10. The fact is that a man without a dream is lost in the tide of time and will die without a stroke of impression by which posterity would treasure his memory. We need a vision, a master plan, and investments that will lead to productive future for posterity. A vision and master plan are the timeless legacies that Obong Victor Attah, our quintessential erstwhile governor bequeathed to Akwa Ibom state during his days in office. On that building block, subsequent governors have been adding their quotas and Akwa Ibom is rising in greatness day by day. What is our story here in Mkpat Enin?
11. By way of emphasis, I want to say again that we need a structure and a concrete plan of action because an impacting development does not happen by arbitrary and uncoordinated maneuverings. For that purpose, leadership is of utmost significance, because as always, it is the duty of the head to think and guide the course. As far as development in this historic period is concerned, the type of leadership that will lead to the realization of our hopes is transformational leadership which briefly speaking entails, evolving a creative and inspiring way of bringing people to break new grounds and achieve lofty goals.
12. Let me share with you a bulk of significant human ingredients that will enable us break new grounds and achieve the MOOD (Mkpat-Enin of our dream). In no particular order these include:

• Mindset: The fact of life is that the way we think is the way we live. If we think poor, we live poorly. If we think division, we live divisively. If we think selfish, we live selfishly. If we think progress, we progress. If we think success, we succeed. If we think order, we live orderly. If we think disorder, we see chaos. So, to advance profitably, our mindset has to be progressive, innovative, creative, exploratory, and open to possibilities.
• Unity: It is said that “Unity is power.” This dictum has not yet been faulted and I do not see how it will ever be faulted. So, togetherness, collaboration, networking, connection, mutual support, and appreciation, all stand as the bedrock of success in a development-oriented undertaking.
• Determination: We often hear it said that, “Rome was not built in a day”. As a Catholic priest, I can assure you that this statement is true. It took hundreds of years to raise Rome to be the historic city it is today. We cannot deceive ourselves imagining that Mkpat-Enin of our dream can happen with a blink of the eye. It will take a number of factors (including (but not limited to) determination, resilience, discipline, commitment, self-control, drivenness, and even failure to sail through. It seems Jessie Owens, the American athlete had this idea in mind when he said that “In order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort.” In the same vein, Zig Ziglar, an American motivational speaker said that “Success is achieved by ordinary people with extraordinary determination.” The catchword here is extraordinary determination. In our language, we say, “Ifu idiagha ndion.” This means, a lazy person doesn’t enjoy delicacies. Whoever wants to enjoy it has to work hard.
• Human capital: The most important ingredient in the soup of development is human capital. The growth of every economy depends on the human asset at its disposal because human beings are the ones to coordinate and manage the resources for the progress of the people. Therefore, intellectual development of the citizens in various areas of human endeavor has to be prioritized. Simply put, we have to invest in people for an improved economy.

13. At this point, I want to say from my little interactions and observations, that aside from the government, I am not sure we have many Akwa Ibom indigenes occupying topmost managerial positions in our state economy, especially in the crucial areas of science and technology. There are various firms operating in the state. How many of those in top managerial echelon in those firms are Akwa Ibomites and how many are of Mkpat Enin? For instance, how many Akwa Ibomites or Mkpat Eninites are pilots in Ibom Air? Statistically, how many of our own are making exceptionally impactful strides around the world? Are they many? If not, why not? Do we think of how we too can raise an Aliko Dangote, a Mike Adenuga, a Femi Otedola, an Innoson, or an Abdulsamad Rabiu? I am actually inviting us to start questioning our situation, dream big, and work on how one, two, three, ten, twenty, thirty or millions of our own sons and daughters could be visibly outstanding as we see in other climes.
14. For such colossal ambition to materialize, we have a lot of work to do. My suggestion is this: Within the framework of dreaming, structuring, planning, and implementing the plans, we could set the ball tolling with a scavenging project which we could call Footprints of Excellence. This entails conscious, intentional, and concerted efforts at discovering specially gifted children at the grassroot in academics especially in science and technology, in sports, music, etc.
15. It is on record that way back in the early 20^th century, our clans and villages used to rally together, raise funds and send their brilliant sons and daughters abroad for studies. These people came back and became trailblazers and icons of hope. If our forebears could do that in those days of great penury, what could we not do in these days of great abundance. We may be asking how we will generate the funds to undertake such cost-intensive projects. To this, I say, the burden of funding the project would not be on our shoulders. Ours is to discover them, project them with a little grassroot push, get them noticed at higher levels – state, national, and international; and leave the rest to providence. Walt Disney say, “If you can dream it, you can do it.”
16. A few days ago, I read in the news that a Nigerian teenager by the name of Femi Ositade has been given full scholarships to multiple Ivy league universities in the US and beyond. As far as I know, Femi Ositade is a Yoruba youth. Without being envious, I ask, will it not be good to see an Mkpat Enin child receive multiple scholarships to top-ranking universities worldwide like Femi Ositade? But then, this Ositade boy did not just spring up overnight like mushroom. He comes from a culture that prepared him for such enviable achievement.
17. Many of us here know that the academic glory which the Yorubas are enjoying today started with Awolowo’s visionary initiative in his days as the premier of Western region. He started the free education that has made them academic giants and controllers of the economy that we see today. Check out their doctors, their engineers, their lawyers, their musicians, and more. We too can start a project today that will make Mkpat Enin people outstanding in years to come. Truth is, every tomorrow starts today.
18. By way of conclusion, I share with you Thomas Friedman’s insight into the way life operates in today’s world. Looking at life today, Friedman says that “The World is Flat.” By this he means that we are living in an unprecedented competitive world. There is no occupational security anymore by which you can say, I have a job or I have a means of income, so, I don’t have to worry. No, you cannot sit and forget yourself in today’s world, otherwise, you will lose your relevance and you will be replaced either by someone else or by a machine. An example is China that has risen from nothing to become a world power that intimidates even America. Friedman’s flattened world is a world of equal opportunity for everybody, so, anybody can take over at any time. If you don’t keep moving by being engaging or constantly reinventing yourself, you will get stuck and others will overtake you. In this case, there is no room for assumption or complacency. Even the bible says that the kingdom of God suffers violence and the violent take by force – Matt. 11:12. Let keep that in mind.
19. One dominant point in Friedman’s postulation worthy of note is that development in today’s world does not happen by a “dominate and control” approach which originates from “the winner takes it all” mindset. Any organizational operation today that is progress and development-oriented uses a “connect and collaborate” model of management. So, any group or individuals who are serious about their future will have to see others as assets in the process of development and self-actualization. On that note, our leadership and management approach should embrace the rewarding values of connection, collaboration, community, inclusiveness, networking, and compromise. This calls for building bridges that unite instead of erecting fences that divide.
20. Once again, I thank our transition chairman for her inclusive approach to governance by inviting stakeholders across board to work together for the progress and development of our people. I guess she is learning fast from her boss – the smart and ingenious governor of our state. Let us sheath our swords if we had one and join hands in raising Mkpat Enin to greater heights.

God bless Mkpat Enin Local Government!
God bless Akwa Ibom State!
God bless Nigeria!