Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has declared a state of emergency in the education sector, approving the recruitment of an additional 2,000 teachers and introducing new welfare packages for teachers across the state.
Governor Eno made the declaration on Monday, October 5, 2026, during the celebration of World Teachers’ Day at the Uyo Township Stadium, Uyo.
The Governor said education remained a major pillar of his administration’s ARISE Agenda, stressing the need for urgent and comprehensive interventions to improve the standard of education in the state.
“Other than the State Ministry of Health that we declared a state of emergency, I hereby declare a state of emergency in the Akwa Ibom State education sector,” Eno declared.
He directed the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, to work with the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ubong Umoh, to constitute a high-powered committee that would conduct a comprehensive review of the sector and develop a roadmap for upgrading educational standards.
According to him, the intervention is expected to produce measurable outcomes that would improve students’ performance in promotional and other examinations.
“We trust God that as we constitute the committee on the state of emergency in our educational system, we will have deliverables that will make our students continue to record higher scores in their various promotional examinations.
“Once our children are educated, they can easily find their ways in life. And, we must take the education of our children very seriously,” he said.
Governor Eno called on stakeholders, including teachers, education managers and other relevant institutions, to collaborate with the government in repositioning the sector.
Highlighting some of his administration’s achievements in education, the Governor announced the upgrade of the State College of Education, Afaha Nsit, to a University of Education.
He also announced the appointment of Prof. Philip Afaha as the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the newly upgraded institution.
As part of efforts to address manpower shortages in primary schools,
Eno approved the recruitment of 2,000 additional teachers, saying the move would strengthen teaching and learning across the state.
The Governor further announced a ₦50,000 wardrobe allowance for each teacher in the state public service as part of his administration’s welfare package.
He also approved ₦500,000 support for each of the 1,776 registered private schools in Akwa Ibom State.
While congratulating teachers on the occasion, Eno urged them to demonstrate greater commitment to their duties and remain accountable for the academic development of their students.
“I want our teachers to work harder and be held accountable in teaching our students; I want them to continue to do training and retraining; let our teachers be in school and stay in school,” he said.
Responding to a request for assistance toward the completion of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Secretariat, the Governor directed the Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Committee to oversee the completion of the project.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Education, Prof.
Ubong Umoh, commended Governor Eno for his commitment to educational development, describing him as a progressive leader who has prioritised reforms and investments in the sector.
Umoh said the Governor had demonstrated strong commitment to education through investments across various levels of the state’s educational system.
Also speaking, the National President of the NUT, Comrade Audu Amba, represented by Comrade Ofonime Ekanem, appreciated the Governor for his welfare packages for teachers and his efforts to transform the education sector through model schools, teachers’ quarters and other initiatives.
The State Chairman of NUT, Comrade Edet Emenyi, described the occasion as a momentous day for teachers, thanking Governor Eno for his commitment to their welfare and for personally attending the World Teachers’ Day celebration.
In his keynote address, Prof.
Aniedi Usoro described the history and contributions of teachers as significant, commending Governor Eno for not only maintaining his reputation as an education-friendly Governor but also as a teacher-friendly Governor.
Usoro urged teachers to remain adaptive, value-driven and collaborative, while calling on the Ministry of Education to organise regular workshops and seminars to improve teachers’ skills and prepare them for global competitiveness.
He said such interventions would help produce teachers capable of nurturing a new generation of creative thinkers.
In separate remarks, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Sunny James, and leaders of affiliate unions under the NUT, appreciated Governor Eno for what they described as his commitment to transforming the education sector.
They also announced the unanimous endorsement of their members for Governor Eno.
Similarly, one of the newly recruited teachers, Pastor David Asanga Ukpong, commended the Governor for what he described as a merit-based recruitment exercise.
Ukpong said successful candidates had received their appointment letters and commenced work, adding that the new teachers were pleased with what he described as the Governor’s commitment to excellence and a level playing field.
He assured that the newly recruited teachers were prepared to support the administration and vote for Governor Eno in the 2027 election.
The high point of the celebration was the official endorsement by teachers of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Governor Umo Eno for the 2027 elections.
