AKPABIO APPLAUDS AK PEOPLE IN DIASPORA FOR PRESERVING CULTURE 

Godswill Akpabio

Akwa Ibom people in Diaspora have received accolades for preserving their cultural heritage in a foreign land.

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Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio made the commendation when MISS USA, Ima Usoro; MISS AKWA IBOM, Miss Aniefon Effiong; MISS ATLANTA, Miss Elizabeth Amasi together with undergraduates of Akwa Ibom origin studying abroad paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

Chief Akpabio, who recollected the cultural displays of Akwa Ibom people resident in the United States of America during their Cultural Week couple with the dancing skills exhibited by undergraduates of Akwa Ibom origin studying in USA, United Kingdom and Canada at the Christmas Carol Night featuring 9,300 choral singers at Uyo Sports Stadium, saying they have not detached from Akwa Ibom culture.

“When I visited United States of America few months ago, I was impressed by the cultural displays and values of your parents during the cultural week, which shows your pride of reconnection and re-integration with Akwa Ibom people at home”, he recalled.

Chief Akpabio explained that the recent 9,300 choral singers in the state showcased love, re-integration, trust and harmony permeating the present administration and exemplified in sitting of development projects evenly in different parts of the state.

Responding to the appeal by visiting undergraduates for their scholarship by the state government, Chief Akpabio re-assured them of the government’s decision to revisit the issue soon.

He recalled government’s declaration of compulsory, free education at primary and secondary levels as a bold step to raise the literacy rate among the youths, curb kidnapping, reduce child abuse, child-witches stigmatization, child labour, among others in the state.

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Chief Akpabio, who disclosed that the state government has sponsored more than 200 students in foreign countries to be trained in Computer Engineering and Medicine, among others, advised them to take the study of their academic programmes seriously.

Chief Akpabio explained that the dictum Akwa Ibom is Okay is a prophetic message though not now would be attained by the citizenry and has strong drives towards actualizing greater goals in the nearest future to the glory of the state.

Earlier, Miss Edidiong Essien Umoh, the leader of the delegation, had lauded the massive infrastructural development in the state and the introduction of free, compulsory education for Akwa Ibom pupils and students.

Miss Ima Usoro expressed the hope that the present transformation in the state witnessed today attests to the Biblical truth that when a good leader governs her citizens rejoice.

Miss Elizabeth Amasi said the will of God is prevailing in Akwa Ibom through a leader anointed by God to give a face lift to the state but improve the welfare of the masses.

Miss Aniefon Effiong, pledged their support to the present government and pleaded for the government’s support as Akwa Ibom Queen for 2009 to enable her to cater for the less privileged.