The magnificent Ibom hall, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State wore a ceremonial look on Wednesday, September 17, this year. Every available parking space was taken up by different brand of automobiles. Inside, there were also many people standing as sitting. The event was the State Stakeholders forum on education held to officially inform and harness inputs for the implementation of free and compulsory education, a major initiative of Gov. Godswill Akpabio-Ied administration.

The people including commissioners, permanent secretaries, top government officials, principals, headmasters and headmistresses, students, pupils and opinion leaders who started trooping into the vicinity as early as 8 am were there. By 12 noon, Chief Akpabio, dressed in black suit, white shirt, red tie and black pair of shoes to match, arrived the scene. The atmosphere was electrified as the people gave a standing on to the man who keeps to his promi ses.

Governor Akpabio had used the occasion e 21 st Anniversary of the Akwa Ibom Association, USA to announce the State free and compulsory education from Primary to Secondary School level. The news like wild fire. This explains why the people were there in good number to be part of another bold step.

This time, the people, men and women, young and old were highly pleased for at least a reason: The important forum would chart a new way forward in the educational development of the State. It would lead to massive production of qualified personnel, capacity building and lasting empowerment of the people. It would also assist to end traces of arm robbery, restiveness and militancy, thus maintaining the peaceful environment for governance and sustainable development which the State is today noted for.

An elated Governor Akpabio who have these and other visions moved from seat to seat and from one part of the hall to another shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries before taking his seat. This was followed by introductions and goodwill messages. Then came the moment everyone was waiting for.

Standing, the Governor informed the stakeholders about the basis of the new education policy. He explained that the free and compulsory education policy is fuelled by his deep passion to remove every hurdle that stand between children and qualitative education in the State.

Besides, Chief Akpabio said his administration would start free boarding in 62 public schools, provide free medical care as well as pay additional N300 and N100 subvention per child and per term to principals and headmasters/headmistresses respectively in the State. These are to enable them to procure basic needs including chalk without placing such financial burden on parents.

He informed the gathering that his administration would embark on more massive rehabilitation of schools, provision of science equipment, training and re-training of teachers in all levels. More than that, Governor Akpabio who called on stakeholders to support this vision, said the administration is to embark on massive construction of new school blocks and libraries among other infrastructure in order to meet expected rise in the registration of pupils and students.

In their contributions, many stakeholders made useful suggestions and comments. The State government, whose officials have already harvested such inputs for consideration, will soon emerge with additional measures to boost the scheme.

Already, the free and compulsory education has attracted several commendations to the Governor and his administration. For instance, the commissioner of education, Dr Nseabasi Akpan, lauded Akpabio for being the first to introduce the free and compulsory education as well as hold an education town hall meeting in the State.

He succinctly captured other firsts of the Governor when he remarked: "Your Excellency, you are the first visitor to Akwa Ibom State Polytecnic, Ikot Osurua after several years of existence; first to host the conference of Nigerian Polytecnic heads (COHEAOS) in Akwa Ibom State; first to approve the standard subvention to principals for the running of public schools; first to embark on compulsory free education from Primary to Secondary Schools in the State. Above all, first to host and organize a Town Hall Meeting for principals/head teachers in public schools - a group hitherto not recognized for such meetings by past administrations."

The Commissioner expressed appreciation to the Governor for many landmark developments. These include the introduction of free boarding arrangements, establishing of Inter-Ministerial Committee for rehabilitation of decaying infrastructure, fencing of Schools, construction of the Ultra-modern Library Complex in Uyo, the State capital, massive procurement and distribution of books to Schools. He also pledged the commitment of the Ministry of Education to the success of the policy through some measures such as war against examination malpractice and loitering during school hours.

Dr Akpan is not alone. The National President of Akwa Ibom State Association, USA, Akparawa ( Obong) Eyi Umana also poured encomiums on the Governor not only for participating in their 21^st anniversary as special Guest of Honour but also for the free and compulsory education. As he puts it: "Most profound and much appreciated is his use of the Akwa Ibom State Association platform in declaring Universal Free education from primary through secondary school. This is significant and frees the association to focus in human capital development at the University level in Akwa Ibom and here in the USA."

In his part, the State Commissioner for Information and Social Re-orientation said that Akpabio's free education policy is a reflection of the revolutionary drive of the Governor in lifting the state out of the doldrums and the building of a sound future for generations to come. He called on all and sundry to support the government to make the policy a reality.

It is not only the trio. An orphan, Mr Uwem Eka is full of excitement. Since the passing on of his father in 2005, Uwem had to abandon his education in Uyo, for petty trading in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in order to sustain his younger brother and sister in secondary schools. Recently, the victim who shared very bitter experiences , said the State's new education policy has put paid to his predicament.

Quite expectedly, the predicament which Uwem Eka has been freed of, has led to explosion in student enrolment in both primary and secondary schools in the State. For example, a tutor in Comprehensive Secondary School, Four Towns, Uyo, who pleaded not to be named, commented that the declaration of free education from primary to secondary level by Governor Akpabio is the greatest thing that has happened to the education sector in the 21-year history of the State. He said that the number of students who have been thronging the school to register is quite high and the School Principal has warned that no student should be turned back.

Indeed, from the streets of Uyo to the raffia city of Ikot Ekpene and from the oil city of Ibeno to the fishing enclave of Mbo, everybody is singing praises to the Chief Akpabio-Ied administration. Incidentally, the children are not left out. Some of them who showed up at a dinner hosted by the government to end this Year's Infrastructure Summit at the Le Meridian and Ibom Golf Resort, Uyo on September 19, this year chanted a familiar song: ' Akwa Ibom Ado Ok, Akwa Ibom Ado Ok" - meaning all is well in Akwa Ibom.