INTERVIEW: Media has contributed to Akwa Ibom's development - NUJ Boss, Patrick Albert

Patrick Albert

Mr. Patrick Albert is the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalist in Akwa Ibom State. In this interview with THE INK crew - EMMANUEL AKPAN, KENNETH JUDE and PRISCILLA CHRISTOPHER, he speaks on Akwa Ibom State at 28. He chronicles the history of the state’s creation, the journey so far, journalism practice in the state and other issues of interest. Excerpts:


In the spirit of Akwa Ibom at 28, what is    your assessment of the state in development index and infrastructure since its creation?
First of all, I want to thank THE INK NEWSPAPERS for holding this interview and for giving prominence to an event such as this. Anytime the anniversary of Akwa Ibom State comes, it brings into memory our past; how the state came to be; how we should be grateful to our forbears who promoted the idea of state creation and those who followed up the vision for the creation of the state until it was actualised in 1987.
Looking back for the past 28 years, one would say, to God be the glory; we can say emphatically that Akwa Ibom State has come to be as a desirable state. At its creation in 1987, it was a political expression coming out of Cross River State; already what became Akwa Ibom State was what was then known as Mainland State or the Mainland Path of the main Cross River. But today, from a political expression, we have come to attain a height comparable to other advanced states within the Nigerian federation.