By Nsan Ndoma-Neji
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno Ph.D, and Archbishop Emmah Gospel Isong, the National Vice President South South of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), have unveiled a tourism attraction site called Seven Angels’ Arena.
The unveiling ceremony took place at Idoro road, Akwa Ibom State, with the aim of boosting tourism development and promoting peace in the state.
Archbishop Isong stated that the Arena, upon completion, would generate employment opportunities for youths in the host community, complementing Governor Eno’s efforts to drive development in the state.
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“By the grace of God, this project will employ a lot of Akwa Ibomites, to compliment government peace and unity effort geared towards driving in development as a result of youths engagement,” he said.
Isong promised to use the arena as a global hub for Christian leadership engagement, stressing that as the PFN National Vice President for South-South Zone, he would do everything within his reach to ensure that the facility becomes a global hub for Christian leadership engagement.
He added that people would be praying at the site every day by 12 noon, and on the 12th day of the 12th month, people from different denomination would visit the area with 12 prayer points, to seek God’s help. An event they call “12-12-12”.
Isong appealed to the state governor to support the project, requesting assistance with power supply, an amphitheater, shuttle buses, and a library.
“We need power, we need connection of power. There is no electricity in the whole of this place, no light,” he said.
Isong explained that the library would document and preserve contributions of departed spiritual leaders, citing the likes of God’s General lat Dr. Uma Ukpai, renowned Nigerian Methodist prelate Sunday Mbang, Archisbishop Benson Idahosa, Archisbishop Elijah Mboho among others.
He noted that the arena would have sports facilities, administrative offices, estates, farms, schools, events center, and commercial outlets to drive development in Akwa Ibom State.
“The Seven Angels Arena and Estates is just more than a project, it’s a mission,” Isong emphasized. “Like scripture said in Revelations 8:2, it is designed as a multi-purpose hub that reflects a seven-fold of special transformation.”
Governor Umo Eno praised the initiative of Archbishop Isong and encouraged others to support it.
He urged Akwa Ibom indigenes home and in diaspora to visit home at regular intervals so that they can contribute to their quota to the state’s development.
“We are the ones to build this state, and we have to. It’s not enough to sit outside and criticise, it’s enough for us to be in this together,” he said.
The Governor directed the Commissioner for Power to install a transformer at the site within one month to bring succour to the host community.
He also supported the library project, saying it would preserve the memories and contributions of spiritual leaders in Akwa Ibom State.
He stressed that mere driving through Idoro road, one would be curious to know what is happening at Seven Angels’ Arena due to presence of its beautiful gate.
“Make your Gates very beautiful, but don’t put a beautiful Gate, and don’t put something more beautiful inside,” he added,” Gov Eno maintained.
Earlier, chairman of the occasion and National President Arise and Renewed Hope Initiative, Engr. Uwem Okoko, described the Arena as a fantastic idea and vision, that would create prayers for the governor and good of the nation.
He promised to support this initiative alongside other members of the organization until the vision is actualized.
