…Reopening Lifeline to Education and Community Growth
Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom – A wave of excitement swept through Ikot Ekpene as Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, arrived to inaugurate a 1.1-kilometer access road and drainage project at the Gorreti Girls Secondary School Road. This vital infrastructure project, awarded last year to local contractor U&K Limited, not only restores safe access to the all-girls public college but also reconnects surrounding communities, marking a transformative step in the region’s development.
The newly constructed road and bridge address a long-standing issue that had persisted for more than seven years, following the collapse of the original bridge and roadway. The deteriorating infrastructure had left students and teachers navigating perilous conditions daily, forcing many families to withdraw their children from the school, the only all-girls public institution in West Africa’s oldest local government.
The project was commissioned on Thursday under Governor Eno’s ARISE Agenda, which emphasises agriculture, rural development, infrastructure, and education. Speaking to journalists, Dr Essien Ndueso, the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Research and Documentation, underscored the critical need for intervention to protect the safety of both students and the community. “With the collapse of the bridge, incidents of students and teachers sliding into the ravine were common,” Ndueso said. “Economic and agricultural activities suffered, and neighbouring communities, which are largely agrarian, were largely abandoned.”
The ARISE Agenda aims to empower communities through infrastructure, and this project exemplifies that commitment, Ndueso added. He praised U&K Limited’s work and emphasised Governor Eno’s dedication to supporting local contractors. “The governor has shown that he trusts indigenous talent to bring quality development to the state. This project will be a lifeline to the students and the local economy,” he said.
U&K Limited’s Managing Director, Engineer Ukeme Eyo Peters, shared his pride in transforming a road that was once nearly impassable. “This road was beyond deplorable when we took it over, and now, through meticulous engineering, we have provided a new, durable access route,” he said, emphasising that the road adheres to high construction standards.
Mr. Itoro Moses, the Compound Master of Gorreti Girls Secondary School, expressed his gratitude, recalling the severe impact that lack of access had on school enrollment. “Without an access road, many parents felt they had no choice but to withdraw their children from our school,” Moses noted. “Now, we are already seeing a rise in student numbers. This road has changed everything.”
For students like Miss Esther John, the road brings renewed hope and opportunities. A prospective law student, she shared that her parents nearly withdrew her from the school due to the lack of an access road. “I’m grateful to Governor Eno for making my hope a reality. I can now attend school without worry,” she said.
The newly inaugurated road represents a lifeline not only for Goretti Girls Secondary School but also for Ikot Ekpene’s surrounding communities, signalling a hopeful future with revitalised infrastructure, safer access, and renewed educational prospects.