May 29, 2015 marked a watershed in the annals of Akwa Ibom State. On that day, the people of this South-South state, heralded the swearing-into office of their new Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, a thorough bred professional, a doyen of innovative management and a renowned apostle of excellence.

IN THIS SPECIAL REPORT, Charles Udoh, Ekerete Udoh, James Edet, Michael Bush, Aniefiok Macauley, Grace Akpan , Essien Ndueso, Aniekeme Finbarr, Uko Umoh, Sampson Akpan , Emmanuel Nicholas Okokon, Emmanuel Sam, Solomon Eyo, Rev'd Richard Peters, Idris Mabadeje, Aniekan Ukpong and Godwin Ibok, all seasoned media professionals who have keenly followed developments in the state, traced the journey so far, and the impact of the five years of governance of Akwa Ibom State, under the leadership of Governor Udom Emmanuel.

LEADERSHIP STYLE AND GOVERNANCE

The true mark of leadership is the inclination to stick to innovative and audacious course of actions.

Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs puts it more succinctly, “innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower”. One of the outstanding features of a good leader therefore, is the capacity to reason freestanding of conventional wisdom.

Often, a good leader may not follow the known rules of doing things, particularly in a political clime like ours. Initially, his drive may seem unpopular, but with time, his vision becomes clearer for pundits to decipher, thus setting such a leader apart as a critical thinker, a revolutionary and hero who bolsters his people too. In the words of the sixth President of the United States of America, John Quincy Adams, a good leader inspires his people to “dream more, learn more, do more and become more”.

The above analysis of know-how in leadership best defines the governance style of Mr. Udom Emmanuel, who in the past fast five years as Governor of Akwa Ibom State has demonstrated a leadership style that has attracted enthusiastic connectivity and economic simulation among his people.

Since his ascendancy to the seat of governance of Akwa Ibom State on May 29, 2015, Governor Udom Emmanuel has manifested a clear insight and understanding of the kernel of leadership through policies and programmes that have positively impacted on every section and sector of the state.

A lot has been said and written about the imprints of Governor Udom Emmanuel in the economic sector as well as the great strides of his administration in infrastructural revitalization and its industrial agenda for fast growing state.
Nonetheless, one area that social commentators and political analysts seem too often to overlook is the humongous achievements of Governor Udom Emmanuel in the unity project of the state and the other intangible attainments of the administration.

The proclivity of Governor Emmanuel as a peace ambassador, bridge builder, champion and front liner for the unity and greatness of the state is enshrined as word on marble in his political and economic inclusion pillar and his well thought out DAKADDA philosophy for the state.

In words and actions, and in every occasion and situation, the governor has emphasized the cords that bind the state together, distancing himself and his administration from the agents of destabilization, discordance and acrimony, who rather seek to exaggerate the negligible diversities to undermine homogeneousness of the state.

This underlying philosophy of the governor in running the affairs of the state is exemplified in the equitable distribution of human capital development and his infrastructural expansion drive to every segment of the state without biases and bigotries. This explains the huge support base of the governor across the 31 Local Government Areas of the State, devoid of ethnic sentiments. The strength and reach of his support came to fore convincingly during the 2019 gubernatorial election in the state, in which Governor Emmanuel easily won landslide votes in all the 2,980 units of the 329 wards of the state.

For Governor Udom Emmanuel, the unity, harmonious coexistence and the holistic development of the state are topmost agenda that must not be sacrificed on the altar of personal ego and self-aggrandizement.

THE BIRTH OF INDUSTRIES

Industrialization has copiously manifested as a priority sector in the development matrix of Governor Udom Emmanuel, not only due to the fact that, it is one of the major planks of the Eight Point Completion Agenda of Governor Udom Emmanuel but because it has become a recurring decimal in the christening of the State budget, since the Governor came on board his second term administration.

The 1999 budget of Akwa Ibom State was christened, "Budget of Industrialization for Poverty Alleviation" while that of the current fiscal year 2020, is christened, "Budget of Industrialization for Poverty Alleviation" phase 11, continuing the mapping from that of the previous year. While presenting the 2020 budget in the floor of the House on October 8, 2019, Governor Emmanuel had said unequivocally that, his vision was to build an industrialized state away from the Civil Service mono-economy, targeting job creation, wealth creation and poverty alleviation.

"The 2020 budget is christened, Budget of Industrialization For Poverty Alleviation, phase 2, because my completion agenda is predicated primarily on the rapid industrialization of the state", Governor Udom Emmanuel had emphasized.

