Ooni, Obi of Onitsha Commend Umo Eno, As Daily Times Names Him Most Outstanding Governor in South-South
Reported By Facthabournews
The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, and the Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, CFR, have commended Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for what they described as his exemplary leadership and commitment to the welfare of the people.
The traditional rulers made the remarks on Thursday at the Daily Times Centenary Heroes Awards held at the THISDAY Dome in Abuja, where Governor Eno was recognised as the “Most Outstanding Governor in Nigeria – South-South.”
Eno was represented at the ceremony by the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information, Hon. Aniekan Umanah, and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Ekerete Udoh.
Presenting the award, the Obi of Onitsha commended Governor Eno’s performance and expressed confidence in the direction of his administration.
Igwe Achebe said he had visited Akwa Ibom State on several occasions and was impressed by the projects and initiatives being implemented by the governor, particularly those focused on improving the welfare of residents.
“I have been to Akwa Ibom State on several occasions, and I am very impressed with the work he is doing, particularly his commitment to the welfare of the people. We encourage him to keep the flag flying,” the traditional ruler said.
The Ooni of Ife also praised the governor and spoke positively about the development taking place across Akwa Ibom State.
Describing Eno as a “good man” and a “performer,” Oba Ogunwusi asked that his greetings be conveyed to the governor.
“He is a good man. He is doing well. Please extend my greetings to him,” the Ooni said.
The recognition places Governor Eno among the governors honoured during the Daily Times centenary celebrations for their contributions to governance and development. The newspaper, which began publication in 1926, is marking 100 years of journalism and its role in documenting Nigeria’s political, economic and social history.
The awards ceremony brought together senior government officials, politicians, traditional rulers, business leaders and other prominent Nigerians.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who chaired the occasion, was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume. Other dignitaries included Governors Umaru Bago of Niger State, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State.
Also in attendance were the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda; Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN; Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu; and several former ministers and other public figures.
The ceremony also featured a keynote address by former President of the African Development Bank, Prof. Akinwumi Adesina, who praised Daily Times for surviving a century and maintaining its place in Nigeria’s history.
The Daily Times centenary programme was designed not only to celebrate the newspaper’s longevity but also to recognise Nigerians and institutions whose contributions have had significant impact on governance, business, public service, community development and other areas of national life.
Ahead of the ceremony, the DTN@100 Heroes Awards Council announced a broad list of honourees covering different sectors and categories. The organisers said the awards were intended to celebrate individuals and institutions whose leadership, enterprise, innovation and public service had contributed to Nigeria’s development.
Governor Eno’s award follows other recognitions received by him and his administration in recent months. In July, he was also recognised at the Security Watch Africa Conference and Awards for people-centred governance, with the award subsequently received on his behalf by the Deputy Governor.
The Akwa Ibom governor has repeatedly presented his administration’s ARISE Agenda as a framework focused on development, economic empowerment, infrastructure, healthcare, education, tourism, agriculture and other areas of public welfare.
Among projects associated with the administration are ongoing investments in roads, healthcare facilities, aviation infrastructure, tourism and public-sector reforms. The state government has also highlighted programmes aimed at supporting youths, women, farmers, traders and small businesses.
The recognition by Daily Times comes at a time when the newspaper is marking its centenary with a series of activities aimed at documenting important chapters in Nigeria’s history and celebrating individuals regarded by its organisers as contributors to the country’s development.
Daily Times began publication in 1926 and has, over the decades, reported major political and social developments in Nigeria. Its centenary programme includes the presentation of awards as well as the unveiling of a major commemorative publication documenting notable Nigerians and institutions.
The award to Governor Eno was one of several recognitions presented during the centenary celebration. Other notable honourees included President Tinubu, former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina, business leaders and public officials.
The Ooni’s and Obi of Onitsha’s commendations added a traditional leadership dimension to the recognition of the Akwa Ibom governor, with both monarchs highlighting their assessment of his leadership and development efforts.
For Governor Eno, the recognition represents another public acknowledgement of his administration’s performance, while the comments by the two prominent traditional rulers have further drawn attention to the development initiatives being implemented in Akwa Ibom State.
The governor was not physically present at the Abuja ceremony, with the Commissioner for Information and the Chief Press Secretary representing him at the event.
The Daily Times Centenary Heroes Awards organisers said the wider awards programme was intended to preserve national memory by recognising people and institutions whose contributions have shaped Nigeria’s development across different generations.
The ceremony therefore combined the celebration of a century of journalism with recognition of contemporary and historical figures who have played roles in Nigeria’s public, economic, cultural and social development.
