Akwa-Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno
Akwa Ibom State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to building a stronger and more resilient healthcare system through sustained investment in the education and training of health professionals.
Governor Umo Eno made the commitment during the matriculation ceremony of 1,413 students admitted into the Akwa Ibom State College of Nursing Sciences in Ikot Ekpene.
Represented by the Commissioner for Education, Ubong Umoh, the governor described the ceremony as a defining moment for the state’s healthcare future.
He said it was both “an honour and a profound reminder that the future of our healthcare system is being shaped today through purposeful investment in education.”
According to the governor, the admission of the new nursing students goes beyond a routine academic exercise.
“The matriculation of 1,413 student nurses is not merely an academic exercise; it is a reflection of our administration’s deliberate commitment to building a resilient healthcare workforce capable of meeting both present and future demands,” he said.
He added that the large enrolment demonstrates the growing confidence of young people in the nursing profession.
“It also affirms the confidence our young people have in the nursing profession and their readiness to contribute meaningfully to society,” he stated.
Governor Eno encouraged the students to remain dedicated to their studies and uphold the highest standards of professionalism throughout their training.
He urged them to embrace diligence, excellence, commitment and unwavering loyalty to their chosen profession.
As part of the state’s education support initiatives, the governor announced that students of the College of Nursing Sciences have now been included among beneficiaries of the state’s ₦1.3 billion bursary programme, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to human capital development.
He explained that the initiative complements the government’s ongoing healthcare reforms, including the declaration of a state of emergency in the health sector, construction of the Ibom International Hospital, recruitment and improved welfare of healthcare workers, as well as the establishment of modern primary healthcare centres across all 31 local government areas.
According to him, these investments require a new generation of highly skilled and globally competitive nurses to sustain the gains already recorded.
The governor also commended the Provost of the College, Ekaette Akan, for her leadership, noting that her efforts have continued to strengthen the institution across its campuses in Ikot Ekpene, Uyo, Uruan, Eket and Oron.
He praised her commitment to academic excellence and character development, saying it has positioned the college as a leading institution for quality nursing education.
In his goodwill message, the Executive Secretary of the Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Agency (AKSHIA), Dr. Igbemi Igbemi, applauded stakeholders for supporting the establishment and growth of the college.
He also acknowledged Governor Eno’s leadership, noting that AKSHIA was established in the same year the School of Nursing was upgraded to a College of Nursing Sciences.
Dr. Igbemi said the expansion of health insurance coverage, alongside the training of more qualified nurses, would strengthen healthcare delivery across the state and accelerate progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The ceremony marked another milestone in Akwa Ibom’s drive to expand nursing education and develop a competent healthcare workforce.
One of the highlights of the event was the administration of the Florence Nightingale Nursing Oath, followed by the symbolic Capping Ceremony, underscoring the profession’s enduring values of preserving life, protecting human dignity and serving humanity with compassion.
