The Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio has described the free and compulsory education for Akwa Ibom children from primary to senior secondary school level as one of his greatest achievements in the last four years. Akpabio stated this while speaking during the monthly prayer meeting for the state government at Government House, Uyo.

The governor, represented by his deputy, Mr. Nsima Ekere, stressed that through the free and compulsory education and other lofty programmes and policies, his administration has been able to restore the dignity of the Akwa Ibom man. He expressed satisfaction that his government has so far changed the face of Akwa Ibom with life-touching infrastructure development, particularly roads. He called on well-meaning Akwa Ibom indigenes to continue to pray for the state and his administration.

In his homily, Bishop Udeme Simon of Grace Faith Church, Uyo admonished the people to always encourage and honour those who perform well in their services to the state rather than indulge in blackmail, falsehood and bitterness. Simon described the re-election of Akpabio as a testimony of his good works and uncommon transformation of Akwa Ibom in his first tenure, noting that it was a Biblical injunction to give double honour to an outstanding performer.

The clergyman who preached on the theme, worthy of Double Honour, drawn from 1 Timothy 5: 17-21, charged all to feel proud of the state and team up with the governor as he sets out to implement more impactful policies and programmes for the good of all. The deputy governor, who attended the prayer meeting with his wife, Ese, the speaker of the State House of Assembly, Elders Sam Ikon; the secretary to the state government, Mr. Umana Okon Umana; and the head of civil service, Dame Grace Anwana, later paid a condolence visit to the chairman of the Government House Prayer Committee, Rev. Canon Price Antai, who lost his first daughter, Ruth, in a motor accident.

He urged Antai and his family to take solace in the Lord, especially considering the fact that their late daughter died as a devout Christian, even as he described the incident as very unfortunate. Antai said, he was encouraged by the visit and advised motorists to avoid reckless driving in order to prevent further loss of lives, calling on all Akwa Ibom persons to promote peace and unity at all times.