With the resolve therefore to build more industries and attract huge volumes of Foreign Direct Investments, FDI, to Akwa Ibom State, Governor Udom Emmanuel has at the last count, bring on stream, 18 industries which are producing consumables for the people of the state, in keeping with the Governor's commitment to ensuring that 80 percent of consumable items will be produced in the state by the end of his administration in 2023.

To this end, Akwa Ibom State prides itself as home to the largest Syringe manufacturing factory in Africa with a production capacity of 400 million syringes per annum, the Jubilee Syringe, the best and first ever digital Electric Metering Solutions manufacturing company, with a production capacity of 3 million prepaid meters annually, the Lions Plywood and Timber factory which at the moment is providing jobs to over 150 young people in the state and two Rice mills, the Ibom Agricon Rice mill, producing the Family Rice and the SACAM Afro Processing Rice Mill, producing the Three Rose Rice.

The State also boasts of the Greenwell Fertilizer blending company with a production capacity of 400,000 metric tons per annum, producing assorted kinds of fertilizers for different soil types, the Virgin Coconut oil Refinery, the Kings Flour mill and the Ufani Palm Kernel Crushing Plant in Ukanafun. Others include: the Plastic, Toothpick, Pencils and ongoing Quality Ceramics and Tissue production factories in Itu. There is also the Ibom Industrial Park/Jetty ongoing at the Ikot Abasi coastal area of the state, Cassava processing mills in Abak and Ibesikpo-Asutan, Oil palm processing depots, power and gas processing plant which is ongoing in Ibeno and the mega ongoing Ibom Deep Seaport, making Akwa Ibom stand tall as the emerging industrial hub of Nigeria.

THE RE-BIRTH OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP

In pursuit of a vibrant economic and entrepreneurial development, Governor Udom Emmanuel's administration has turned attention to what could be termed "the low hanging fruits".

This low hanging fruits of the economy spans through the agricultural sector, small and medium scale enterprises, skill acquisition and empowerment.

To give a legal backing to entrepreneurship development, the government had not only set up Akwa Ibom Micro Enterprises and Developments Agency but signed the Akwa Ibom Micro Enterprises Agency bill into law.

The My Entrepreneurship Goals Programme of the Marketing and Brand Management unit of the Governor's office has also trained for certification more than 130 youths on the management of various enterprises .

Within the last few years, government in a bit to recapitalise the economy, injected over 2billion naira interest free loan to traders and small scale businesses.

Besides, to ensure that the prices of stable foods are within the capacity of the poor, the government further provided food processing equipment and agricultural inputs to cooperative societies across the state.

SUPERLATIVE STRIDES IN HEALTHCARE DELIVERY

There are reasons for the people of Akwa Ibom state to celebrate the emergence of Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, five years ago, with regards to the total revamping of the health sector.

Unarguably, Governor Emmanuel's intervention in the State's health sector right from his first term in office saved Akwa Ibom from being badly hit by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus ravaging the world. He proactively prepared the State to meet any health emergency.

The governor embarked on rehabilitation of secondary health facilities across the state with such energy and consistency that baffled even his critics. With a simple message: Health is Wealth, he set about transforming long abandoned and dilapidated hospitals into functional health care center equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment, manned by motivated personnel.

Some of the medical equipment imported by the administration, which arrived the state in 50 containers include, electrocardiograph 3 Channels, colonoscopy (with halogen light), x-ray film processor, x-ray film viewer, gastroscope, operating theatre light (5-Spot light), operating table, anastasia trolley with ventilator and monitor, syringe pump, electro surgical units, monopolar-bipolar operating instruments, suction pump and host of other state-of-the art equipment including CT Scanners, Surgical microscope for eyes.

The governor began his transformation of the state's health sector with the iconic missionary hospital - St. Luke's Hospital, Anua - Uyo, where he constructed and equipped a 300-bed gynecology ward in honour of the reputable Irish Missionary, Dr. Ann Ward. From there, he undertook the rehabilitation and upgrading of several hospitals namely: Etinan General Hospital, Ikot Okoro General Hospital, General Hospital, Ituk Mbang, General Hospital, Ibiaku Ntok Okpo, Emmanuel General Hospital, Eket and General Hospital, Iquita Oron.

