Akwa Ibom Takes Urgent Action in Education Sector

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has announced a state of emergency in the education sector. He also approved the hiring of 2,000 additional teachers.

Mr Eno made the announcement on Monday at the Uyo Township Stadium. This was during the 2026 International Teachers’ Day celebration, which the state government declared a holiday for teachers.

This is the second state of emergency Mr Eno has declared during his first term. His administration had previously declared a state of emergency in the health sector in September 2025.

"Other than the Ministry of Health, where we declared a state of emergency, I hereby declare a total state of emergency in the Akwa Ibom State educational system," Mr Eno said.

The governor has tasked Deputy Governor Akon Eyakenyi to work with the Commissioner for Education, Ubong Umoh. They are to form a team to review the education sector and create a reform document.

"What should we do? What can we add? More schools for renovations in secondary schools and tertiary schools. We’ll look at it and come out with a comprehensive document. Just like we’ve done for the Ministry of Health," he said.

2,000 Additional Teachers

Mr Eno mentioned that his administration had already approved the recruitment of 1,000 teachers. He added that they would soon start recruiting another 2,000 teachers.

The recruitment portal will be open soon. Applicants will need to take a Computer-Based Test (CBT) and an oral interview.

The governor warned applicants that passing the CBT alone does not guarantee a job. "That you scored 100 percent in the CBT does not automatically convert to employment. The civil service has its rules," he said.

"You need to read and know the rules. Your appearance and how you answer questions are very important. And your records must match."

Mr Eno also shared that the number of candidates who qualified for the oral interview was cut from about 12,000 to 4,000.

"People sent me chats and said I scored 93%, and I don’t know why they didn’t take me. Then, I sent your name to the Civil Service Commission, and the commission sent me the assessment of all the people who were on the panel," he said.

The governor made these comments as some unsuccessful applicants raised questions about the recent recruitment process.

Education is Key

Mr Eno stressed that education is a key part of his administration’s economic plan, called the ARISE Agenda.

He noted that his government has built and furnished 38 model primary schools. This includes at least one in each of the 31 local government areas.

According to him, these schools are solar-powered and equipped with ICT, teachers’ residences, sick bays, and libraries.

He also mentioned that the government has released N15 billion as a matching grant to the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB). The state continues to pay examination fees for students taking the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and National Examinations Council (NECO) exams.

"To date, we’ve registered 172,000 for these examinations," he said.

Mr Eno announced that the Akwa Ibom State College of Education will be upgraded to a university. He named Professor Philip Afaha as the first Vice-Chancellor of the new Akwa Ibom University of Education.

This latest emergency declaration is Mr Eno's second major sector-wide emergency since he took office in May 2023.

He said the education emergency will require accountability from teachers and reforms from the government.

"I want our teachers to be held accountable in teaching our students. I want them to continue doing training and retraining. I want our teachers to be in schools and stay in schools. A lot of reforms must come in. To whom much is given, much is expected," he said.

He promised to digitize the state’s education system and improve its quality if he is re-elected for a second term.

Recently, Akwa Ibom has faced criticism due to poor student performance in public exams. The state’s ranking in the 2026 NECO exam fell from 12th in 2025 to 36th, raising concerns about its education plans and spending priorities.