Eno To Commission 11km Roads, Model School In Ikot Ekpene

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, will on Thursday commission a number of landmark projects in Ikot Ekpene as part of activities marking Akwa Ibom State’s 39th anniversary.

The projects, delivered under the ARISE Agenda, reflect Governor Eno’s push to strengthen rural infrastructure, improve connectivity and open up new economic opportunities across communities.

Top on the list is the 6.475-kilometre road network in Amanyam Community and will be followed by the sod-turning ceremony for the construction of the Ikot Ekpene International Market on September 14.

Also lined up is the 4.12-kilometre internal road network with outfall drainage in GRA Ikot Ekpene, alongside additional erosion reclamation works billed for September 22.

The intervention is expected to further address drainage challenges, improve accessibility and enhance movement within the residential estate.

Also billed for commissioning is the Model Primary School, Ikot Ekpene, which Governor Eno is expected to unveil on September 26.

Residents said the projects represent a significant investment in the physical and economic infrastructure of the commercial hub.

Residents who spoke with reporters on the road projects said respite has come the way of their businesses that have endured the effects of poor access, flooding and erosion.

Chairman of Ikot Ekpene, Elder Aniefiok Nkom, said with the completion of the roads and associated drainage works, movement is expected to become easier, while improved connectivity could further stimulate commercial activities across affected communities.

He said the Council is also putting in place complementary facilities aimed at ensuring that the infrastructure translates into tangible economic opportunities for residents.

The Chairman of Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area said the projects were conceived to complement the efforts of the Governor and strengthen the local economy.

He averred that a 20-outlet Raffia Shopping Centre was conceived to preserve and reposition the traditional raffia craft for a new generation.

Elder Nkom explained that the initiative was driven by the concern that the raffia craft, a major part of Ikot Ekpene’s cultural identity, could become extinct.

“I felt that the raffia craft was getting extinct. So we needed to bring back that craft and the heritage of the people.”

He said the facility would go beyond providing shops, with plans for a workshop where people could be trained in raffia craftsmanship and acquire skills that could become a source of livelihood.

“We’re going to have a workshop here for people to come and learn. People could be trained on how to do this craft business, and I felt this is going to bring some economic benefit to the people who are doing this business.”

The facility will provide space for artisans to display and sell raffia bags, shoes, slippers, masks and other handcrafted products, giving the traditional craft a more organised commercial platform.

For the Chairman, the project is also about giving artisans visibility and helping them recognise the economic value of what they produce.

“For us to bring them out, we’re just trying to expose them, so they will know that this could be a revenue income for them.”

The council is also constructing an ultra-modern shopping complex to complement the ongoing international market, providing shoppers with more options and further improving the revenue of the local government.