Eno’s Decision to Abandon Ibom Science Park Sparks Questions Over Campaign Promise and Public Spending
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has come under scrutiny after announcing that his administration will no longer pursue the completion of the long-abandoned Ibom Science Park project, despite previously promising to revive it during his election campaign.
Speaking at a public event on Friday, the governor dismissed calls for the completion of the project, describing the concept as outdated and arguing that its objectives had already been replicated through youth development centres being established across the state.
“I will not do the Science Park. There is nothing like the Science Park,” Eno declared.
According to him, technological innovation no longer requires a dedicated physical facility, adding that the state had decentralised the idea through youth development centres equipped with spaces for creative thinking and innovation.
“We have replicated the Science Park in the youth development centres. As you visit the centres, you will see laboratories and spaces for innovation. Science parks are now in your laptop; they don’t have to exist in one building,” he said.
The governor also revealed plans to hand over the project site to a private investor if a suitable organisation expresses interest.
“If I find an organisation that wants to use that place, I will give it to them without charge. Government has already paid for the land, and it belongs to the government,” he stated.
His comments have generated debate because they appear to contradict a major commitment contained in his ARISE Agenda manifesto, which served as the policy blueprint for his administration.
Under the Information and Communication Technology section of the manifesto, Eno pledged to “revamp the Science Park to stimulate and exploit the use of ICT in the state” as part of efforts to encourage digital innovation, create jobs and diversify the economy.
The decision has also raised questions about public funds allocated to the project since he assumed office.
Budget documents show that in the 2023 revised budget, the state government increased funding for the restructuring and upgrading of facilities at the Ibom Science Park from ₦30 million to ₦50 million. Another ₦10 million was allocated in the 2024 budget for the re-evaluation of the park’s buildings and facilities.
Despite those allocations, references to the project disappeared from subsequent budgets, including those for 2025 and 2026.
The governor did not explain why funds were committed to the project before the administration eventually decided to abandon it.
The Ibom Science Park was originally conceived during the administration of Victor Attah as a technology and innovation hub aimed at becoming Nigeria’s version of Silicon Valley. The project was designed to support software development, robotics, research, startup incubation and digital manufacturing while creating employment opportunities for young people.
Years later, the project received renewed attention under Udom Emmanuel, who announced a public-private partnership involving a Chinese investor expected to inject about €500 million into the development. The proposal included a technical university, vocational training centre and high-tech manufacturing facilities, but little progress was made after the announcement.
Governor Eno maintains that youth development centres across local government areas will achieve similar objectives. However, critics argue that the centres are not equivalent to the original vision of the Science Park, which was intended to function as a large-scale technology ecosystem connecting researchers, startups, universities, innovators and investors.
The development has reignited discussions about policy continuity in Akwa Ibom State, particularly as the governor has repeatedly emphasised the importance of completing viable projects inherited from previous administrations.
While defending his position, Eno stated that his administration would only continue projects it considers beneficial and sustainable, stressing that he also has a responsibility to pursue his own development agenda.
The decision has nevertheless raised concerns among stakeholders about the future of the Science Park, the public funds already committed to it, and whether the state’s ambition of becoming a major technology and innovation hub will now be pursued through a different model.
