…as Soyinka flays cultural enslavement
The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, has expressed the State’s readiness to play big in the global tourism market, inviting people from all over the world to come, live, invest, and thrive in the State.
The Governor stated this while presenting his address at the 2026 World Heritage Day Celebration, held at the Tropicana Event Centre, Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo, with the theme, “Akwa Ibom Heritage Alive”.
Speaking through the Deputy Governor, Senator (Dr) Akon Eyakenyi, Governor Eno averred that Akwa Ibom’s heritage is indeed alive through songs, folklores, music, as well as the rich and nationally celebrated cuisines such as afang soup, edikang ikong, afia efere, ekpang nkukwo, among others.
“Our heritage is alive, felt, and experienced daily across the length and breadth of our nation and indeed internationally”, Governor Eno noted.
Speaking further, he insisted that Akwa Ibom heritage continues to deepen and expand with flair, and flourish from the hospitable nature of her people, the deep humanity expressed daily, especially in the manner in which visitors are welcomed to the state, to her rich cultural practices such as abang, abre, ntok adio adio, ekpo masquerades, among others.
Further highlighting the rich cultural heritage of Akwa Ibom State, Governor Eno explained that every year during the Yuletide, all 31 Local Government Areas compete by showcasing their heritage through dances, cultural displays, and cuisines peculiar to them.
He disclosed that last year, over five million people across the nation attended the event, which usually begins on December 1 and ends on December 31, expressing optimism that more people will be attracted to this year’s edition.
Explaining his vision for the tourism sector, the Governor stressed that his administration is passionately dedicated to harnessing these rich and varied cultural blessings of the State, to make tourism a key element of the Akwa Ibom identity.
He listed some projects and infrastructures, including the rich network of economically viable roads, a thriving and nationally celebrated airline – Ibom Air, investments in the maritime and blue economy in Oron, the ARISE Palm Resort, the ongoing International Conference Centre, Ibom Hotels, ARISE Shopping Centre and Ibom International Hospital – a 350-bed hospital complete with 24 departments, maintaining that the state has all it takes to attract and host the World.
While thanking the Special Guest of Honour and Keynote Speaker, Prof. Wole Soyinka, for attending the event, the Governor urged citizens to cherish and collectively safeguard, protect and preserve Akwa Ibom’s heritage to pass it on to future generations.
In his Keynote speech, Professor Wole Soyinka urged people to do away with cultural enslavement, where people do not understand common art works which signify the culture of the people.
He maintained that people should be allowed to freely exhibit, express and celebrate their culture and traditions, describing it as the totality of man.
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Anieti Udofia, appreciated Governor Eno for his love and support for the Culture and Tourism sector of the State, naming him a Tourism Friendly Governor.
He described Akwa Ibom State as safe, welcoming and tourism-centric.
Dr Udofia explained that the objective of the World Heritage Day Celebration is to highlight the urgent need to protect both cultural and natural heritage, especially in times of conflict and disaster, which is in line with the global theme, “Emergency Response for Living Heritage in Contexts of Conflicts and Disasters”.
The event, which was well attended by government functionaries, royal fathers, students and culture enthusiasts, featured goodwill messages, dance, musical and drama presentations by students of the University of Uyo, and presentation of prizes to winners of the ARISE Youth Storytelling Competition.
