Deconstructing abstractions: The back story of DNA, Hawking and Edutrip Students

In class, students most times are just taught the theories or principles and their application. Many do not know the history, context or the back story. 

Later on in life, when the backstory is learned, it provides deeper clarity and a feeling of epiphany. That was exactly the feeling that engulfed the science students who are a part of the Akwa Ibom/United Kingdom Edutrip, when they saw the place where the Deoxyribonucleic Acid DNA was discovered at Cambridge University. Just as they were leaving there, the students came face to face with the building where the late legendary Stephen Hawking lived and had his office. 

The students were blown away completely and they shouted in excitement. The guide offered more explanation. 

The students were shown to the different colleges and also introduced to student life at Cambridge.

On our trip back, the conversation in the bus was all about the discoveries and their inventors. They were so excited to have been where greats were, walked the same soil they did and just as the noise was fading, someone exclaimed, “I'll be back here, either as student or worker. Their ID card must hang on my neck” .

Just then I wished their sponsor, Governor Umo Eno heard that. I know how satisfied he would have been, that by his thoughts and actions, a child from a public school in a rural community in our state has had the confidence to aspire to academic excellence at a previously unimagined place like the University of Cambridge. This would have made his day.

As the coach arrived at our destination back in London, and the children began to alight, I saw Mrs Idong Etiebet and Rt. Hon. Dr. Ekaette Ebong Okon hugging two kids very tightly and praying for them.

Out of curiosity, I asked why and I was told that two of them had come to them to commit to do all within their powers to get excellent grades and make the Governor proud. As I made to leave, one of them asked me, “Uncle Ini, if I pass really well, will the Governor send me to Cambridge or Imperial? Iya mmi , na me these children wan use practice negotiation? My answer was simple, “Get the grades first and leave the rest to the Governor, after all you didn't negotiate to be here”.

I agree without argument with the person who said that travelling is a key part of education.

Thank you Governor Umo Eno

Governor Umo Eno Approves Additional N6.43 Billion for Payment of Gratuities, Other Entitlements

Press Release

In his assured and determined desire to fulfill his campaign promise to regularly set aside substantial amount of funds for the payment of gratuities and other entitlements for retired workers in the state, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has again, approved the release of the sum of  N6,432,924,257. 62 for the above purpose.

A breakdown of the payment is as follows: N1,000,000,000 as  payment of gratuities for retired primary school teachers (SUBEB); N500, 000, 000 for the payment of gratuities of retired local government workers, N2,220,524,257.62 being the payment of gratuities, pension arrears, and enbloc for state retired  Civil Service workers, N597,400,000.00, for the 2014 leave grant for local government workers and N2,115,000.000.00 representing the payment for leave grant for workers in the State Civil Service, bringing the total amount of funds released by Governor Eno in the months of July and August respectively to N6, 432,924, 257.62

The release of the above amount brings to over twenty eight billion Naira, that Governor Umo Eno has so far disbursed for the payments of gratuities and other entitlements since he assumed office a little over one year ago. 

The Governor has always said that, with the rich infrastructural amenities previous administrations had provided, of which he is determined to maintain and expand as outlined in the Arise Agenda, the focus now should be to grow the people, improve their material wellbeing and accelerate developments in the rural areas.

His passionate dedication to the welfare of the most vulnerable and the neediest in the society has seen him construct, and hand over 36 fully -furnished and fitted 2- bedroom bungalows under the Arise Compassionate Homes  Initiative to the poorest and the most vulnerable so far, with 164 currently under construction. 

He plans to hand over 200 of those units in his second year and 400  by the end of his first term. 

Already 150 units out of the 236 units at the Grace Homes Estate, are to be given out to civil servants from grades level 1-8, free of charge through a raffle draw selection process.

Through the  Arise Elderly Care Initiatives, N50,000 is given out monthly to 600 elders  throughout the 368 wards in the state. Bursaries to students in public tertiary institutions are being paid, alongside grants for students with disabilities. WAEC fees for all students continue to be paid and the State’s pass rate ratio has increased exponentially.

The Governor, through the Bulk Purchase Agency, is distributing staple food items directly to the most vulnerable in the State and also remains deeply grateful for the palliatives so far given to the people of the state by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

Apart from the above humanitarian interventions, Governor Eno, is also  undertaking audacious capital projects such as the completion of road infrastructure inherited from previous administrations and the ongoing construction of numerous other road projects he has initiated throughout the state, the flood control tunnel on Atiku Abubakar Way which he started and  was commissioned last May, the audacious Arise Park which is a miracle to behold given the fact that the location was previously a desolate and erosion- ravaged ravine, the plan to acquire two brand new CRJ-900 series Bombadier jets to expand the fleet and routes for Ibom Air, to be purchased outright; these add to the planned 19- Storey Ibom Towers in Lagos and the 3- Star Ibom Hotel in Abuja among others.

There is no doubt that Governor Eno, is utilizing the resources of the State to touch lives as reflected in his regular payment of gratuities and to expand infrastructural amenities in the State. Akwa Ibom indeed is Rising, continuously!

Ekerete Udoh

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor 

September 4, 2024