Succour has finally come the way of Miss Abigail Edet, an orphan abandoned at birth but rescued at the brink of death and raised to adulthood by the Akwa Ibom State government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare.
Abigail’s remarkable journey of resilience and determination culminated in a life-changing moment when Governor Umo Eno approved her immediate employment into the Akwa Ibom State Civil Service.
The approval was granted during the formal opening and inspection of the Akwa Ibom State Government Pavilion at the ongoing Christmas Unplugged 2025, held along Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo.
Exercising his prerogative powers, Gov. Eno waived all existing conditions and directed that Abigail be employed without delay and deployed to the office of the head of the civil service to ensure proper mentorship.
“I approve the immediate employment of this young lady into the state civil service and direct the head of the civil service and the civil service commission to implement this decision without delay.
Read Also:
- Gov. Eno dedicates national award to Akwa Ibom people, pledges greater strides
- Gov. Eno urges NYSC members to leave lasting legacies
- Gov. Eno to receive award for excellence in sustainable development at 2025 NEAPS awards
“She should be deployed to the office of the head of the civil service for mentorship,” the governor declared.
Commending her courage and perseverance, Gov. Eno said he was proud of Abigail for rising above severe hardship to become a graduate through government support.
“No one should allow the circumstances of birth or life’s challenges to limit their success. Everyone is born with a purpose,” he admonished, urging young people to remain hopeful and determined regardless of their background.
Abigail, visibly emotional and fighting back tears, recounted her harrowing life story, revealing that she survived abandonment, rejection, and multiple attempts on her life before being rescued in 2010 by the Akwa Ibom State government and admitted into the Special Children’s Home in Uyo.
She later gained admission into the University of Uyo, where she studied political science and public administration, graduating in 2023.
She completed her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme on August 7, 2025.
Reflecting on her painful but transformative journey, Abigail described her path to freedom as one “strewn with thorns.”
“I would have been long gone and forgotten. My grave would have been filled with grass by now if not for the intervention of the government of Akwa Ibom State through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare,” she said.
She expressed profound gratitude to the governor, the state government, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, and her fellow children in the government homes.
Gov. Eno reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to child protection and inclusive governance, describing Abigail’s story as a powerful testament to the life-changing impact of compassionate and purposeful leadership.
