At the 2025 Children’s Arts and Culture Summit, Akwa Ibom urges youth to embrace culture, hard work and revive the state’s fading indigenous language

The Akwa Ibom Children’s Summit kicked off with a vibrant display of culture and renewed calls for the revival of the State’s indigenous language.

Also read: Akwa Ibom to host world tourism summit in September

The 2025 Children’s Arts and Culture Summit, hosted by the Centre for Arts and Culture in Uyo, brought together secondary school students from across the State to celebrate heritage, creativity and identity under the theme For Every Child: Culture My Motivation, My Voice.

Speaking at the event, the State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Anieti Udofia, emphasised the need for children to embody the values of hard work, resilience, integrity and excellence.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Grace Akpan, the Commissioner urged schools to incorporate indigenous languages into their curriculum, warning that vernacular in Akwa Ibom is nearing extinction.

“We want you to be proud of your identity and culture as a true son and daughter of Akwa Ibom State,” the Commissioner said, commending the Centre’s Director, Dr. Unwana Joshua, for a well-organised summit aligned with Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda for tourism development.

The three-day summit features debates, indigenous cuisine contests, cultural performances and the cutting of the 2025 Children’s Festival cake. One of the highlights was the presentation of an Award of Honour to IniAbasi George Essien, popularly known as Mighty George.

In his remarks, the Commissioner reiterated the Governor’s commitment to cultural development, describing Pastor Umo Eno as a tourism-friendly leader who has prioritised the creative economy as a tool for youth empowerment.

Also read: Akwa Ibom Government pledges to protect heritage sites for tourism development

The event attracted wide participation from government officials, tourism stakeholders, educators and culture advocates, with former Commissioner Otuekong Emmanuel Ibiok serving as Chairman of the occasion.