By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo
The Akwa Ibom State government has reached an agreement with the London Borough of Southwark and Akwa Ibom indigenes in the United Kingdom for educational and cultural cooperation.
The agreement was achieved during separate meetings held last weekend by Governor Umo Eno with the Mayor of the Borough of Southwark, Michael Situ, and some Akwa Ibom indigenes residing in the United Kingdom.
Eno was warmly received by the Borough’s Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and other members of the Borough’s Council at the Council Hall.
Mayor Situ, in his address, proposed a twinning arrangement between his borough and Uyo, the capital city of Akwa Ibom, suggesting that this alliance would be mutually beneficial. Governor Eno appreciated the proposal and directed the State Commissioner for Local Government to facilitate it.
The Governor proposed an education and cultural exchange at both the Government-to-Government (G2G) and Business-to-Business (B2B) levels, aiming for the mutual benefit of both parties. He also suggested an exchange program between teachers and students to promote knowledge-sharing on teaching methods and other education-related aspects.
The Mayor expressed delight in the Governor’s visit and conveyed optimism about the benefits that the collaboration between the two governments would bring. He added that his officials were prepared to visit and commence more profound discussions on areas of mutual interest.
Following this, the Governor attended a meeting with some Akwa Ibom citizens, where he briefed them on the promises and prospects embedded in the ARISE Agenda. He expressed his readiness to collaborate with Akwa Ibom citizens in the diaspora throughout his tenure and expressed confidence in the diaspora’s capacity to contribute positively to the economic development of the state.
Governor Eno had earlier participated in the London Political Summit, where his predecessor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, was the keynote speaker. During the summit, he promoted the state as a preferred destination, inviting attendees to consider Akwa Ibom as the best choice for their investments and leisure.
