Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has been named Governor of the Year 2025 by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF)
The award honors his exemplary leadership, transparency, and significant achievements under the state’s ARISE Agenda.
The presentation took place during the public unveiling of the Socio-Economic Impact Assessment of the ARISE Agenda after two years, held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, on Thursday.
Representing the NGF Director-General, Alhaji Abdullateef Shittu, Prof. Abba Gambo praised Governor Eno’s leadership style, highlighting Akwa Ibom’s top position in governance, fiscal responsibility, and development delivery compared to other states.
“In a State-by-State comparative analysis, Akwa Ibom came out top,” he said before presenting the award.
The NGF also commended Governor Eno for completing and advancing numerous projects across various sectors without relying on bank loans or external borrowing—an impressive feat amid Nigeria’s challenging economic climate.
Governor Eno dedicated the award to the people of Akwa Ibom, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to transparent, people-focused governance.
He thanked the NGF and emphasized that the success stems from prudent resource management, institutional reforms, and a clear development plan guided by the ARISE Agenda.
“This recognition is both humbling and encouraging. We will continue to use Akwa Ibom’s resources to serve its people—building infrastructure, empowering communities, and creating a more prosperous future,” he said.
The event also included policy reviews, expert presentations, and assessments of the state’s progress over the past two years.
Attendees included federal officials, ministers, economic experts, development partners, civil society representatives, and journalists, many of whom praised the state’s transparency and willingness to subject its progress to independent evaluation.
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