Prince Enobong Uwah is the Secretary to The State Government
Born on January 15, 1969, Prince Enobong Emmanuel Uwah is a native of Atan Offot village in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
This consummate public servant, pragmatic leader and tireless philanthropist obtained his First School Leaving Certificate from Ikot Offiong Mbai Primary School, Cross River State between 1974-1979 before proceeding to the prestigious Federal Government College, Ikot Ekpene where he obtained his West African Senior Schools Certificate in 1984.
In 1985 he gained admission to study for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geography and Regional Planning from the University of Uyo, an endeavour which he completed in record time, graduating in flying colours in 1989. He went further to obtain a Master’s Degree in Public Administration in 2011 from the same University.
He dutifully served the nation as a classroom teacher in Federal Government College Enugu from 1989-1990 under the Nigerian Youth Service Corp, NYSC. In 1991, from a very humble beginning, he was employed into the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Education as a School Teacher in Secondary Schools and held to this assignment till 1994 when he voluntarily resigned from the role.
As a young man who believed in mentorship and effective learning, he applied for and was employed as the Head, Planning and Strategy Unit/Personal Assistant to the C.E.O of Petro-Consult Limited, Lagos State from 1995 – 1997 where he learnt the rudiments of business and entrepreneurship through his very diligent service on the role.
In 1998, Prince Uwah ventured into business as a Partner, Hammer Communications, Lagos and ran the company successfully until 2002, when he was appointed Programmes Officer, 1 (P.O.1), and Zonal Head, under the Federal Government’s National Poverty Eradication Programme for Eket Senatorial District, Akwa Ibom State.
In his budding youthful years, Prince Enobong Uwah took an active role in consensus building, advocacy and leadership as he sought to ensure meaningful engagements for the youths of Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria. His strategic positioning, ideals and values endeared him to many youths stood behind him and trusted him to lead them at several times and diverse settings. Consequently, he has served as Former Deputy President, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Nigerian Representative, Commonwealth Youth Summit, Nigerian Representative, United Nations Youth Convention, Trustee, Supreme Council of Akwa Ibom Youths, Founder and President, Akwa Ibom Grand Alliance, Founder, Ray of Hope Youth Organization, Secretary General, Foundation of Akwa Ibom Youths, Former Chairman, Uyo Local Government Youth Council. One common feature about all the platforms where he served in this testament were that they were all positioned to advocate for the interest of the youths and while at its, Prince Uwah ensured that their engagements and modus operandi were peaceful, civil and result-oriented.
Prince Enobong Uwah has through the years acquitted himself as a prudent man who at all times is ready to give his all to ensure the success of every endeavour he is involved in/with. In politics and Leadership, he has in the last one decade played a major role in the emergence of successive leaders in Akwa Ibom State and has served in several performance-oriented positions including – Publicity Secretary, CWC Security sub-committee of Attah/Ekpenyong 2003 Campaign Organization.Protocol Coordinator, Godswill/Nsima 2011 Campaign Organization, Deputy Head of Protocol, Godswill/Ekpotu 2007 Campaign Organization. In all these positions, he faithfully executed the tasks of his office, contributed his full potential to the success of his teams.
Given his administrative prowess, he was appointed Special Assistant to the Akwa Ibom State Governor on Protocol (Abuja Liason Office) in 2007 and served in that capacity until 2011 when he was elevated to the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, Akwa Ibom State, as Honourable Commissioner by the Governor, His Excellency Chief (Dr.) Godswill Obot Akpabio (CON).
While on duty as the Honourable Commissioner for the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, Prince Enobong Uwah championed a total repositioning the Ministry through unprecedented innovations and strategic collaborations. Some of his evergreen achievements while serving in that capacity was the reception and domiciling of the first ever Policy on Environment for Akwa Ibom State, establishment of the Green Brigade: a standing environmental sanitation Corps distinguished by their Green Coverall uniforms, comprising about 2,500 citizens (with over 1,500 women) in its employ. The Green Brigade engaged in desilting gutters and drainages in the State, mowing the lawns, trimming flowers, sweeping the streets, refuse collection, evacuation and management. There is no doubt that this singular initiative of the ministry contributed greatly to the then popular anecdote – Akwa Ibom Ayaya.
