By Aniekeme Finbarr
It is so heart-warming, lightening and indeed refreshing to know that everywhere in Nigeria and beyond, the name Godswill Akpabio is synonymous with good governance and excellence. A name that represents an unwavering commitment to the delivery of political trust, performance, tremendous achievements and goodwill. And in the midst of friends and foes, harsh denunciations and effusive praise, the common denominator is that the Akwa Ibom Governor and his team have delivered smiles to the faces of his beloved people. Reaching this common ground in national discourse and international acceptance didn’t come cheap.
Here is a product of hard work, cerebral bliss, professional elegance and the exceptional brilliance of one man who has effective managed, packaged and delivered this rare brand to the world. Step out, the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Social re-orientation in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Aniekan Umanah.
Prior to July 2008 and shortly after, the political atmosphere in Akwa Ibom State started to blaze, broil and combust. Political tempers were flying, deep-seated hatred was reduced to black and white, innuendoes flew in every direction; stereotypes were dusted up and hurled at the Governor; his administration and ethnic targets. Everyone seemed to be content to throwing punches in the dark, seeking to pulverize, grind, pestle, pound, and splinter the image of the government and by implication the good people of Akwa ibom to shreds. With glorious hyperbole and with accents laced with overt bitterness, the critics demonized the administration of Chief Godswill Akpabio. They saw nothing good in the young, fledging administration that was in a hurry to impose the state on the global map as an investor’s haven and consolidate on the achievements of previous administrations. This was the back breaking cross Mr Aniekan Umanah had to shoulder as the newly appointed commissioner for information and social re orientation. His job was to inspire, reassure, rebuild confidence in the Akwa Ibom project and to reshape the mental process of the people. He had no day to spare given that his Boss is a workaholic. The ever smiling Aniekan kick-started work immediately and tirelessly fended off an onslaught of ethnic tinged campaign of calumny, lies and fabrications by the opposition against the Governor while presenting the true facts about the great transformation that the Governor Godswill Akpabio administration had brought to bear in Akwa Ibom state.
With the next Gubernatorial elections in the corner then , it wasn’t easy to dispel very lofty rumours spiced with ethnic flavour with a few tv, radio interviews and print articles. The cynics were of the strong opinion that if Gov Akpabio were re-elected; impiety, looting of the state treasury, and backwardness would reign unchecked in the state.
More importantly, the people were made to believe that economic darkness, tragic and terrible political pestilence awaited the State should the Governor continue in office. And in an admirably seamless way, the opposition stormed every available medium to vent anger on the administration and characterize Gov Akpabio as an evil genius who should be thrown out and as a prodigal son who should be denied a return ticket back home.
The prowess, managerial dexterity, experience and the journalistic subtlety of Mr Aniekan Umanah came to bare. My first impression of him was that of a young man with a noble mien; regal in his bearing, eloquent in diction, lively, simple, humble and cheerful. Without being told, I could perceive his cosmopolitan bearing and the good naturedness of a well travelled and enlightened man. His erudition a further testimony of meeting a schooled individual. In all these, his countenance hardly changed even when serious, under pressure, and or even tired. He caught the mould of a lamb who wouldn’t hurt a fly but when I engaged him, I could feel the dagger with his words, on his lips and in his brain. In my first radio interview with him, I recall riddling him with hard boiled questions, questions devils dared not ask and it was on security which was a nagging and dreaded topic then, I expected him to hesitate and or falter. Calmly he cleared the fog and filthy air of rumours, with natural calmness, effortlessly, with relative ease and with that trademark smile permanently tattooed on his face. At all times, he did cut a picture of a fatherly figure and carried a bohemian mien that calms anyone in his presence, regardless of ones status, calling or station in life.
Having traversed the 36 states of Nigeria and the FCT in the course of practice, he set his head in the clouds, with his own feet firmly planted in the ground to run the information machinery of Akwa Ibom State. He was well sharpened for the job. From his reportorial days at the OUTLOOK NEWSPAPERS in the old coal city of Enugu to the 13 years he well spent at NEWSWATCH MAGAZINE in Lagos, his imposing online media presence and influential interaction in the larger advertising world, he was prepared him for the top job.
Expectedly, the story has changed dramatically. Despite facing initial challenges from reportage of political events in Akwa Ibom State by a segment of the media in the hands of the opposition, Mr umanah has enjoyed the support of journalists who have made it possible for the gross media rating of Akwa Ibom State to rise from a paltry 35% in July 2008, to 87% today on the national front and over 95% on the local front. The secret to this overwhelming success is not far to seek, it is in Aniekan’s sublime communication skills and inter personal relationship with everybody he meets. He simply possesses that panache that appears inborn. Generous in disposition, benevolent in philantrophy. The same traits that have made him successfully survive political hurdles and kept him afloat.
