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Governor Udom Emmanuel has been honoured by the World Bank for effectively partnering the international organisation for successful programmes implementation in Akwa Ibom State.
At the maiden award of Excellence in service delivery organized by the World Bank in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Finance, Akwa Ibom State emerged the most outstanding performing State in the South-South region. A report on the financial year 2019 portfolio performance awards, issued by the State – World Bank Projects Coordination Secretariat indicated that Akwa Ibom State emerged winner following Governor Emmanuel’s “Extent of Implementation of post review contracts, Counterpart Funds Release, Procurement Plan implementation rate, as well as 2019 timely Procurement/Work Plan Submission and Clearance.
The World Bank team commended the Akwa Ibom Governor for providing enabling environment and support for World Bank project implementations in the State, noting that “the award was based on excellence in service delivery as it pertains to all World Bank assisted projects across the country.”
The organisation also lauded the Governor for timely/ successful completion of actions with International Financial Regulations and Audit compliance, Implementation Performance as indicated through disbursement performance, Results achieved and linkage and impact on state development priorities as well as the State Level Coordination Mechanism. “We wish to appreciate His Excellency, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, the Executive Governor, Akwa Ibom State, for his strong support and provision of the enabling environment. We also appreciate the Commissioners of the lined-ministries and their respective Permanent Secretaries as well as all World Bank Project Staff in the State for their hard work”.
The organizers of the excellence award further stated that the objective of the award was to spur States and World Bank partners to sustain momentum of project implementation recorded during the year. “The goal was to contribute towards sustaining the momentum in implementation throughout the election year and ensure the Portfolio meets the Bank FY19 Disbursement Target by having states take action on the key actions agreed at the FY19 CPPR. “This includes effective engagement with new state government through the use of Results briefs and the need to address systemic issues on the Portfolio.”
The Governor was represented by Commissioner for Environment and Petroleum Resources, Barr. Ekong Sampson accompanied by the State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Linus Nkan and others top government functionaries. The award was presented on behalf of the World Bank to the Governor by the Governor of Kaduna state, Mallam Nasir El Rufai.
