Left to Right: The new Village Head of Atan Offot, Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, Etteidung Idongesit Alfred Ekong, conferring the chieftaincy title of Akpan Idung of Atan Offot, on poet Victor Emmanuel Uwah, at his grand coronation ceremony and presentation of staff of office on Saturday June 5, 2021 at Bishop Haywoode’s Primary School Grounds, Atan Offot, in Uyo
Uwah, after his decoration at the ceremony
Displaying his Certificate of Honour
By Banji Ayoola
The new Village Head of Atan Offot Community, Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, Etteidung Idongesit Alfred Ekong, has pledged to serve his people with total commitment and dedication.
He spoke at his grand coronation ceremony and presentation of staff of office on Saturday June 5, 2021 at Bishop Haywoode’s Primary School Grounds, Atan Offot, in Uyo.
Etteidung Ekong promised that the welfare of his subjects would be his priority.
His words: “I would carry out my duties with a sense of loyalty unto God, Government at the federal, state and local levels, and total commitment to my people and humanity, which is the top priority of my purpose here on earth.”
At the colourful ceremony, different cultural troupes, including primary school children from the community, entertained the guests; while people of the community and their guests also took to the dance floor in demonstration of their joy.
His subjects, some of whom spoke at the ceremony, described Ekong, who is the youngest Village Head ever produced in Atan Offot, as a man of many parts.
They were generally optimistic that his reign would be a blessing to the Community, Local Government Area, State, Nigeria and the World at large.
Following are the words of some of his subjects who spoke at the ceremony:
“Being a leader, he should be a servant leader. Being a leader does not make him a supreme being. You would see that he was prepared for leadership and at a tender age he has ascended the throne. I believe he would do well;”
“He is so thoughtful; he is so gracious and open handed. At the moment three of the young men from the community have been enlisted at the Immigration. We would do more for them because they deserve it;”
“He has a lot of prospects;” and
“I wish him a successful reign in this community.”
Also at the ceremony, 18 sons and daughters of the community and friends were honoured with chieftaincy titles; while 32 other individuals and five corporate organizations received awards of excellence.
Specifically, they were honoured for being “Distinguished and Outstanding Individuals and Corporate Organisations within and outside the Village.”
They included a celebrated poet, Mr Victor Emmanuel Uwah, who was decorated by Etteidung Ekong as Akpan Idung of Atan Offot.
Uwah, whose birthname is Etekamba, a Chief Superintendent of the Nigerian Customs Service, studied Law at the University of Calabar between 1982 and 1985.