He also supervised the engineering studies and design of the anti-ravine facilities for the control of Eka and Asutan Street ravines in Uyo, ensured the quality completion of the flood control project at Nwaniba Road, Ewet Timber Market, Uruan Street and its environs and the reconstruction and desilting of Nkemba trough; culverts at Uruan Street/Oron Road; the underground drains from Udotung Ubo with its outlet at Dominic Utuk Avenue to effectively control the impact of flood in the Capital City.
Furthermore, he facilitated and engaged Oil Companies operating in the State to sign Memorandum of Understanding with their host communities in a bid to ensure conducive working and peaceful environment, Initiated and designed a machinery for the swift and prompt response to incidents of oil spills in the State, Partnered with some Oil Companies operating within the forest region towards the conservation of the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve in the State which was under the threat of extinction and also initiated the House-to-House Sanitary Inspection of Premises within the Uyo metropolis by deploying professional services of Environmental Health Officers.
Owing to his sterling performance as the Honourable Commissioner for the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, he was again appointed as Commissioner for Housing and Urban Renewal, in 2015 by His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel. While on the new assignment, Prince Uwah acquitted himself, unsurprisingly though, with distinction. In a record period of less than three months, Prince Uwah delivered for inauguration as part of the 28th Anniversary Celebration of Akwa Ibom State, the newly constructed Gynaecology Ward of the Catholic Hospital at Anua built in memory of an Irish Reverend Sister Dr. Ann Ward. He also delivered supervised the overhauling and reconstruction of the hitherto abandoned 10th Anniversary Hotel and delivered same to the Government for Inauguration to mark one-year anniversary of the Udom Emmanuel’s administration on May 29, 2016 as the ultramodern DAKKADA Secretariat Annex complex, Udo Udoma, Akwa Ibom State.
In October 2016, His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel deployed Prince Uwah to lead the Capital City Development Authority, (UCCDA) as the Executive Chairman of the agency. His record of performance as the helmsman of UCCDA has been nothing short of spectacular.
Prince Uwah made history by building the Permanent Secretariat of the agency after 32 years of its creation, supervised the construction of the Akwa Ibom State Council of Chiefs Chambers, the model PDP State Secretariat and revamped the ongoing development of the new housing estate known as Martha’s Vineyard along Idoro Road in Uyo. Under his watch, the UCCDA has been rebranded, digitized and automated.
Prince Enobong Uwah has over the years proven to be a doyen of administrative excellence, a core professional and a team player of great value. Prince Uwah has in the last two transitions in Akwa Ibom State served as the Secretatary General of both the Divine Mandate, 2019 Campaign Organisation and the Umo Eno/Akon Eyakenyi 2023 Campaign Organisation; this role positioned him as the administrative head of the both Campaigns, saddled with the responsibility of coordinating all campaign personnel and activities. To his credit, both Campaigns birthed victory without a single incidence of dissatisfaction recorded concerning the discharge of his responsibilities. He is also the Secretary General of the Maintain Peace Movement, a Socio-Political Organisation who played a pivotal role in midwifing the emergence of Pastor Umo Bassey Eno as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
As a remarkable community builder, astute leader and one who is in touch with his roots, he was unanimously endorsed and confirmed as the Political Leader of Uyo Local Government Area on January 1, 2022. Since his emergence at the Political Leader of Uyo Local Government Area, Prince Uwah has worked to ensure that unity and equity is entrenched in the Local Government Area.
Prince Uwah is a Paul Harris fellow of the Rotary Club International, his burning passion for humanitarian services and charity work saw him establish the Enobong Uwah Foundation through which he continues to reach out to the existential and academic needs of the less fortunate, physically challenged and orphans.
He is a recipient of several Awards and Chieftaincy titles in recognition of his stellar contributions to nation building.
Prince Uwah is married to the gem, Mrs Inemesit Enobong Uwah and is blessed with three adorable daughters.