By Darlington DAVID

In what many described as Independence Day bliss and in keeping with his practice, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Housing and Special Duties, Mr. Akan Okon, Sunday, October 1, 2017, celebrated his 52nd Birthday with orphans at Government Special Children’s Home, IBB Way, and new born babies at the Anua Hospital, Uyo, and urged endowed members of the society to show more love and care to the less privileged.

The Commissioner, who celebrated the day in the company of his wife, family members and well-wishers, said “It has been a routine for me to celebrate every first day of October, my birthday, through visits to the orphanages and any hospital of my choice to appreciate children who are born on the same day with me. In the process, I tried to assist people who are unable to pay their medical bills. Like today, we had a very sad situation at the Anua Hospital. We saw a lady that was delivered of a baby for over nine months and she was unable to go back to her family because she could not pay for her medical expenses. We saw several others with various financial situations. I thank God for enabling me to pay for some of them.”

When asked to recount his experience and feelings in the climb of life as a man whose birthday is inextricably linked to Nigeria’s Independence, the Commissioner for Housing and Special Duties said “I will like to say that I am very grateful to God because it is by His grace and mercy that I have been able to stay from year one till today at 52. It is not easy and it can only be God. I grew up just like every normal person and it is God that has taken me to where I am today. I am very happy that, today, I am being counted among the living.”

On Nigeria’s independence, Mr. Okon said “I congratulate Mr. President on the 57th Independence Anniversary of Nigeria as a country. But as a country, I will say that we still have a lot to do because there are certain countries that gained independence after Nigeria and today they are far ahead of us, not because they have more resources than us. We have both human and natural resources here in Nigeria and I believe we should come together and take those decisions that will be to the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians. I believe if we do that, Nigeria will be better for all of us. And for Akwa Ibom State, I am happy to be an Akwa Ibomite.”

Stressing further, the Commissioner said “Recently, the state turned 30 years and I want to say that the state has done significantly well in terms of development in all aspect of our lives. You can imagine what would have happened if we did not have a state called Akwa Ibom. There are certain things that we are enjoying today that we would not have been able to enjoy. It was a good thing for this state to be created and I urge every Akwa Ibomite to join hands with Governor Udom Emmanuel to build the state because we do not have any other state than Akwa Ibom and no one from outside will come to help us develop this state. We should look at those things that unite us and stay away from things that are capable of dividing us. Akwa Ibom is one, let us stay together as one and join hands to make the state a better place for us and the unborn generation.”

At the orphanage, Mr. Okon commended the Management of the Centre for their show of love and care to the children, maintaining that “these children can be anything they have aspired to be. I thank you for inspiring them. For me, education is the key and I want to encourage all of you to take education very serious.”

Responding, the Matron of Government Special Children’s Home, Mrs. Diana Henry, thanked the Commissioner and wife for remembering them and prayed God to reward their effort with prosperity and long life, maintaining that the items given them will be judiciously used.

Speaking on behalf of the children at the Centre, Miss Abigail Edet, an orphan, who said they lacked words to express their feelings and appreciation to the Commissioner, made a special prayer for good health, long life and prosperity to the birthday man, Mr. Akan Okon.

Highpoints of the visit were the cutting of birthday cake, presentation of food items and toiletries to the children.

At Anua Hospital, medical expenses for Mrs. Uwakmfon Asuquo, a patient who lost her baby, has VVF issue and had spent nine months in the hospital due to her inability to meet up with the bills, and eight others were paid for.

Some of the beneficiaries included Blessing Edet, Patience Inyang, Nsemeke Stephen, Linda David, Blessing Peter among others.

Well-wishers across the state including the Uyo branch of Zenith Bank and female members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) also cut their respective birthday cakes with the Commissioner