Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has offered scholarships, automatic employments, houses and other juicy gifts to occupants of different orphanages and charity homes in the state to mark his 62nd birthday.
Speaking at a special birthday celebration held at Divine Children’s Home, Atan Offot, Uyo, the governor said he chose to celebrate his 2026 birthday with the less privileged in the state, and to renew their hope that background cannot stand as a barrier to their God-designed destinies.
“We are here to encourage them, and to give them hope. For me this is renewed hope, and we urge them to ARISE with Renewed Hope for their tomorrow is here, and their tomorrow will be better. That they will know that they are not rejected, they are not desolate, we are with them and that gives me a happy birthday.”
He said since assumption of office, he has always dedicated his birthdays to showing compassion to the less privileged.
He appreciated everyone who has reached out to the less privileged, downtrodden or impacted their communities on his birthday.
“Every time a retired civil servant sends me a text thanking me for receiving gratuity, I feel accomplished. When I see a widow who had lived in a place that could be likened to a rat hole but now a beneficiary of the over 400 compassionate homes that we have built, I feel accomplished. When former political foes, sit to break bread, eat and shake hands across divides and our state remains peaceful, I feel very accomplished. That is the love that keeps us going as a state.
“Thank God for the projects, thank God for the roads and the bridges. But for me, the greatest accomplishment is to make us live in peace amongst ourselves, and live together in unity; learn to forgive one another and move on as a state, that is who we are and that is what gives us joy.
“So we continue to ask our people to live together in peace even as the political season sets in. Politics will come and go but Akwa Ibom will remain, and so we should play politics with a human face,” he said.
The governor appreciated the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare and care givers for their good works at the homes.
On the 22 children abandoned by their parents, he said “no child is born by accident, every child has a purpose and God doesn’t make mistakes. We have taken these children, we will nurture them and we will help them realise their destinies.”
For all the 22 care givers who were volunteers, as well as four others who were fully grown, he directed the Head of Civil Service, Mrs Elsie Peters to give them automatic employment in the civil service.
For another 15 of them that had finished vocational school, he directed that they be engaged for further training at the Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Center, as well as Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre, further directing that on completion, they be given starter packs and shops accordingly.
He also directed the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare to offer them proper accomodations outside the homes so they can begin their lives.
The governor also approved an automatic overseas postgraduate scholarship for one of the inmates, Abigail Okon Edet and also directed that two other graduates who were already working with the State Civil Service be given a house each.
He warned against the proliferation of orphanages in the state, stressing that necessary requirements must be met and called on well-meaning Akwa Ibomites to keep supporting the less privileged in the state.
Advising the children further he said, “I came to give you hope, and to say ARISE with Renewed Hope. Your future is guaranteed. God will take care of you. Not to have parents should not deny you of your destinies.”
Governor Eno appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the first Lady, Senate Oluremi Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, colleague Governors and former Governor Udom Emmanuel for their heartwarming birthday messages as well as other felicitations from groups and individuals.
In her remarks, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, described the governor as a compassionate and selfless leader who prioritises the welfare of the vulnerable, noting that his decision to channel birthday gifts to orphanages reflects his lifestyle of giving over personal gain.
She stressed that the governor’s compassion has translated into tangible impact, with deliberate policies that have improved the welfare of orphans and vulnerable citizens, while restoring dignity across the State.
EWET LUXURY GARDEN ESTATE SOON READY FOR OCCUPANTS
… as Gov Eno holds birthday breakfast at estate Experience CentreÂ
The 35 units of top-rate duplexes that make up the Ewet Luxury Garden in Uyo will soon be ready for use, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has confirned.
Governor Eno made the confirmation shortly after his special birthday breakfast meeting at the Estate’s Experience Centre yesterday, Friday, April 24, 2026.
He commended the quality of the work delivered and noted that he had urged the contractor to complete the experience centre before his birthday, which, he confirmed, was successfully achieved.
He said the luxury estate which contains 35 comfortable modern apartments amd designed for the middle class , are equipped with standard solar system and will be handed over to their respective owners in the next two months.
“The experience is good, we had to do this on the occasion of my birthday. I told them this was the birthday gift I wanted, that the experience Centre should be opened so that we can commence business.
“They have done well and it is ready as we can see. In the next one week, the full staff complement of the Experience Centre will be ready and would start operation.
“I believe that in the next two months, we should be ready to start handing over; and the sales agreements will be ready too,” he added.
Presenting an overview and commitment to the full completion of the project, the Managing Director of Messrs Western Legacy Investment Ltd, Mr. Kunle Adelipa, said he had already received marching orders to complete the project within 60 days, and was committed to delivering accordingly.
He explained that the Ewet Luxury Gardens estate is a high-end, government-backed residential development of thirty-five 5-bedroom fully detached duplexes, initiated to replace the old timber market along Uruan Street, Uyo.
He thanked the governor for his visionary leadership and assured him of timely completion of the project.
