Posted by Ubong ASSAM Jnr.


The Emir of Kontagora, Niger State and pioneer Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi (FUTIA) in Akwa Ibom State, Alhaji Muhammad Bara'u Mu'azu II has called on Oku Ibom Ibibio and President General of Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, His Eminence, Ntenyin (Dr.) Solomon Daniel Etuk, CFR to offer the institution his support and royal backing to enable its rapid growth.

The Emir, who made the call when he paid homage to the Oku Ibom Ibibio at his palace in Ikot Ukobo in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area on Friday, said the appeal was necessitated by the fact that traditional rulers have a tremendous role to play for the success of any institution within their domains and State.

The 7th Emir of Kontagora was accompanied on the visit by the Vice Chancellor of FUTIA. Prof Leo Daniel and the management team and council members thanked the Oku Ibom Ibibio for the warm hospitality accorded him despite the short notice of his visit.

He said, “Your Eminence, as it is customary, whenever a King comes into a town where there is a ruler there, he has to go there first before doing anything else. When I stepped into Akwa Ibom State, I asked them, because this was my first time coming to Akwa Ibom, but very unfortunately, time was against it, so we decided to make it today.

“We are all here to pay homage to this great palace and also to seek your advice and your support to move the Federal University of Technology to a greater height. You know as I do that without traditional rulers, it will be difficult to attain any desirable success for the school.

Responding, the patriarch of the Ibibios worldwide, Ntenyin (Dr.) Solomon Daniel Etuk, CFR, expressed appreciation to the Emir for the royal visit and assured him of cooperation.

He reiterated the role of traditional fathers in growing love and unity in the country among the various peoples and states so that the desired development can be achieved.

He said cooperation and understanding backed with love and unity will diffuse tensions and disaffection thereby infusing a sense of togetherness among Nigerians irrespective of origin.

Ntenyin Etuk, who congratulated the Emir for his installation as the pioneer Chancellor of FUTIA and successful matriculation of the first batch of students, assured him of the necessary support required to enable the university to grow.

“I truly appreciate your coming to this part of the world. In the traditional institution where you and I belong, that is the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Abuja, we believe in building bridges, we build bridges of love, togetherness, and unity of purpose in Nigeria – believing very strongly that you are my brother from another mother, we see ourselves as brothers not somebody from South or somebody from the North. We see ourselves as one.

“We believe very strongly that we can only grow Nigeria desirably with love and unity. My Emir, Akwa Ibom State is a very peaceful State; we are peaceful in all sense of the word.

“What I can assure you is that we will give the university all that it requires to enable it to grow. The university must grow to develop our children. It behoves us royal fathers to create a peaceful atmosphere for the children to study and we will do that through building stronger synergy between the school authority the traditional institution and all the people of Akwa Ibom State.

According to the Oku Ibom Ibibio, the Emir’s visit has set the tone for closer working relations between the Kontagora Emirate, Niger State and Akwa Ibom for the good of the people of both states.

With Oku Ibom Ibibio to receive the Emir and his entourage were traditional rulers including paramount Rulers; HRM Edidem Edet Akpan Inyang, Itu LGA; HRM Edidem (Elder) Akpan Akpan Ekpene, Mkpat Enin LGA; HRM Edidem Sylvanus Effiong Okon, Uyo LGA; HRM Edidem E. C. D. Abia, Eket LGA; HRM