On Monday, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State declared a state of emergency in the state's education sector during the 2026 International Teachers' Day celebration at the Uyo Township Stadium. The event was declared a work-free day for teachers by the state government. This is the second state of emergency declared by Mr. Eno in his first term, following the declaration of a state of emergency in the health sector in September 2025.
The governor directed Deputy Governor Akon Eyakenyi to work with Commissioner for Education Ubong Umoh to constitute a team to conduct a holistic review of the education sector and produce a comprehensive reform document. Mr. Eno stated that the team would identify areas for improvement, including the need for more schools, renovations, and better infrastructure in secondary and tertiary schools.
As part of the emergency declaration, Mr. Eno approved the recruitment of an additional 2,000 teachers, bringing the total number of new recruits to 3,000, including 1,000 teachers previously approved. The recruitment portal would soon be opened, and applicants would undergo a Computer-Based Test (CBT) and oral interview. However, Mr. Eno cautioned that performance in the CBT alone would not guarantee employment.
The governor emphasized the importance of accountability and reforms in the education sector, stating that teachers would be held accountable for their performance and would be required to undergo training and retraining. He also pledged to digitize the state's education system and raise its standard if re-elected for a second term.
Mr. Eno highlighted the importance of education in his administration's economic blueprint, ARISE Agenda, stating that it remained a central component of the state's development plans. He noted that his administration had built and furnished 38 model primary schools, including at least one in each of the state's 31 local government areas, which are solar-powered and ICT-enabled.
The governor also announced the upgrade of the Akwa Ibom State College of Education to a university, naming Professor Philip Afaha as the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the new Akwa Ibom University of Education. Additionally, he stated that the state government had released N15 billion as a matching grant to the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and continued to pay examination fees for candidates sitting public examinations.
The declaration of a state of emergency in the education sector comes amid concerns over the state's poor performance in public examinations, including the 2026 NECO examination, where Akwa Ibom's performance plunged from 12th nationally in 2025 to 36th. The governor's move aims to address these concerns and improve the overall standard of education in the state.
Key points
- Governor Umo Eno declares state of emergency in Akwa Ibom's education sector
- 2,000 additional teachers to be recruited
- Education is a central component of Akwa Ibom's economic blueprint, ARISE Agenda
