The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, has urged youths in the state to constantly strive for innovations, emphasizing that this spirit aligns with the ARISE agenda’s goal of empowerment.

Governor Eno delivered this charge while speaking at the Visual Conference and Award Night organized by his Chief Photographer, Idara Idiakpan, in Uyo over the weekend.

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Ayakenyin, Governor Eno called on the young people to abandon the culture of entitlement and instead look inward to identify service gaps for better rewards.

Governor Eno directly stated, “I implore our youths to stop nourishing and internalising the entitlement culture. Look into yourselves; see where certain services are needed, and plug yourselves in, and the rewards will be unquantifiable.”

He continued by advising them, ”I urge our youths to strike for innovations; like Idara is going, look for things that bring value to the people, and you will be rewarded immeasurably.

He then connected this drive to the state’s policy, clarifying, ”That’s what our Arise push for empowerment is all about: equipping our youths with skills that will translate into financial success.”

Earlier at the event, the Special Assistant and Chief Photographer to the governor, Idara Idiakpan, welcomed guests, describing the award night as a celebration of creativity, purpose, and the powerful ability of a photographic frame to tell a story, evoke emotion, and capture the world’s beauty.

She greeted the attendees, saying, “Welcome to this celebration of creativity, purpose, and the power of a frame to tell a story, evoke emotion, and capture the beauty of our world.”

Idiakpan celebrated the medium of photography, noting, ”Photography is more than just a craft; it’s a universal language that transcends borders, cultures, and time. Tonight, we gather to celebrate the extraordinary talent of photographers who have dared to tell their stories with timeless images.”

She disclosed the overwhelming response to the awards, stating, ”This year, we received 587 nomination submissions across the 15 nomination categories from photography communities across Nigeria; each entry is a testament to the passion and dedication of artists who see the extraordinary in the ordinary.” Concluding her remarks to the participants, she offered a word of encouragement: ”

To every nominee, whether you’re walking away with an award or not, know that your work has inspired us, challenged us, and reminded us of the power of art to connect and transform.”

The ceremony was well-attended by celebrated photographers, including Kelechi Amadi-Obi, Emmanuel Oyeleke, and Bayo Omoboriowo, among many others.