored on the ARISE Agenda.
“This recognition is both humbling and encouraging. We will continue to use the resources of Akwa Ibom State to work for Akwa Ibom people—building infrastructure, empowering communities, and shaping a more prosperous future,” the Governor stated.
The presentation was witnessed by Federal Ministers, Legislators,Traditional Rulers, Federal & State Agencies Representatives, Economic Experts, Development Partners, Civil Society Actors, and other citical Stakeholders.
Confidence Okwuchi