By Imaobong Ekarika
In view of the right secured by Akwa Ibom State chapter to host the Nigeria Public Relations Week, Uyo 2025, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Akparawa James Edet, has assured the National Planning Committee, as well as the Local Organising Committee, of partnership and support to ensure the week succeeds.
Akparawa Edet gave the assurance on Friday, January 17, when he received the Chairman, Planning Committee, NPRW-Uyo 2025, Chief Yomi-Badejo Okunsanya, who was accompanied by the Chairman NIPR, Akwa Ibom State Chapter, Elder Manasseh Umoette and members of the Local Organising Committee, who paid a courtesy call on him at the conference room of the ministry.
Thanking the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations for choosing Akwa Ibom for their imminent gathering, the Permanent Secretary described the choice as an affirmation of the strategic leadership plan God has blessed the state with.
He noted that since the advent of democracy, the story of Akwa Ibom has been that of one success leading to another, based on a deliberate transition of power and the sustenance of programmes of not just the present administration, but all of the former leaders and the foundations they laid.
The strategic succession plan, leadership and sustenance of programmes according to Akparawa Edet, have transitioned Akwa Ibom from a pedestrian state it was hitherto known for to a destination of choice.
In his words,”One of the things God has blessed the state with has been the story of effective succession planning. In some places you discover each government comes and abandons what the other government had done, and you discover a state of disarray, but in Akwa Ibom, there has been a deliberate transition of power and the sustenance of programmes to the extent that since the advent of democracy, it has been one story of success based on the former foundations laid.
“And so, what you find today in Akwa Ibom State, that it has become a destination of choice, goes to the goodwill, the vision and the leadership prowess of not just the present administration of the state but all of the former leaders God has blessed the state with” he stressed.
Applauding Governor Umo Eno’s strides, the Permanent Secretary maintained that his ARISE Agenda blueprint has crystallised achievements on the air, land and sea, such that the state is opened to the world, as evident in the hosting of programmes and conferences, occasioned by the peaceful disposition, infrastructure and hospitality of the people.
He lauded the team for not just believing in Akwa Ibom as host, and selecting Governor Eno as patron in addition to his other recognitions by the ThisDay and LEADERSHIP Newspapers.
Counting the attendant benefits the state stands to gain in the course of the week in terms of tourism, exposure opportunity and others, Akparawa Edet said the privilege of hosting the NPRW – Uyo 2025 will be properly utilised, even as he reiterated his ministry’s partnership and support.
Introducing the National Planning Committee Chairman earlier, the Akwa Ibom State Chapter NIPR Chairman, Elder Manasseh Umoette, appreciated the audience granted them, and averred that it was time for the world to hear the Akwa Ibom story as one of the most peaceful and hospitable states in the country, blessed with quality infrastructure.
Elder Umoette noted that as public relations practitioners, the best platform to showcase the Akwa Ibom story would be the NPRW-Uyo 2025. The week-long event, which is the second edition of the NPRW, as observed by the chapter chairman, would amplify the rich cultural heritage of the state and its people.
In his remarks, the National Planning Committee Chairman, Chief Yomi-Badejo Okunsanya, expressed delight with the reception accorded his team in spite of it being a farm day for civil servants in the state, an initiative he opined other states should embrace.
He said the essence of the visit was to intimate the state of the forthcoming NPRW-Uyo 2025, slated for May 19-24, mentioning that Akwa Ibom will be hosting the flagship event of the institute with an anticipated 2000 participants.
Highlighting activities of the weeklong event to include conferences, workshops, traditional rulers’ forum, youth engagement forum, breakout sessions, social engagements, fashion shows, film shows, parties and tours, among other activities, Chief Okunsanya disclosed that the event will feature the investiture of Governor Umo Eno as a patron of NIPR. The governor, as stated by the chairman, is also expected to declare the conference open on May 20, and then be decorated.
Expected to focus on “Solid Mineral, a Solid Path to Nigeria’s Economic Recovery,” the chairman said the conference will have the Minister of Solid Minerals and his counterpart in Information in attendance, as well as the chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals and an indigene of the state, including other dignitaries, revealing that Akwa Ibom is blessed with 32 different kinds of mineral, which he said fortuitously informed the choice of the state as host.
He added that the theme song chosen for the week, was derived from the state, assuring that the anticipated event will boost the economy of the state.
Giving a vote of thanks, the Director of Information, Mr. Aniekan Ukpong, appreciated the NIPR delegation for the hosting right granted the state, and for coming to share their plans.He envisaged a great and rewarding conference.
The visit featured presentations of souvenirs by the Permanent Secretary, and the Chapter Chairman to the National Planning Committee Chairman.
