Umo Eno Honoured As “Akwa Obong Emem Ikot Ekpene” As Monarch Okon Udo Ukut Takes Throne
By IFIOK UDOM
GOVERNOR Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has received the chieftaincy title of “Akwa Obong Emem Ikot Ekpene” as the people of Ikot Ekpene celebrated the formal coronation of His Royal Majesty, Okuku Okon Udo Ukut, as Paramount Ruler of Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area.
The colourful ceremony, held on Friday 28 August 2026, at the Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium, brought together political leaders, traditional rulers, community representatives and residents to mark the monarch’s formal assumption of the traditional leadership of the local government.
Governor Eno, who was represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mkpisong Frank Archibong, also congratulated the monarch on his 82nd birthday.
Coronation Marks New Chapter for Ikot Ekpene
In his message, Eno described Okuku Okon Udo Ukut as a peace-loving royal father whose years of service to the community had earned him the affection and respect of the people.
The governor said the coronation represented the culmination of the monarch’s longstanding service and expressed confidence that his reign would promote greater peace, unity and development in Ikot Ekpene.
He also commended the people of the local government for their contributions to the development of Akwa Ibom State.
According to the governor, Ikot Ekpene has produced prominent sons and daughters whose contributions have extended beyond the local government to the wider state and Nigeria.
He urged the monarch to build on his previous service by using the authority and goodwill of the traditional institution to strengthen unity and accelerate development.
Eno Deepens Traditional Institution Partnership
The governor used the occasion to reaffirm his administration’s commitment to working with traditional rulers across the state.
He described traditional institutions as important custodians of Akwa Ibom’s culture, customs and values, while also recognising their role in maintaining peace and mobilising communities for development.
Eno said his administration would continue to collaborate with traditional rulers to promote peaceful coexistence and equitable development across the state’s 31 local government areas.
That approach places traditional institutions within the broader governance structure, particularly in communities where royal fathers remain influential intermediaries between government and residents.
Ikot Ekpene Market Project Highlighted
A major development issue raised during the ceremony was the ongoing construction of the Ikot Ekpene International Market.
Eno described the project as potentially transformative for the local economy, arguing that its completion could unlock commercial opportunities for residents of Ikot Ekpene, the senatorial district and the wider state.
The governor also listed road projects, model primary schools, model primary healthcare centres and compassionate homes among interventions undertaken in the area.
He maintained that the projects reflected his administration’s commitment to extending development beyond major urban centres.
Nine-Year Wait Ends With Formal Coronation
The Executive Chairman of Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, Elder Aniefiok Nkom, commended the governor for assenting to the formal coronation of the monarch.
Nkom noted that Okuku Okon Udo Ukut had received certification as Paramount Ruler nine years earlier, making the formal coronation a significant moment for the traditional institution and the people of the area.
He also praised the governor for what he described as development strides across the council area.
The council chairman pledged continued cooperation between the local government and the traditional institution.
Community Asked to Support Peace & Development
The Chairman of the occasion, Senator Ibok Essien, urged the newly coronated monarch to deploy his experience toward strengthening peace, unity and development.
Other traditional and community leaders similarly called for protection of the values and institutions that bind the people together.
Commissioner Archibong also praised Governor Eno for what he described as his sustained attention to traditional institutions and their welfare.
He said the institutions remained important partners in maintaining peace and promoting grassroots development.
Coronation Accompanied by Community Support
The ceremony also featured the conferment of chieftaincy titles on distinguished personalities.
Another major highlight was the presentation of a ₦100 million solar-powered borehole project to Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area by Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ukpong Udo, member representing Ini/Ikono Federal Constituency.
The intervention added a community-development dimension to a ceremony primarily centred on traditional leadership.
Politics Enters the Development Conversation
The governor’s message also contained a political dimension as he expressed his desire to continue his administration beyond 2027.
He said he remained committed to doing more for Ikot Ekpene if given the opportunity to continue his work.
Nkom, meanwhile, pledged the support of the people of Ikot Ekpene for Eno’s re-election bid.
Commissioner Archibong also urged residents to support the governor’s second-term ambition and the Arise Agenda.
The political undertone illustrates the increasingly close relationship between governance, traditional institutions and electoral mobilisation in Nigerian states.
For Ikot Ekpene, however, the immediate significance of the ceremony lies in the formal installation of a long-certified monarch and the expectation that the traditional institution will work with government to strengthen peace, commerce and community development.
As Okuku Okon Udo Ukut begins his reign, the people of the local government now face the broader task of translating the symbolism of the coronation into practical improvements in livelihoods, economic activity and social cohesion.
