Ebony in complexion, she was afraid to speak to the press. Displaying her wares for sale to customers in Akpan Andem Market, Uyo, she spoke in a subdued voice. “I do not like the way I am dressing because of the nature of my business.
“I want to know the medium the interview will be used before I grant the interview, though I have been eager to speak to a journalist. Can I see what you have done or published before?” On seeing the website of the online newspaper, she obliged.
With eyes dazzling like a gazelle, she began “My name is Eno Udokang from Ikot Mbon Ikono in Uyo local government area. A trader, I have three children. I finished from Cornelia Connely College, Afaha Oku in Uyo local government area in 1986. I cleared all subjects at credit level in West African Examination Council (WAEC).’’
“However, I could not go further because of huge family responsibilities. My father struggled a lot to send me to the secondary school. So, going further in education was not an easy thing. If I had gained admission into any university, I would have read Town and Regional Planning,” Udokang who is in her 40s narrated.
A Christian by faith, she admitted “We should to be 40 students in a class. I had many classmates prominent among them are Mrs Roselyn Ekon, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel and Uduak Eki, among others. Though Martha was in my set not class, she was brilliant and humble. At the end of third term, the school authority merged all classes and results to allow for emergence of the best among us.’’
“In the class, I used to take first or second position. At times, I used to be among the first five when all the classes from A-G would be merged. By God’s grace, I was not a struggling student.’’
“By that time, brilliant students were admitted into the school. It was not easy to gain admission into the school. A common entance was conducted and interview held for those to be admitted into the school.’’
Code-mixing Ibibio with English Language, she recapped “On December 16, 2018, Her Excellency, Martha, wife of Akwa Ibom Governor, Udom Emmanuel, organised a banquet for alumni of Class 86 of the school. We were treated to a sumptuous banquet in Government House Banquet Hall, Uyo. Her Excellency gave us warm reception that was characteristic of her humane nature. She was kind-hearted to students who came her way. She did more than we expected.
“She attended to us, called our names individually. We interacted and she counselled us on marital issues and children upbringing. We sang, danced and ate together. ‘When you see the less privileged, I want you to help them. That was her character as a student. She rendered financial or any other form of assistance to many indigent students in the school then.”
On if she is ready to go back to school, she responded “If there is money, I will go further in education.”
“As a trader, I make N2,000 or N1,000 daily. Some days, I fail to make profit.
“I am aware the state government through Traders Network has been giving loan to traders. I do not obtain it because I do not how to apply for it.”
If you were a governor’s wife, what will you do differently? “I would have established more schools to enable many to enrol in them. The children are many and the population overflows the existing schools.
“Unfortunately, many pupils or student from the public schools benefitting fro free and compulsory education cannot read or write. I blame this on the population explosion. In fact, some teachers are unable to attend to them individually or teach them or impart sound education to them.
On how to reduce poverty among the populace, I applaud the DAKADDA philosophy of the present government. I want young people to rise and work. Let them not be idle now that there is unempolyment.
“Let young people learn skills and work to earn a living. Without people working, how will they feed the teeming population?” Udokang queried.