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abelekene:

May 29, 2015 marked a watershed in the annals of Akwa Ibom State. On that day, the people of this South-South state, heralded the swearing-into office of their new Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, a thorough bred professional, a doyen of innovative management and a renowned apostle of excellence.

IN THIS SPECIAL REPORT, Charles Udoh, Ekerete Udoh, James Edet, Michael Bush, Aniefiok Macauley, Grace Akpan , Essien Ndueso, Aniekeme Finbarr, Uko Umoh, Sampson Akpan , Emmanuel Nicholas Okokon, Emmanuel Sam, Solomon Eyo, Rev'd Richard Peters, Idris Mabadeje, Aniekan Ukpong and Godwin Ibok, all seasoned media professionals who have keenly followed developments in the state, traced the journey so far, and the impact of the five years of governance of Akwa Ibom State, under the leadership of Governor Udom Emmanuel.

LEADERSHIP STYLE AND GOVERNANCE

The true mark of leadership is the inclination to stick to innovative and audacious course of actions.

Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs puts it more succinctly, “innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower”. One of the outstanding features of a good leader therefore, is the capacity to reason freestanding of conventional wisdom.

Often, a good leader may not follow the known rules of doing things, particularly in a political clime like ours. Initially, his drive may seem unpopular, but with time, his vision becomes clearer for pundits to decipher, thus setting such a leader apart as a critical thinker, a revolutionary and hero who bolsters his people too. In the words of the sixth President of the United States of America, John Quincy Adams, a good leader inspires his people to “dream more, learn more, do more and become more”.

The above analysis of know-how in leadership best defines the governance style of Mr. Udom Emmanuel, who in the past fast five years as Governor of Akwa Ibom State has demonstrated a leadership style that has attracted enthusiastic connectivity and economic simulation among his people.

Since his ascendancy to the seat of governance of Akwa Ibom State on May 29, 2015, Governor Udom Emmanuel has manifested a clear insight and understanding of the kernel of leadership through policies and programmes that have positively impacted on every section and sector of the state.

A lot has been said and written about the imprints of Governor Udom Emmanuel in the economic sector as well as the great strides of his administration in infrastructural revitalization and its industrial agenda for fast growing state.
Nonetheless, one area that social commentators and political analysts seem too often to overlook is the humongous achievements of Governor Udom Emmanuel in the unity project of the state and the other intangible attainments of the administration.

The proclivity of Governor Emmanuel as a peace ambassador, bridge builder, champion and front liner for the unity and greatness of the state is enshrined as word on marble in his political and economic inclusion pillar and his well thought out DAKADDA philosophy for the state.

In words and actions, and in every occasion and situation, the governor has emphasized the cords that bind the state together, distancing himself and his administration from the agents of destabilization, discordance and acrimony, who rather seek to exaggerate the negligible diversities to undermine homogeneousness of the state.

This underlying philosophy of the governor in running the affairs of the state is exemplified in the equitable distribution of human capital development and his infrastructural expansion drive to every segment of the state without biases and bigotries. This explains the huge support base of the governor across the 31 Local Government Areas of the State, devoid of ethnic sentiments. The strength and reach of his support came to fore convincingly during the 2019 gubernatorial election in the state, in which Governor Emmanuel easily won landslide votes in all the 2,980 units of the 329 wards of the state.

For Governor Udom Emmanuel, the unity, harmonious coexistence and the holistic development of the state are topmost agenda that must not be sacrificed on the altar of personal ego and self-aggrandizement.

THE BIRTH OF INDUSTRIES

Industrialization has copiously manifested as a priority sector in the development matrix of Governor Udom Emmanuel, not only due to the fact that, it is one of the major planks of the Eight Point Completion Agenda of Governor Udom Emmanuel but because it has become a recurring decimal in the christening of the State budget, since the Governor came on board his second term administration.

The 1999 budget of Akwa Ibom State was christened, "Budget of Industrialization for Poverty Alleviation" while that of the current fiscal year 2020, is christened, "Budget of Industrialization for Poverty Alleviation" phase 11, continuing the mapping from that of the previous year. While presenting the 2020 budget in the floor of the House on October 8, 2019, Governor Emmanuel had said unequivocally that, his vision was to build an industrialized state away from the Civil Service mono-economy, targeting job creation, wealth creation and poverty alleviation.

"The 2020 budget is christened, Budget of Industrialization For Poverty Alleviation, phase 2, because my completion agenda is predicated primarily on the rapid industrialization of the state", Governor Udom Emmanuel had emphasized.

