Voting has begun to select the final winners for the 11th edition of Akwa Ibom Icons Awards (AKIA 2019) tagged Dakkada Plus.
The voting which commenced on August 15 and will end on August 20, 2019 will see 55 nominees emerging from 11 different categories.
A press release issued by Prince Ene Baba Owoh, Jr, the executive secretary of AKIA, said voting which took place from July 24 – 31, 2019 recorded 278 nominees, drawn into the respective categories with a cumulative votes of 198,730 representing 197,234 at home and 1,496 from the Diaspora as shown on the table below:
| S/N | AWARD CATEGORY | TOTAL NOMINEES | TOTAL VOTES |
| 1 | Akwa Ibom person of the year (2015-2019) | 35 | 25882 |
| 2 | Akwa Ibom legislator of the term (2015-2019) | 41 | 55602 |
| 3 | Akwa Ibom Woman of the year | 18 | 12621 |
| 4 | Akwa Ibom Company of the year | 52 | 264 |
| 5 | Akwa Ibom Government Project of the year | 12 | 1761 |
| 6 | Akwa Ibom Commissioner of the term | 17 | 52721 |
| 7 | Akwa Ibom L.G.A. Chairman of the year | 31 | 18946 |
| 8 | Akwa Ibom Hotel/Tourist Ambassador of the year | 15 | 1146 |
| 9 | Akwa Ibom most resourceful Youth of the year | 32 | 20626 |
| 10 | Akwa Ibom Cleanest Town/L.G.A. of the year | 9 | 3261 |
| 11 | Life time Achievement Ambassador of the year | 16 | 5882 |
| Total | 278 | 198,730 |
As indicated on the chart, Akwa Ibom Legislator topped the chart with votes of 55,602 closely followed by the AKS Commissioner and Akwa Ibom Person of the term respectively.
For Akwa Ibom Person of the Year (2015-2016), Mr Udom Emmanuel, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Paul Usoro, Prof Eno Ebenso and Mr Nsima Ekere are nominees.
Under Akwa Ibom Legislator of the Term (2015-201), Senator Bassey Albert, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Aniekan Bassey and Hon. Felicia Bassey have been nominated.
Charles Udoh, Ephraim Inyang-eyen, Nsikan Linus Nkan, Sir Monday Uko- Youth & Sports and Dr. Enobong Essien- Science & Technology are nominees for Akwa Ibom Commissioner of the Year (2015-2019).
The Akwa Ibom Local Government Chairman of the Year has Itoro Columba – Ikono; Imo Okon- Uyo; Frank Archibong- Eket; Emem Ibanga- Nsit Atai and Prince Ubong Idiong — Oruk Anam as nominees.
For Akwa Ibom Government Project of the Year (2015-2019), Ibom Air, Road Construction Cluster, three Power Station/Transmission Lines, Establishment of 5 industries and Agriculture (Farming) make the list.
Nominees for Akwa Ibom Woman of the Year (2015-2019) are Mfon Usoro, Martha Udom Emmanuel, Prof. Comfort Ekpo, Margaret Itauma and Mrs Ekerebong Akpan.
Under Akwa Ibom Most Resourceful Youth of the Year (2015-2019) category, Ini Ememobong, Comrade Inemesit Akpan (striker), Dr. Ofonime Akpan, Aniekeme Finbarr and Martins Otobong Joseph are nominees.
Akwa Ibom Company of The Year (2019) has Nsik Group, Hensek Construction Ltd, Wechino Engineering Ltd (WE), Idems Ultimate and Julius Berger in the list.
Ibom Hotel & Golf Resort, De Castle Hotels, Eemjm Hotels, Eden Hotels, Eket and Watbridge Hotels, Uyo are competing for Akwa Ibom Hotel/Tourism Ambassador of the Year.
Uyo, Eket, Oron, Ikot Ekpene and Abak are nominated for Akwa Ibom Cleanest Town/LGA Of The Year.
Akwa Ibom Life-Time Ambassador of The Year has Prof Effiong Essien, Mr. Ray Ekpu, Obong Oku Akpan, Senator Ben Murray Bruce (Non-indigene) and HRM, Dr. Emmanuel Onyeke Eleisomoir 11 (Obi of Owu Kingdom).
The general public is encouraged to participate actively once again by voting their preferred candidates, according to the release.
The conferment Award ceremony is slated for September 20, 2019 at Watbridge Hotels and Suites, Uyo.
