Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, PhD, has been nominated and is set to attend the Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service (NEAPS) where he will receive the Distinguished Award for Excellence in Sustainable Development and Community Empowerment.
The ceremony will take place on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
His nomination was communicated in an official letter signed by M.S. Danjuma, FCNA, Permanent Secretary (General Services Office), on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
According to the letter, the award will be presented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the high-profile national event organised by The Best Strategic Media (TBS) in collaboration with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
This recognition highlights Governor Eno’s unwavering commitment to sustainable development, community empowerment, and inclusive governance. It further underscores the impact of his ARISE Agenda particularly in rural development, agriculture, security sector support, public service productivity, and the upliftment of vulnerable communities across the state.
Over the past two years, Governor Eno has emerged as one of Nigeria’s most decorated serving governors, earning multiple prestigious recognitions for good governance, transparency, infrastructure expansion, media openness, and people-centric leadership. His latest honour adds to a growing list of awards that reflect increasing national and continental affirmation of his leadership approach.
Among his recent recognitions are the Nigerian Guild of Editors’ Excellence Award for Good Governance, which highlighted his transparent and media-friendly disposition; the Social Media Governor of the Year Award by NISMA for effective digital communication; and the Governor of the Year (2024) from Leadership Group Limited for outstanding progress across key sectors.
He was also named Best Governor of the Year (2024) by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), cited for fiscal responsibility, responsible planning, and meaningful grassroots impact. His steadfast support to security agencies earned him the Most Consistent Security-Supporting Governor Award from Security Watch Africa Initiative and an Award of Excellence from the Nigeria Police Force, Akwa Ibom Command.
On the continental front, Governor Eno was recently honoured as African Governor of the Year (Infrastructure Development) at the African Business Leadership Awards in London, recognising significant achievements in urban renewal, rural infrastructure development, water sector reforms, and strategic planning.
As Governor Eno heads to Abuja for the NEAPS ceremony, many observers note that this latest recognition not only celebrates his leadership but also places Akwa Ibom firmly on the national map as a model of steady, people-focused development.
