•Governor Umo Eno
… as govt holds training for newly recruited safety officers
Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has called on citizens to adopt and maintain a robust safety culture in all aspects of their daily engagements, as a proactive measure to minimize accidents, injuries, and loss of lives and property.
The governor gave the charge yesterday, Tuesday April 7, 2026, during the opening ceremony of a four-day training for Safety Officers and Lawyers in the State Civil Service at the Ibom-LED Centre, IBB Avenue, Uyo.
The governor said safety is all encompassing and very vital for better living and smooth work delivery, whether at work in Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), homes, schools, hotels, or at construction sites.
“Let safety be first in our lives. If we are going to compromise safety to do any job, let’s not do the job at all. That is the only way we can save our state, and then make sure that we continue to work in safe space.”
He urged the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Health, Safety, and Environment, Mrs. Jayne Ufot, and her team to create more awareness in various organisations, parastatals, and institutions in the state on the need for people to be safety conscious.
While commending Mrs. Ufot for her hard work and commitment to ensure the workability of the safety directorate in the state, the governor directed all commissioners, special advisers and others to be the arrowhead of safety campaigns in their MDAs.
“I expect each commissioner to be the number one safety officer in his or her ministry, just as I accept to be the number one safety officer in the state,” he said.
Governor Eno enjoined all citizens and residents to “embrace and enhance safety as a culture and as a way of life in order to prevent unnecessary accidents and damages in our society.”
Earlier in her welcome address, the Head of the State Civil Service, Mrs. Elsie Peters, lauded Governor Eno for prioritising the safety and welfare of the people in the state.
Mrs. Peters commended the governor for establishing the Department of Occupational Safety which, according to her, is the first of its kind in the state.
Setting the tone for the event earlier, Mrs. Ufot, appreciated the governor for his support for her team. She said this has enabled her take safety awareness campaigns seamlessly across the state.
On the governor’s entourage for the event were the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong; the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah; Executive Assistant/Chief Delivery Advisor, Mr Aniefiok Johnson, members of the State Executive Council; Local Government Chairmen, political stalwarts; captains of industry; and other government functionaries.
