Events

A’Ibom at 36: Gov Eno Reassures Citizens of Fulfilling Campaign Promises

Published

3 years ago

September 26, 2023

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Umo Eno, has reassured the citizens that he would not derail from delivering his campaign promises as captured in the ARISE Agenda being the flagship for the development of the state, by his government.

He said: “I was elected as the governor of this state, and we have citizens who did not vote for me, because they belong to other parties.

“I put my hands on the Bible and swore an oath to serve you all, and I will continue to do so as long as I am on this seat.”

Governor Eno gave the reassurance in a broadcast last Saturday to mark the 36th anniversary of the creation of Akwa Ibom State.

He called on the people to sheath their political swords and work together to advance the growth of the state and the country.

According to him, “So far, we have worked across party lines to advance the development of our state, since politics must give way to governance.

“To ensure that we continue to enjoy the peace we are known for, we have created a full-fledged new ministry-the Ministry of Internal Security and Waterways- headed by a retired General of the Nigerian Army, Koko Essien.

“Our security architecture is robust and remains committed to working collaboratively to ensure our safety. We thank the security agencies immensely for this deep sense of collaborations.

“I am unapologetically committed to prioritising Agricultural Revolution, Tourism Development, Environmental Management, Rural Development, Women and Youth Empowerment, Infrastructural Maintenance, Security, Education, Health Management, Economic, Industrial and Social Advancement.

“Once we improve the quality of life of our rural dwellers, embark upon the One Local Government One Project (OLOP,) create neighborhood watchers to provide both employment to our youths in the state and to maintain the peace and security we have been enjoying, improve primary healthcare service delivery, establish model primary schools, and link the over 2, 272 gazetted villages with electricity, we would be right on track with our rural development agenda.

“To ignite our agricultural revolution in line with our ARISE Agenda, we have acquired over 50 hectares of land in each of the 31 LGAs to ensure food security and to get our people to be involved in agro-allied enterprises.

“We recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the world renowned Songhai Farms to start a model farm in our state, and have already sent dozens of our people for training so that they could form the nucleus of the skilled workers to drive this exercise.

“A little over two weeks ago, I led a delegation of some members of the Exco on a working tour of the farm in Cotonou, Republic of Benin, and it was quite a revealing experience. We are on the cusp of truly igniting agricultural revolution and food security in line with our Arise Agenda.”

Governor Eno, who boasted of what he has done across all the sectors within the few months in office, said the state “will be one gigantic land of very hardworking, self -sufficient and happy people rising in one accord to fulfill the dreams of our founding fathers and God’s plans for us all.”

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Culture

Crowds Gather for Rare Sunrise at Egypt’s Abu Simbel Temple

Published

4 days ago

October 23, 2026

David Ogunjobi

Hundreds of tourists gathered at Egypt’s Abu Simbel temple to witness the twice-yearly sunrise ceremony illuminating Pharaoh Ramses II’s statue

Hundreds of tourists gathered at Egypt’s Abu Simbel temple on Thursday to witness a spectacular sunrise phenomenon in which sunlight illuminated the face of the statue of Pharaoh Ramses II, an event that occurs only twice a year.

Also read: 16 Famous Cultural Festivals That Define India

The ancient astronomical ceremony drew visitors from different parts of the world to the archaeological site in southern Egypt on October 22, one of two dates associated with the phenomenon.

The second occurrence takes place on February 22, when the rising sun illuminates the temple’s interior.

Egyptian tour guide Yasser Fouad described the occasion as extraordinary, saying some visitors had stayed overnight to secure the opportunity to witness the event.

“Today is an extraordinary day, everyone is keen, there are people who stayed over the night, foreigners who actually spent the night in Abu Simbel to see this phenomenon,” Fouad said.

The Great Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel dates back to the 13th century BC and is among Egypt’s most prominent archaeological attractions.

Built during the reign of Ramses II, one of ancient Egypt’s most powerful pharaohs, the temple is renowned for its monumental statues and sophisticated architectural design.

The twice-yearly sunrise phenomenon is a major attraction, drawing visitors eager to witness the interaction between sunlight and the temple’s ancient structure.

The dates have traditionally been associated with significant moments in Ramses II’s life.

October 22 is commonly linked to his birthday, while February 22 is associated with his accession to the throne.

However, the precise historical reasons behind the dates remain debated.

Some archaeologists have proposed alternative explanations, including that they may have marked the pharaoh’s coronation and birthday.

Abu Simbel underwent a major international rescue operation in the 1960s, when archaeologists and engineers relocated the temples to protect them from flooding caused by the construction of the Aswan High Dam.

The monumental structures were cut into large blocks and reassembled at a higher location, preserving the site for future generations.

The relocation was one of the most significant archaeological preservation projects of the 20th century.

Despite the move, the temple continues to attract visitors for its ancient Egyptian art, monumental architecture and remarkable alignment with the rising sun.

Also read: 16 Famous Cultural Festivals That Define India

The annual gatherings highlight the enduring appeal of Egypt’s archaeological heritage and the continuing fascination with the astronomical knowledge and engineering achievements of its ancient civilisation.