“Transformational leaders empower others, enabling them to achieve willingly.” –Nick Fewings
Governor Umo Eno’s transformational leadership, is a clear testament to the Akwa Ibom State we had looked forward to. The transfer of baton to him as Governor, has proven that former Governor Udom Emmanuel was intentional about who becomes Governor, and the choice of Gov Umo Eno has left no one in doubt.
Despite the seeming opposition to the hilltop mansion, Pastor Umo Eno’s quest to transform Akwa Ibom to an enviable state has remained undaunted. The newly inaugurated Airbus for Ibom Air, speaks volume to the kind of leadership the state is currently witnessing.
The Governor has promised that Ibom Air will run a 24 hour service, and to give credence to this, he pledged the construction of an aviation village close to the airport, where staff of the airport can easily access the facility to deliver services to the people.
His Excellency paid glowing tributes to past Leaders of the State, Arc Victor Attah, Chief Godswill Akpabio, and Mr Udom Emmanuel, who conceptualized, constructed, and brought Ibom Air to fruition. He further stated that, as a Leader, one must think beyond criticisms and also think far beyond the thoughts of people, just like the people who are criticizing the lofty programmes of his administration, Ibom Air had also suffered same fate, but today, those same persons are flying the airline.
Akwa Ibom have an identity in the global stage today, courtesy of Ibom Air, and this is what every Akwa Ibom person should be proud of. The Akwa Ibom brand speaks for itself, and as Ambassadors of the state, we have to be proud of our dear state, and carry the flagship of the state higher.
Since assumption of office, Governor Umo Eno, just as Nick Fewings posited, has empowered in no mean feat, youths, men, women, aged, and children. The ongoing revitalization of the educational sector, cum construction of model primary schools across the state, is the Governor’s means of empowering the children, because, when a child is empowered with education, he can stand to compete anywhere.
The payment of allowances to the elderly on monthly basis, release of almost N20 billion for the payment of pensions and gratuities, has endeared the Governor to even the worst critics of his administration. Nobody remembers to protest anymore for non-payment of gratuities or pension, because the Governor is deliberate about ameliorating the sufferings of the people.
Governor Umo Eno has not hidden his desire to get the youths of Akwa Ibom off the streets, because he once said, that when people are employed, they will not be looking for a political rally to attend on a Monday morning, instead of being at their duty posts.
The payment of grants to the trainees of Ibom leadership and entrepreneurial program and the commitment to pay 5000 youths monthly stipends, are means at which the Governor seeks to transform the people to willingly achieve something through engagements.
As Governor Umo Eno steadily implements the ARISE AGENDA of his administration, the state is proud of his exceptional leadership traits, and we will continue to support him to achieve his set goals, because a win for Akwa Ibom State, is a win for us all.
A REPUTATION FOUNDED ON INTEGRITY, MUST BE NURTURED BY TRUTH.
Eneh John, PhD
A Journalist, writes from Ikot Uso Ekong, Eket.
12:36 PM
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German, Bruno Labbadia, becomes 37th Head Coach of the Super Eagles
The Nigeria Football Federation has announced that it has reached an agreement with German tactician, Bruno Labbadia, to become the Head Coach of Nigeria’s Senior Men National Team, Super Eagles.
NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, said in the early hours of Tuesday: “The NFF Executive Committee has approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Sub-Committee to appoint Mr. Bruno Labbadia as the Head Coach of the Super Eagles. The appointment is with immediate effect.”
Born in Darmstadt, Germany on 8th February 1966, Labbadia, who won two caps for Die Mannschaft in his playing career that took him through clubs such as home-town team Darmstadt 98, Hamburger SV, FC Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich, FC Cologne, Werder Bremen, Armenia Bielefeld and Karlsruher SC, triumphed in the German Bundesliga with Bayern Munich as a player in 1994. He coached famous names Hertha Berlin and VfB Stuttgart this decade, and previously, VfL Wolfsburg, Hamburger SV, Bayer Leverkusen, among others, and holds a UEFA Pro License.
He is only the sixth German, after Karl-Heinz Marotzke (who had two stints between 1970 and 1974), Gottlieb Göller (1981), Manfred Höner (1988-1989), Berti Vogts (2007-2008) and Gernot Rohr (2016-2021) to lead the Super Eagles. Höner led the Eagles to runner-up position at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, while Rohr qualified and led Nigeria to the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia.
Labbadi’s immediate challenge is to take charge of the three-time African champions for two 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Benin Republic (Saturday 7th September in Uyo) and Rwanda (Tuesday, 10th September in Kigali), with four other matches to conclude the qualifying race following in the months of October and November.
LIST OF SUPER EAGLES’ COACHES IN HISTORY
John Finch (England) – 1949
Daniel Anyiam (Nigeria) – 1954-1956; 1964-1965
Les Courtier (England) – 1956-1960
Moshe Beit Halevi (Israel) – 1960-1961
George Vardar (Hungary) – 1961-1963
Joey Blackwell (England) – 1963 – 1964
József Ember (Hungary) – 1965-1968
Sabino Barinaga (Spain) – 1968-1969
Peter ‘Eto’ Amaechina (Nigeria) – 1969-1970
Karl-Heinz Marotzke (Germany) – 1970-1971; 1974
Jorge Penna (Brazil) – 1972-1973
Jelisavčić ‘Father Tiko’ Tihomir (Yugoslavia) – 1974-1978
Otto Glória (Brazil) – 1979-1982
Gottlieb Göller (Germany) – 1981
Adegboye Onigbinde (Nigeria) – 1983-1984; 2002
Chris Udemezue (Nigeria) – 1984-1986
Patrick Ekeji (Nigeria) – 1985
Paul Hamilton (Nigeria) – 1987; 1989
Manfred Höner (Germany) – 1988-1989
Clemens Westerhof (Netherlands) – 1989-1994
Amodu Shaibu (Nigeria) – 1994-1995; 1996-1997; 2001-2002; 2008-2010
Johannes Bonfrere (Netherlands) – 1995-1996; 1999-2001
Philippe Troussier (France) – 1997
Monday Sinclair (Nigeria) – 1997-1998
Bora Milutinović (Yugoslavia) – 1998
Thijs Libregts (Netherlands) – 1999
Christian Chukwu (Nigeria) – 2002-2005
Augustine Eguavoen (Nigeria) – 2005-2007; 2010; 2022
Berti Vogts (Germany) – 2007-2008
Lars Lagerbäck (Sweden) – 2010
Samson Siasia (Nigeria) – 2010-2011; 2016
Stephen Keshi (Nigeria) – 2011-2014; 2015
Sunday Oliseh (Nigeria) – 2015-2016
Gernot Rohr (Germany) – 2016-2021
José Peseiro (Portugal) – 2022-2024
Finidi George (Nigeria) – 2024
Bruno Labbadia (Germany) – 2024-?
