₦airaland Forum

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has recounted how the death of his father forced him to hawk soft drinks on the streets of Lagos to help his mother make ends meet.

Eno made the revelation while delivering the Convocation Lecture at the 7th Convocation of Mountain Top University, Ibafo, Ogun State, on Thursday.

He said his father, a police officer, died in the line of duty and life became difficult for him.

The governor said, “Life became very difficult after my father’s death. I had to help my mother augment the family’s income by hawking soft drinks on the streets of Lagos, even as a Senior Prefect of Victory High School.”

He described those early struggles as the foundation of his entrepreneurial spirit, which later saw him run one of the largest hospitality conglomerates in Akwa Ibom State.

Eno urged graduates to dream big, embrace creativity, and work hard, warning against entitlement and the desire for quick success.

Eno, in a statement issued by the Press Unit of the Akwa Ibom State Government House in Uyo, on Friday, urged Nigerian youths to discard the entitlement mentality and quest for an easy path to success.

He stated that contemporary society, reshaped by technological advancement and the breach of known boundaries, required a creative mindset that dared to challenge long-held norms.

The statement read partly, “Let me state here that we are living in a world shaped by new realities, a world where known boundaries have been breached and expanded by advancements in technology, where values once considered sacrosanct are no longer the defining ethos, and where groupthink is rapidly dissolving and being replaced by the need to do something daring, something different, and something that challenges long-held norms.




“The majority of the graduands here belong to the now-famous Generation X. Quite a number of people in this generation believe in the concept of immediate gratification and, to some extent, an entitlement mentality.

“They want to achieve success without putting in the corresponding hard work, and most times, they crash and burn.”

He stated that the growth of his business was made possible by his “implicit faith in the Invisible Hands of God to bring destiny helpers who would propel me to the heights God had destined for me.”

Maintaining that the road to success is not all rosy, he said: “You will achieve success only if you are upright in your dealings and guided by ethics and morality, and with faith in God. Whenever I remember my small beginnings and how God stepped in to arrange my path and the people who led me to the point He had destined for me, I am in awe of His mercies and grace.

“God can and will do the same for you, but you must learn to start something, grow something, dream of something, and put in the hard work.”

Eno said that despite his current roles as a minister of the Gospel, an entrepreneur, and a politician, he had not forgotten the grounding he received from his parents, the humility he wears as a badge of honour, and a deep sense of compassion for the poor and downtrodden.

The Chancellor and General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Professor Daniel Kolawole Olukoya, lauded Governor Eno for inspiring the graduands.

He said: “We specially honour and thank our Convocation Lecturer, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, for accepting to be part of this historic celebration. Your presence dignifies this occasion; your words inspire this generation; and your example reminds us that leadership can be both competent and values-driven.”

The Vice-Chancellor of Mountain Top University, Professor Elijah Adebowale Ayolabi, commended the Governor for honouring the occasion and delivering a stimulating and inspiring lecture.

President Bola Tinubu has said his journey to the presidency was fraught with numerous obstacles, describing his emergence as Nigeria’s leader as the result of perseverance and divine intervention.

He stated this on Friday during the 15th National Executive Committee meeting of the All Progressives Congress at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.

Tinubu also reflected on the challenges that confronted the country and his campaign in the build-up to the 2023 general election.

According to him, the period was marked by severe economic and social difficulties that tested the resolve of Nigerians.

He stated that the election period coincided with food shortages, the currency redesign policy and widespread fuel scarcity that led to long queues at petrol stations.

He recalled that many Nigerians endured significant hardship, with some unable to afford a single meal a day, stressing that the challenges were not insignificant but part of the difficult journey to the polls.

“I faced obstacles on my path to the presidency,” the President said.

Despite the setbacks, Tinubu attributed his eventual victory to God, saying his rise to the presidency was divinely ordained.

“God brought us here. I am a symbol of that God because, without Him, I wouldn’t be here. Governor Buni and Governor Uba Sani knew the obstacles on my path to the presidency. There was a wildfire, currency redesign chaos, and endless queues at filling stations. People died from hunger due to cash scarcity, all for one election,” Tinubu said.


According to him, the obstacles were enormous, but they underscored the need for gratitude and faith.