And so, Mr Umanah’s midas touch on the wheels of the information vehicle has brought forth multiple results with rippling effects across the country and beyond. His network of contacts is simply mind blowing. Of course the testimony is in the volume of notable media corporations across the country and beyond who have celebrated Chief Akpabio as their man of the year and bestowed on him several innumerable awards. Plus other appearances on International tv and radio stations including the CNN. Via Anieken Umanah, Nigerians can now see with plain sight the remarkable achievements of an action Governor on a rampage to turn things around for the better. This is an attestation of the known yet despised fact that information management is very crucial in the development of any organization or institution.
Aniekan Umanah, the experienced, energetic and pragmatic info chief has not redefined information dissemination in Akwa Ibom State with bare hands. He has set in place an institutional framework that not only ensures he records colossal success but that whoever takes over from him will enjoy the same roller coaster. His achievements lighten the firmament like a meteor.
First, he ensured the State Tv and Radio stations were better equipped for the challenging task of correctly informing the people. In other to assist the state television transmit live important events, Mr Umanah facilitated the Procurement and commissioning of a digital ultra-modern Outside Broadcast(OB) van for the broadcasting corporations. And still to add value and better inform the great people of Akwa ibom, Mr Umanah’s information ministry supported the 24hours transmission by Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation (Television).
Also, he facilitated the acquisition of brand new transmitters for AKBC Radio and Construction of Studio building. With these in place, even children can testify of the tremendous strides of the Akpabio administration
One of the strategies adopted by Mr Umanah to re brand government and
put its image in good light is to allow the citizens participate actively in the process by contributing their ideas and contributions while also venting complaints and challenges. He has established a State -of -the Art Media and Citizen’s Feedback Centre
in the state capital which is highly commendable.
He has also brought a lot of professionalism to the table vis a vis the general aesthetics of the ministry of information. A walk through the magnificent information blocks at the state secretariat is a study in splendour, sophistication, elegance and beauty. The offices, conference centre and all the sub divisions in the blocks are tastefully furnished with the state -of-the arts facilities. The general ambience is so welcoming and one could easily mistake it for a private establishment.
The once drab,shabby, appalling edifice has undergone a thorough transformation and this is not surprising as Mr Umanah has brought to bare his many years of experience in the private sector, particularly in the ever competitive world of advertising and branding.
More so, to properly manage the image of government efficiently, the fourth estate of the realm plays a crucial role. And in this regard , Mr Aniekan Umanah is a genius with tremendous man-management skills. His romance with his colleagues in the media ‹is legendary. Apart from making information and facts accessible, the information ministry also pays attention to the welfare of journalists. This necessitated the provision of mini-water supply for the NUJ press centre. Also, provision of buses for the NUJ and other Chapels of NUJ in the State and the acquisition of New Goss Community Press for the State owned newspaper, The Pioneer.
Other achievements of the Aniekan Umanah powered information ministry also include:Construction of a New Digital Lectern Studio, management of the state website to ensure prompt and real time information delivery, a Public Relations Department media centre, radio/television production studio in the ministry., introduction of electronic news letter for prompt and wide coverage of State activities. He has also introduced a digital dimension to the covering of important state events, and that is web casting and streaming of live events.
Interestingly, with this firm foundation and framework in place, Mr umanah does not tire to personally throw light on issues on the burners.
He engages the opposition on a full scale. In fact, he has become a terror in the comity of elements who sit to cook up falsehood against the Gov Akpabio administration. Little wonder why, on the easels of critics, Mr Umanah’s emergent portrait looms large with their lavish strokes of differing imaginations of who he really is.
Furthermore, with a firm foundation laid at home, Mr Umanah has chosen to raise the bar by exporting the gospel of good governance according to Godswill Akpabio to the international community. He continuous engages national media houses and those abroad, reaching out to Akwa Ibom citizens outside the state and in diaspora. This he does by facilitating numerous tv, radio and print interviews, production of very high quality documentaries on tv, one of such being the Uncommon Transformation Series on Africa Independent Television every wednesday by 9.30 am.
This glorious achievements did not come without inspiration and grace from the creator, and so Mr Aniekan Umanah is grateful to God almighty for a successful outing. He remains indebted to Chief Godswill Akpabio for finding him worthy to offer service to his fatherland and the members of the state executive council for their support in steering the ship of state forward.
In all, suffice it to say, that in every facet of human endeavour, there are those rare men and women who tower above their peers through the natural ability to excel in whatever area of their chosen.
Outstanding feats of brilliance and success seem to come to them effortlessly, they set what may to many people look difficult and inaccessible but attain it with ease and bliss. That’s the man am sparing a few lines for today. It would be near impossible to outline the achievements of Mr Aniekan Umanah in one fell swoop. But for sure, when the bastion of refined journalists and information chiefs is unveiled, his name will clearly sit atop. What he lacks in stature he makes up in intelligence and delivery. He is a study in public relations and branding.
Aniekeme Finbarr is a broadcaster, lives in Abuja.