•Governor Umo Eno
EKEMINI JAMES, Uyo reporting
Governor Umo Eno, has emphasised the need for states and local governments to embrace fiscal discipline and revenue diversification to achieve sustainable development.
He stated this while delivering a public lecture recently on the theme: “Leading Economic Development in Sub-Nationals of the Nigerian Federation: The ARISE Agenda,” at the University of Uyo.
The governor noted that the ARISE Agenda was borne out of the desire to grow the economy while developing abundant human resources in the State, focuses on eight lofty goals including; Poverty reduction, Job creation, Price stability,sustainable economic growth, improved standard of living, environmental sustainability, highly educated, healthy and skilled people, and the Security of lives and property
He further explained that the ARISE Agenda, a flagship economic blueprint that guides his administration’s development efforts, is an acronym for ‘five-group aspirations’: Agricultural Revolution, Tourism Development and Environmental Management; Rural Development, Women & Youth Empowerment; Infrastructural Maintenance and Advancement; Security Management, Sound Educational and Health Sector Management; and Economic, Industrial and Social Advancement.
The governor who holds a Doctorate degree in Public Administration from the University, said that since the inception of his administration, wastages in government have been minimized, and the government is determined to expand its revenue base by digitalization of government operations.
“Soon, we will launch AKWAGIS, a digital platform where we will be collecting ground rent, which as we speak is in the region of N16 billion. Through this platform, we will be able to seamlessly offer Certificates of Occupancy, which would help attract businesses to our state.
“We are also investing heavily in the tourism sector that has been variously described as the ‘New Black Gold’.
“From agricultural tourism, through our Ibom Model Farm, to medical tourism, with our planned Ibom International Medical Centre – a 200-bed hospital that will come with 24 different departments under one roof. This hospital, once completed, will compare to any such facility anywhere in the world.
“The ARISE Resort, which we hope to commission in the first half of this year, the International Conference Centre, the Ibom Tropicana Hotel, which we are poised to complete will signpost our ascendancy as the tourism hub of our nation and bring in billions of Naira in revenue.
“We remain committed to the growth and expansion of Ibom Air and work is ongoing in the Aviation Village, as part of our investments in the aviation eco- system.
“We are committed to the human capital development of our people and this has been acknowledged by the Federal Government and the World Bank, leading to the launch some days ago, of the Human Capital Development Strategic Plan by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON.
“We have achieved a success rate of 3.5% out of school children, against the national average of 25.6% – a truly remarkable feat.
“We are positioning our State for growth beyond oil by these strategic investments in tourism and human capital development,” he said.
The governor said to ensure the success of economic development in sub-nationals, policymakers must develop action plans before implementation, strengthen governance and institutional capacity, enhance internally generated revenue (IGR) to reduce reliance on federal allocations, promote regional economic cooperation and trade among states, encourage private sector-led development through investment incentives, and focus on collaboration rather than conflicts.
He appreciated the crafters of the ARISE Agenda, and expressed his determination to go the extra mile to further development in the State, while urging policymakers, corporate bodies, the academia, and citizens to join hands with him in the journey towards a prosperous, self-reliant, and globally competitive sub-national economy.
In his remarks, the President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio applauded the governor for his inclusive leadership disposition which according to him has engendered unprecedented peace and security in the State.
Senator Akpabio who was represented by Dr. Saviour Enyiekere, Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), also commended the governor for his collaboration with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government, and assured of the support of the All Progressives Congress in the gtate to ensure the governor’s second term victory in 2027.
Chairman of the Occasion, Emeritus Prof. Akpan Ekpo, the University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Nyaudoh Ndaeyo and the Dean of the Host Faculty, Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Christopher Ekong as well as Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Prof. Peter Esuh appreciated the governor for accepting to share his thoughts through the public lecture, stressing that the ARISE Agenda is a comprehensive document that can drive development in the state and other sub-nationals.
The event which attracted eminent personalities within and outside the state, had as discussants, Prof. Okechukwu Onuchukwu, Vice – Chancellor, Ignatius Aguru University of Education, Rivers State, and Prof. Ebebe Ukpong, a development expert and former commissioner in the state.