He urged Nigerians who believe in God’s work to remain faithful and thankful, despite prevailing challenges.

Tinubu also called for unity, tolerance and resilience in sustaining Nigeria’s democracy, warning that it must not be allowed to fail.

“We must continue to be resolute that this democracy we have taken into our hands must not fail,” he said.

Emphasising the importance of accommodation and inclusiveness, the President said leadership requires making room for others, even in times of difficulty.

Using a metaphor, the President urged citizens and leaders alike to show compassion to their neighbours, noting that mutual support strengthens society.

He further cautioned against the imposition of will in governance, describing it as a source of concern, and reiterated his belief that leadership is ultimately determined by God.

“God creates the opportunity for individuals, and if God says you will be there, you will be there,” Tinubu said.

SportblitsNews:
Gombe United Football Club’s Tricycle Transportation to League Match Raises Concerns.

How can players perform magic in such conditions?

Fans are questioning the state of team management after Gombe United players were seen using tricycles to get to a league match.

A professional state team struggling with basic transportation?
Very sad.

Source: https://sportblits.com/sports-news/gombe-united-players-travel-by-tricycle-to-league-match-fans-outraged/

Jakarta:
Nigeria made it to this list? Thank God. But I hear say presido finish secondary school even when the said school was yet to exist. Na true?

Jennyclay:
There are many format I use to collect money from rich men not the poverty stricken ones

Just know and understand the man mumu button
then you’re good to go.

educatedfool:
If no be say my father in-law na police man i for rain insult

Double0h7:
Very lucky girl! I’m jealous no be small 😭

AdventureRoom:
I used to avoid successful older women because I thought I couldn’t match up. Later I discovered it wasn’t about money at all but about mindset. Once I worked on my confidence and purpose, the conversations changed completely. I actually wrote down the steps that worked for me in a guide — happy to share with any brother who’s serious about learning.

NaijaGoBetter2:
Please show us the minimum wage of each country maybe the comparison will make sense

immortalcrown:
1.
Any man listening to that guy had already started running from his responsibilities or has been searching for a means of dodging his responsibility before he came across the guy. Stop blaming the guy. It is not the maker of torn clothes that is responsible for madness. Those who locate and put on torn clothes were already mad before coming across the torn clothes. Gege or whatsoever he is called does not convert men. He only encourages or coaches those who already have his mindset.

2.
The second to the last paragraph in your post is totally fallacious. If women becoming men is a choice of survival, men becoming women is also a choice of survival and not a choice of weakness.

3.
If you want to preach the Bible, I will agree with you that men are created to provide for women. But if you want to follow the way the world is going, men are no longer supposed to provide for women every time. A man should provide for his woman if the woman does not have. But if the woman has her own money, why should she save it so that the man will be the one spending his own or her?
Women are now equally being empowered the same way men are being empowered. Women now go to school and get jobs. If it was in the past when only men were empowered, when only men were trained in school and offered jobs, I will agree that it remains the responsibility of men to be providing for women. If men should continue to provide all the financial needs of women now that women are equally empowered, what then is the essence of empowering women? If women want all their needs to be provided by men, then the women should focus on opening their legs in bedrooms and nursing children, the women should not bother about going to school and competing with men in the job market.

4.
Your analysis is not balanced. In other words, it is one-sided. Men are not the only problem. Women are equally part of the problem. People like Gege and his fellows are warming up because more women are becoming more materialistic in this generation. In the past, a disciplined or decent man can use his good personality to attract a woman. But today on average, only a man with money attracts almost every woman in his environment. In today's world, a male criminal that has wealth can get any woman of his choice while it is almost impossible for a decent man that doesn't have money to get a woman of his choice. There are also Saidaboj and her followers. So, don't address the issue halfway.

Hespee93:
Let’s start with the fact you met her on FaceBook, that’s red flag number one.

She maid over 11TikTok videos with different backgrounds, red flag number two.

Nobody should advise you before making decisions.

The trust I had on my ex dropped to 0% when I learned that she dated someone she met on FaceBook even without them meeting just because he lives in Canada.

jmoore:
Thank God I will marry a virgin..

Thank God I will marry a virgin..

Jakumo:
Dis one go pass 500-liters GeePee reservoir tank, and na Gulder beer and Palm Wine full am