Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has reiterated his administration’s dedication to driving economic growth beyond oil by focusing on tourism and human capital development. Speaking at a public lecture at the University of Uyo titled “Leading Economic Development in Sub-Nationals of the Nigerian Federation: The ARISE Agenda,” he emphasized reducing government waste and expanding the state’s revenue through digitalization.
Eno announced the upcoming launch of AKWAGIS, a digital platform for collecting ground rent, which is projected to enhance business attraction by streamlining the issuance of Certificates of Occupancy. He described tourism as the “new black gold” and highlighted investments in various tourism initiatives, including agricultural and medical tourism, with plans for the Ibom International Medical Centre, a state-of-the-art 200-bed hospital.
Additionally, the governor noted ongoing developments at the Aviation Village to support the growth of Ibom Air and mentioned other key projects like the ARISE Resort, International Conference Centre, and Ibom Tropicana Hotel, all aimed at positioning Akwa Ibom as Nigeria’s tourism hub and generating significant revenue.
“We are intentionally laying the groundwork for sustainable development beyond oil, with strategic investments in tourism and human capital development as our path forward,” stated Governor Eno. He also highlighted the importance of fiscal discipline and revenue diversification for sub-national governments to achieve sustainable economic growth.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Saviour Enyiekere, Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission, commended Governor Eno for his alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Federal Government. Akpabio assured Eno of the All Progressives Congress (APC) support in his bid for a second term in 2027.
In separate remarks, Prof. Akpan Ekpo, the Vice Chancellor of UNIUYO, Prof. Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, and Prof. Christopher Ekong, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, praised Governor Eno for sharing his vision for development at the university’s public lecture.