With the resolve therefore to build more industries and attract huge volumes of Foreign Direct Investments, FDI, to Akwa Ibom State, Governor Udom Emmanuel has at the last count, bring on stream, 18 industries which are producing consumables for the people of the state, in keeping with the Governor's commitment to ensuring that 80 percent of consumable items will be produced in the state by the end of his administration in 2023.

To this end, Akwa Ibom State prides itself as home to the largest Syringe manufacturing factory in Africa with a production capacity of 400 million syringes per annum, the Jubilee Syringe, the best and first ever digital Electric Metering Solutions manufacturing company, with a production capacity of 3 million prepaid meters annually, the Lions Plywood and Timber factory which at the moment is providing jobs to over 150 young people in the state and two Rice mills, the Ibom Agricon Rice mill, producing the Family Rice and the SACAM Afro Processing Rice Mill, producing the Three Rose Rice.

The State also boasts of the Greenwell Fertilizer blending company with a production capacity of 400,000 metric tons per annum, producing assorted kinds of fertilizers for different soil types, the Virgin Coconut oil Refinery, the Kings Flour mill and the Ufani Palm Kernel Crushing Plant in Ukanafun. Others include: the Plastic, Toothpick, Pencils and ongoing Quality Ceramics and Tissue production factories in Itu. There is also the Ibom Industrial Park/Jetty ongoing at the Ikot Abasi coastal area of the state, Cassava processing mills in Abak and Ibesikpo-Asutan, Oil palm processing depots, power and gas processing plant which is ongoing in Ibeno and the mega ongoing Ibom Deep Seaport, making Akwa Ibom stand tall as the emerging industrial hub of Nigeria.

THE RE-BIRTH OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP

In pursuit of a vibrant economic and entrepreneurial development, Governor Udom Emmanuel's administration has turned attention to what could be termed "the low hanging fruits".

This low hanging fruits of the economy spans through the agricultural sector, small and medium scale enterprises, skill acquisition and empowerment.

To give a legal backing to entrepreneurship development, the government had not only set up Akwa Ibom Micro Enterprises and Developments Agency but signed the Akwa Ibom Micro Enterprises Agency bill into law.

The My Entrepreneurship Goals Programme of the Marketing and Brand Management unit of the Governor's office has also trained for certification more than 130 youths on the management of various enterprises .

Within the last few years, government in a bit to recapitalise the economy, injected over 2billion naira interest free loan to traders and small scale businesses.

Besides, to ensure that the prices of stable foods are within the capacity of the poor, the government further provided food processing equipment and agricultural inputs to cooperative societies across the state.

SUPERLATIVE STRIDES IN HEALTHCARE DELIVERY

There are reasons for the people of Akwa Ibom state to celebrate the emergence of Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, five years ago, with regards to the total revamping of the health sector.

Unarguably, Governor Emmanuel's intervention in the State's health sector right from his first term in office saved Akwa Ibom from being badly hit by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus ravaging the world. He proactively prepared the State to meet any health emergency.

The governor embarked on rehabilitation of secondary health facilities across the state with such energy and consistency that baffled even his critics. With a simple message: Health is Wealth, he set about transforming long abandoned and dilapidated hospitals into functional health care center equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment, manned by motivated personnel.

Some of the medical equipment imported by the administration, which arrived the state in 50 containers include, electrocardiograph 3 Channels, colonoscopy (with halogen light), x-ray film processor, x-ray film viewer, gastroscope, operating theatre light (5-Spot light), operating table, anastasia trolley with ventilator and monitor, syringe pump, electro surgical units, monopolar-bipolar operating instruments, suction pump and host of other state-of-the art equipment including CT Scanners, Surgical microscope for eyes.

The governor began his transformation of the state's health sector with the iconic missionary hospital - St. Luke's Hospital, Anua - Uyo, where he constructed and equipped a 300-bed gynecology ward in honour of the reputable Irish Missionary, Dr. Ann Ward. From there, he undertook the rehabilitation and upgrading of several hospitals namely: Etinan General Hospital, Ikot Okoro General Hospital, General Hospital, Ituk Mbang, General Hospital, Ibiaku Ntok Okpo, Emmanuel General Hospital, Eket and General Hospital, Iquita Oron.

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I think Udom and his sycophants is more of talk and lengthy write-ups than actual performance. It has been common place to always attach international, world class, first of its kind in Africa, etc to every substandard thing they do. Sorry Overall I'm not impressed.