Henshaw NYONG, Uyo.
WIFE of the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Patience Umo Eno, has been commended by communities in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, for the resuscitation of a 12,000-litre water project in Ibiaku village.
The intervention, which comes through her pet project, the Golden Initiative for All (GIFA), was officially inaugurated during a ceremony attended by stakeholders and residents of the area.
Speaking on behalf of the Governor’s wife at the event, the Commissioner for Water Resources and Sanitation, Mrs. Enobong Mbobo, conveyed the happiness of Pastor Patience Eno, over the successful restoration of the water facility.
A statement issued by the Press Secretary to the Governor’s wife, Mrs. Uduak Ekong, indicates that the water project will bring much-needed relief to the Ibiaku community, along with the neighboring villages of Ikot Idiong and Esa Ekpo, which have endured prolonged water scarcity.
Pastor Patience Eno, however, emphasized the significant role of water in fostering economic growth and urged the communities to ensure proper maintenance of the project.
The First Lady also used the occasion to reaffirm her commitment, through GIFA, to addressing essential infrastructural needs that contribute to the overall well-being of rural communities in the state.
Earlier, the Transition Chairman of Mkpat Enin Local Government Council, Lady Mercy Bassey, expressed deep appreciation to the First Lady for the intervention. She observed that the revival of the water project would end the daily struggle faced by residents who previously had to walk long distances to fetch water.
Also speaking, Special Assistant to the Governor on General Duties, Hon. Anne Abraham, emphasized the importance of the intervention, stating that it aligns with GIFA’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) initiative aimed at promoting healthy practices and curbing the spread of diseases within communities.
In their goodwill messages, highly revered indigenes of the area, including the Village Head of Ibiaku Esa Ekpo, Eteidung Nsini Akpabio, PDP Chairmanship Candidate, Hon. Emmanuel Inyang, and Village Woman Leader, Obonganwan Nwa Ezekiel Udoekwere, expressed their gratitude to Pastor Patience Eno for alleviating the water challenges that have plagued the community for years.
The event also featured special song presentation by the women of Mkpat Enin, which symbolized their joy and appreciation for the revival of a project that had been dormant since it was first initiated in 2011.
