Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has received accolades from the body of Heads of Nursing Services Department and Principals of Schools in Federal Health Institutions (Bonefish) and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) for his administration’s reforms and investments in the state’s health sector.

 

The awards were presented to the Governor Eno during the stakeholders’ engagement on ARISE 2.0, the state’s economic development plan, and a review of projects scheduled for commissioning in September 2026 at Government House, Uyo.

 

BOHNAPFHI honoured Governor Eno for his “exemplary leadership, visionary contributions and unwavering commitment to the development of healthcare services and infrastructure through the ARISE Agenda.”

 

Also, NANNM, on its part, conferred on him the Nurse-Friendly Governor Award, recognising what it described as his “outstanding leadership, exceptional commitment and deliberate investment in strengthening the nursing and midwifery workforce.”

 

Speaking at event, the Team Lead and Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Ndaji Alhassan, stated that the delegation visited Akwa Ibom to appreciate Governor Eno’s contributions to healthcare development in the state.

 

Alhassan, who was accompanied by the National Chairman of BOHNAPFHI, Dr. (Mrs.) Jenny Akpan, commended the Ibom Medical City project, model primary healthcare centres and other health infrastructure initiatives undertaken by the administration.

 

Similarly, the National President of NANNM, represented by the National Financial Secretary, Dr. Ojong Ofut Ogar, praised Governor Eno for what he described as “giant strides” in the health sector, and thanked him for creating an enabling environment for NANNM to hold its 2026 conference in Akwa Ibom.

 

The State Chairman of NANNM, Nsikan Udoh, said nurses in Akwa Ibom had “never had it so good,” citing the administration’s transformation of healthcare infrastructure and improvements in the welfare and working conditions of health workers.

 

Udoh assured Executive Governor of the association’s continued support for his administration and the ARISE Agenda, describing the projects as commendable and deserving of recognition.

 

Responding, Governor Eno expressed appreciation to the two organisations for the honours and for selecting Akwa Ibom as the venue for the 2026 NANNM conference, and dedicated the awards to the people of the State and others who had contributed to the development of the state’s health sector.

 

Eno said his administration’s healthcare transformation agenda extended beyond infrastructure to human capital development, noting that the state had employed young graduates while also engaging retired nurses to tap into their experience and expertise.

 

He therefore emphasised that a healthy population was critical to the success of any government and assured that his administration would sustain its investments in healthcare.

 

Governor Eno also commended the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem John, for his dedication and contributions to the development of the sector.

 

The delegation included the Chief Medical Director of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Professor Emem Abasi Bassey; Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee (DCMAC), UUTH, Professor Eyo Ekpe; and other officials.