Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno marked his 62nd birthday by granting scholarships, jobs, housing, and vocational training to orphans and caregivers across the state. The gesture was announced during a celebration at Divine Children's Home in Atan Offot, Uyo, where Eno emphasized hope and inclusion for vulnerable children. "We are here to encourage them and to give them hope. For me, this is renewed hope… that they will know they are not rejected, they are not desolate; we are with them, and that gives me a happy birthday," he said.
Eno stated that serving humanity remains his greatest fulfillment, and has dedicated each birthday since taking office to acts of compassion. He declared that 22 volunteer caregivers and four others would receive automatic employment in the state civil service. Fifteen beneficiaries will undergo vocational training at the Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Centre and Dakadda Skills Acquisition Centre, with starter packs upon completion.
One beneficiary, Abigail Okon Edet, was awarded an overseas postgraduate scholarship. Two graduates already employed in the civil service will be provided housing. The governor also approved plans to relocate orphans to independent living accommodations outside the orphanage system. Eno warned against unregulated orphanages and urged compliance with state standards, while calling on individuals and organizations to support vulnerable groups.
Governor Eno celebrates his age by lifting others, yet the state's orphanages still exist as permanent fixtures rather than temporary shelters. If no child is born by accident, then the persistence of institutional care without clear exit pathways contradicts the promise of full integration. The beneficiaries named in the gesture now have opportunities, but the system itself remains unchanged. Hope alone does not rewrite policy.
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