History and Biography of Pastor Umo Eno
Biography
The governor of Akwa Ibom State is Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, a Nigerian politician and member of the clergy who was born on 24 April 1964. He founded All Nations Christian Ministry International and served as the previous commissioner for Akwa Ibom State’s lands and water resources.
Pastor Umo Eno is a visionary entrepreneur and a bivocational pastor. He has proven track records in achieving positive results through development of strategic business alliances, identifying new markets and developing business processes.
He has a world of experience in operations, finance, strategic management, business expansion, product development, public relations and political involvement.
With deep passion for excellence, his cardinal objective is to build synergy with individuals, corporate organisations, private and government institutions – in human capacity building, maximizing productivity and wealth creation, as well as ensuring strong future growth for national development and enhancement of humanity.
Early life and education
In his birthplace of Ikot Ekpene Udo, Nsit-Ubium Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno was born on April 24, 1964. His first high school diploma was earned at the Lagos State Local Authority Primary School, where he attended.
In addition, he completed his secondary education at St. Francis Secondary School in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, and Victory High School in Ikeja, Lagos State. He graduated with a Bachelor’s in Public Administration from the University of Uyo and a Master’s in the same discipline.
Marital life
Pastor Umo Eno is a distinguished family man. He has been married to Pastor (Mrs) Patience Umo Eno for 33 years. They have six children and several grandchildren.
Career
He spent his early years holding several positions in the private sector with stints in Bertola Machine Tools Ltd and the Union Bank Plc where he worked in the Business Advisory and Financial Planning Department. He later joined the Norman Investment Ltd where he distinguished himself as a man of excellence and towering integrity.
He developed a financial roadmap and increased revenue generation in the said company, moving the growth rate from 5% to 15% in a year. He rose through the ranks from Finance and Investment Manager to General Manager and then to Group General Manager of the Holding Company (Norman Holdings Ltd).
From a humble beginning in 1997, he established Royalty Hotels & Recreations Ltd. With just five rooms the business gradually evolved into a conglomerate of hospitality and allied services that have become one of the leading brands in the hospitality industry both in Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria.
The portfolio of the Group covers hotels, apartments, eatery and coffee shops (Big Daddy), industrial catering and AkwaFresh Premium Table Water. Collectively, the Royalty Group provides employment opportunities in most cases to more than 2,500 persons across the country – 80% of which are Akwa Ibom State indigenes.
In 2004, he was called into public service and appointed as Chairman, Hotels and Tourism Management Board by His Excellency, Arch. Obong Victor Attah, the then Governor of Akwa Ibom State. He held the position until the end of that administration in 2007.
Key among his achievements is the first ever state-wide hotel inspection for categorization and classification. He also developed and printed the first Akwa Ibom Hotels Directory, which serves as a veritable source of information for the sector and guide to travellers and tourists visiting the state.
History and Biography of Pastor Umo Eno
His second foray into public service was in September, 2019, when he was appointed as the Executive Director, Agricultural Investment in the Akwa Ibom State Investment Corporation (AKICORP) by His Excellency, Deacon Udom Emmanuel, the current Governor of the State.
Pastor Umo Eno brought his entrepreneurship mien to bear in the discharge of his duties as reflected in his achievements which include the revamping of Akwa Palm Limited, establishment of Ibom Fadama Microfinance Bank Ltd and the Construction of the Dakkada Warehouse/ Off-Taking & Training Centre in Nsit Ubium LGA.
His other notable achievement is the jump-starting of the Akwa Ibom State Youth Empowerment in Agribusiness Programme (AKSG YEAP PILOT 50); an empowerment programme conceived by His Excellency, the Governor to encourage youths to take up agribusiness as way of addressing youth unemployment.
He also facilitated the establishment of the OCP Africa Cassava End2End Smart Model and Construction of OCP Africa Farm and Fortune Hub/One Stop Shop/Training Hall at the following locations: Ikot Ekpene Ukim, Uruan L.G.A and Ikpe Ikot Nkon, Ini L.G.A, Akwa Ibom State.
In January, 2021, he was appointed into the Akwa Ibom State Executive Council and sworn in as Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources.
Under his watch, the Ministry witnessed a transformation which culminated in remarkable achievements such as the provision of sites and services at the novel Dakkada Luxury Estate and the introduction of the Akwa Ibom State Geographic Information System (AKWAGIS).
Pastor Umo Eno also ensured that adherence to best practices in the Payment of Compensation and Preparation of Site Plans to allow for proper acquisition and allocation of land to would-be investors. Other initiatives include the Enumeration and Valuation Exercises for various big ticket investment projects, Inauguration of Committee on Land Verification
History and Biography of Pastor Umo Eno
Recovery, Registration of Several Land Instruments to aid the realization of Revenue Targets, Allocation of Land for various development purposes Lands as well the prompt signing and release of Certificate of Occupancy (C- OF`-O) .
In the water sector, he initiated and completed Numerous live touching projects including a review of the Akwa Ibom State Water Sector Draft Bill.
He later resigned from that position in order to run for governor. Currently he is the executive governor of Akwa Ibom State, he won the 2023 governorship election with a total of 207 thousand votes from PDP ahead of the APC and YPP candidate
His Philosophy of Pastor Umo Eno
It was Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (an American poet and educator) who said, “the heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night.”
Sydney Smith (an English clergyman, critic and philosopher) also quipped, “Great men hallow a whole people, and lift up all who live in their time.”
In the same vein, Robert Green Ingersoll (an American lawyer, writer and orator) reeled out, “A great man does not seek applause or place; he seeks for truth; he seeks the road to happiness, and what he ascertains, he gives to others.” These and more could pass as accurate literary descriptions of the life, times and person of Umo Bassey Eno.
A seasoned businessman, clergy, and management expert, he has working experience spanning the private sector and the public sector. Pastor Umo Eno is a worthy example of the grace of God on mankind. From a humble beginning in a value-based family and driven by firmness of purpose and desire for a better society, he has lived a life of service to humanity.
Before becoming a household name in Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno passed through the banking sector to the business terrain where he worked in a couple of companies and exuded diligence, tact, dexterity and commendable results in every assigned responsibility.
He is prominently identified with Royalty Hotels, a leading hospitality and allied services company which he founded in 1997. Since then, this admired son of Akwa Ibom State has established himself as a key figure in the hospitality and tourism industry; and has become one of the most recognizable players in industrial catering in the oil and gas sector.
Pastor Umo Eno’s Phone Number and Other Social Media Handle
To reach out to the governor visit Akwa Ibom State Government House Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo or call +234 070 0000 0001. For Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/PastorEnoUmo