Akwa Ibom State at 25 years

25th Anniversary/ Birthday Logo

The Governor of Akwa Ibom State

The Children entertaining, dancing, drumming and doing the 'Etighe steps'.

Akwa Ibom State was created out of Cross River State on September 23, 1987 by the then Military Head of State, Ibrahim Gbadamosi Babangida (pictured above). These former colonial provinces make up the state, Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, Eket and Abak. Uyo became the capital. The first Administrator was Tunde Ogbeha, a military man.

Uyo was a local Government set up before it became the capital of the new State. The Military Government then started transforming the Capital and subsequent Government have been developing it into a befitting State Capital. Now there are wider four lanes roads, oberhead bridges and well maintained highways linking other parts of the State to Uyo. Akwa Ibom was created with Katsina State. I remember then that i was in Kaduna State in Orientation camp for my Youth Service. When we heard that Katsina State too was created, we all became apprehensive and started panicking because we didn't want to be transferred to a new Camp. The fear was heightened when the Camp Commandant announced that the new State will need more Youth Corpers to help her start. Tell me who needed to go to a barren place? Most of us were not adventurous and were scared of the religious extremists who populated the core muslims States in the far North. Also we were mostly from the Southern part of the Country and preferred the more enlightened Kaduna to other parts of the North.

OBONG VICTOR ATTAH, the former Governor of the State who laid the foundation of the modern State. He is an architect by profession and he design the modern State. The present Governor Obong Godswill Akpabio is really following those designs. Politically, the Governors may not agree with each other but they both love the State and want it to grow. They may say anything now but posterity will judge. To all the Governors who have made the State what it is today, Nigerians say Thank you.

The Silver Jubilee started with a children Concert hosted by the Wife of the State Governor, Mrs. Oluchi Ekaette Godswill Akpabio.

Happy Celebration AKWA IBOMITE!!!! As you celebrate with pomp and pageantry, may you be blessed with more infrastructural developments and good leaders. May your resources not be squandered in Jesus name. Amen.