Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno has handed over a remodeled fully-furnished six-bedroom bungalow to the family of late Nollywood make-up artist, Abigail Edith Frederick, in Ikot Udoma, Eket Local Government Area.
The Governor also donated a business support grant of one million naira to the family and additional one million naira as educational grant to her two younger sisters.
Presentation of the newly furnished building was done on Thursday by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Frank Archibong who represented the Governor.
Mr Archibong recalled how on February 13, 2024, Governor Eno personally visited the grieving family where he offered automatic employment to the deceased’s elder sister, promised assistance to the undergraduate sisters and directed his aide on humanitarian services to renovate the family house and bring it up to modern standards.
He noted that, “Pastor Umo Eno embodies empathy and joy, consistently supporting Akwa Ibomites in need.”
The commissioner emphasised that the Governor’s actions were not politically-motivated but a demonstration of who he is.
“If empathy or joy has a name, it would have been Pastor Umo Eno, because he always rises to the occasion whenever any Akwa Ibomite is in need.
“The Governor didn’t do this for votes or to lure you to join PDP; he did it because you are an Akwa Ibomite, and that’s how he has always been. He sent me here to ensure a proper handover of your renovated building,” he said.
In his overview of the project, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Humanitarian Services, Prince Nsikanabasi Umoekpo narrated how the Governor returned from an official trip and went straight to commiserate with the family, instructed that her remains be exhumed and brought back to the state for proper burial and gave automatic employment to the deceased’s elder sister.
Prince Umoekpo revealed that the building was ready a month ago but the Governor insisted that it should be furnished before being presented to the family.
The deceased father, Mr. Frederick Edoho Edet expressed gratitude to the Governor for his show of love and compassion during their moment of grief.
Also speaking, Abigail’s mother, Mrs. Veronica Frederick who was full of appreciation to the Governor for coming to their aid described the Governor as a compassionate leader who has wiped the tears of their family and prayed for God’s blessing on the Governor and his family.
The brief presentation which had in attendance the SSA on Special Duties who doubles as Team Lead, Inter Ministerial/Direct Labour Coordinating Committee, Barr Morgan Ekanem, featured goodwill messages from stakeholders of the area including; the Member representing Eket in the State Assembly, Hon. Nsidibe Akata, flanked by his counterpart from Abia State, Hon. Collins Ikechukwu, who thanked God for giving the state a kind and compassionate leader like Pastor Umo Eno.
Abigail Edith Frederick was one of five film practitioners, including actor Junior Pope who tragically lost their lives when their boat capsized on the River Niger on April 10.
They were in the middle of filming Another Side of Life, a movie by producer Adanma Luke.
Frederick was initially buried by the riverbank after her body was found on April 11. However, Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno instructed that her body be returned to the state for a proper burial.
