Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has charged student leaders across the State to champion peace, academic excellence and responsible leadership, assuring continued government support.
Eno gave the charge during an interactive session with student leaders at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, praising their peaceful campuses.
The Governor described students as “important stakeholders in the Akwa Ibom project,” saying leadership positions offered practical lessons in governance and accountability.
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He urged them to balance leadership with excellence, assuring outstanding students of recognition and encouragement.
Eno announced plans to support a students’ conference bringing students, government and corporate Nigeria together to discuss employment, skills and the transition from school into society.
“Government must be able to explain what it has achieved, the challenges we have and what we intend to do going forward,” he said.
He urged students to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and participate in democracy, warning against political exploitation. He called for support for President Tinubu, Akpabio and himself in 2027.
Eno charged students and youths to project Akwa Ibom positively, stressing that “the responsibility of building and promoting the State rests on its citizens.”
Governor Eno commended his Personal Assistant on Students Affairs, Comrade Wisdom Emmanuel, for synergy with students, approving his elevation to Special Assistant on Students Affairs.
Commissioner for Education, Professor Ubong Umoh, praised Eno’s “remarkable and impactful investments” in education, saying they had raised standards across all levels.
He said students appreciated the Governor’s financial interventions.
Commissioner for Youth Development, Dr Ekerete Ekanem, also praised the Governor’s futuristic initiatives, saying youth centres were designed to prepare young people for self-reliance.
NAAKISS President, Torobong Obot, thanked the Governor for financial support and quality education, declaring that his interventions had “restored hope to students across the State.”
Leaders of NAAKISS Worldwide, NANS, the 31 Local Government Student Presidents and SUG Presidents commended the remodelling of primary schools, payment of WAEC and NECO fees, conversion of the State College of Education to a University of Education and improved bursaries.
They applauded the bursary increase from N10,000 to N50,000, with higher provisions for professional students, calling it an incentive for excellence.
They cited the N160 million released for medical students as evidence of commitment to education.
