The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Monday, passed a motion, urging the state governor, Udom Emmanuel, to name Akwa Ibom International Airport, Uyo after the second civilian governor of the state, Victor Attah, Kufre Okon, a spokesperson to the speaker stated this in a statement.
The assembly also gave Mr Emmanuel the option of naming the Akwa Ibom State University, at Mkpat Enin, after the former governor.
Straightnews learnt that the projects are to be named after Mr Attah who turns 80 on Tuesday, November 20.
The House plenary was presided by the Speaker, Onofiok Luke.
Both the airport and the university were conceived and started during Mr.Attah’s administration.
The airport conceived by Attah and construction work began in 2006 was completed by Godswill Akpabio, the third democratically elected governor of the state in 2009. The airport was officially inauguarated on September 23, 2009, and the first scheduled passenger service commenced on December 2, 2009, when Arik Air offered flights to Abuja and Lagos.
The concept of Akwa Ibom State University of Technology was started by Obong Victor Attah in October 2000, when the state government inaugurated a committee which consisted of academics, technical experts and professionals submitted an interim report in April 2001 and a final report to him in September 2001 for its establishment.
However, Dr. Godswill Obot Akpabio, the then Governor of Akwa Ibom felt that the policy thrust of Government should be the establishment of a conventional, multi-campus institution and changed the name of Akwa Ibom State University of Technology (AKUTECH) to Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU).
Akpabio signed the bill into law formally establishing Akwa Ibom State University in September 2010 while the university was formally inaugurated on October 4, 2010.
Meanwhile, the state government is planning a state banquet among other events on Saturday, November 24 in honour of Mr. Attah who is widely revered as “the father of modern Akwa Ibom.”
“Let us join in celebrating this illustrious son of Akwa Ibom State, whose vision and selfless commitment to serve his people is precursor of the continued economic prosperity of the state,” Charles Udoh, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, said in a statement issued on Saturday, November 17.
Already, some signature projects in the state have been named after their initiators and executors, some who completed and inaugurated the projects.
For example, an international stadium, Uyo has been named after Senator Godswill Akpabio, while the beautiful state secretariat has been named after Commodore Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga (retd), the former military governor of the state.
