Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio Honours Governor’s Aides and others

A socio-political organization in Akwa Ibom, the Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, has inducted four and honour six indigenes of the state, including the special adviser on technical matters, Mr Etido Inyang, an engineer and the secretary, Finance/General Purpose Committee (FGPC), for their contributions to human and community development.
The event which took place at the Mboho secretariat named after Sir Udo Udoma, along Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo, recently, featured the conferment of the Mboho’s prestigious award of excellence on the former technical adviser of Real Brass Band, Mr Boniface Ebewo,, the former primate, African Church, the Most Rev Emmanuel Udofia, Mrs Irene Taylor, Pastor Aity Dennis Inyang, Sir Wilker Jackson and Mr Christopher Stephen (Mista Xto).
Those inducted as members of the Mboho were: Mr Etido Inyang, Mr Effiong Abia, Mr Bassey Albert Akpan, commissioner of finance and Mr Ifiok Umondak, MD Solar Nig Ltd.
Addressing the gathering which included Mr Ekong Etuk, son of late Obong Sampson Udo Etuk and the commissioner for justice, Chief Assam Assam (SAN) who chaired the occasion, the International President of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio at the time, Akparawa Nse Ubeh said the event was aimed at acknowledging excellence as a modest way of encouraging Akwa Ibom sons and daughters who have excelled in their chosen professions.
Akparawa Ubeh who was the 8th International President of the Pan-Ibibio organisation pointed out that apart from acknowledging their contributions to human and community development, the award would go a long way in encouraging them to do more.
Elder Ubeh explained that in 1928, Akwa Ibom knew no Ibibio, Annang or Oron as opposition to one another as promoted today by selfish politicians.
He maintained that in the then South Eastern State, the mainland people constituting Akwa Ibom today were referred to as “Ibibio” and nationally called Cross Riverians (Calabar) with the component ethnic groups existing as brothers without the quest for ethnic recognition.
Ubeh pointed out that the induction of the four Akwa Ibomites, especially Inyang and Abia, as special members of Mboho was another clarion call for unity, stressing that though they were of Annang and Oron extractions, Mboho believed in unity, cohesion and oneness for service and they must cooperate with one another, speak with one voice to overcome their common enemy – the Nigerian State.
The Mboho’s president lamented that Akwa Ibom has not faired well at the national level without a permanent secretary, no director or director-general, no chairman of board or chairman of any oil and gas related committees and no special adviser in the Presidency with its block votes during the last presidential election.
Ubeh observed that the spate of marginalization of Akwa Ibom at the national polity called for sober reflection on what ethnic propagation had cost the people and the need for all to unite, hence, the essence of the induction.
In their separate comments, Ebewo and Abia commended the Mboho for the honour done them, stressing that it was the demonstration of oneness, unity which the founders of Ibibio Union sought for before the creation of Akwa Ibom State.
The chairman on the occasion, Assam, had lauded the formation of the group and its focus on building the bridge of unity that would enhance the growth of the state.
Assam explained that the Mboho was composed of men and women of high integrity and this had been responsible for the pursuance of issues that would harmonise the various ethnic dichotomy in the state.
In the honours, Ebewo got an award of excellence on patriotism and professionalism in arts, Udofia bagged an award on leadership while Taylor got hers on patriotism.
Dennis-Inyang was given an award on professionalism (Arts), Mista Xto and Sir Wilker got Mboho’s award on use of talent.
The Obong Sampson Udo Etuk memorial lecture on the topic Repositioning Nigerian Educational System for Socio-economic Attainment: Akwa Ibom State Experience, was delivered by Professor Queendoleen Obinaju of the University of Uyo.