Eno woos investors as new business hub inaugurated in Akwa Ibom

Governor Umo Eno has urged indigenes of the State living and doing businesses abroad and within Nigeria to invest in Akwa Ibom State to accelerate development and well-being of the people.

The governor made the call during the official unveiling of the Seven Angels Arena in Uyo, describing the founder of the business hub, Emma Isong, a renowned clergy.

He said the State has a conducive atmosphere for investments, adding “Wherever you are, you have to locate yourself back home to start off some business concern no matter how small.

“It is therefore, on this premise that I strongly support this business and home investment by our renowned clergy.

“We are the ones that will build this State. So, no matter how good you grow outside in business, if you fail to replicate the business back home to contribute to the growth of the State, your achievement will be incomplete.

“Let the presence of your thriving businesses outside be felt at home as well, as it is done today by our father in the Lord, Archbishop Emma Isong,” he said.

“This is our home. It is therefore good for all of us to make our contributions here no matter how small. Recently, one of us staying in the US has built a complete new secondary school, well furnished, for his people. This is the spirit that we want here. You have to intentionally invest back home.”

He commended Emma Isong for his vision, compassion and love for the State by investing in it, even while working outside the State.

The governor sanctioned a library project as proposed by the clergy to preserve the memories of the works of departed fathers of faith in the State.

“In their life times, they made a lot of contributions. They wrote books. We therefore need to catalogue all of that and create a space for them for generations yet unborn to know about them and their impacts, and get inspired to achieve more,” he said.

Governor Eno also used the occasion to donate an electrical transformer to Idoro community that hosts the business arena.

“While approving this transformer for you, I want to specially charge the youths of this community to endeavour to protect this facility from vandalism. It is your own. Take proper care and secure it in order for it to serve you better and longer,” he said.

Earlier in his welcome address, Isong said the unveiling of the Seven Angels Arena marked the emergence of a transformative vision designed to serve as a multi-purpose hub for spiritual renewal and socio-economic development of Akwa Ibom State.

He explained that the Arena is structured to nurture spiritual lives, develop human potential, and strengthen community growth, while also supporting government efforts in peace building, tourism, and youth engagement.

He finally called for strategic support from the government to expand infrastructure and position the facility as a hub for global Christian engagements.

On his part, the Chairman on the occasion, the President General of ARISE with Renewed Hope Initiative, eUwem Okoko, applauded the vision of the project and noted that it will contribute immensely to the development of the State.

On the Governor’s entourage to the event were the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi; the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah; members of the State Executive Council; political stalwarts; clergies; and other Government functionaries.