In a significant move to address declining educational standards, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State declared a state of emergency in the education sector on October 5, 2026, coinciding with the International Teachers' Day celebrations at the Uyo Township Stadium. This declaration marks the second such emergency initiated by Eno since he took office in May 2023, following a similar declaration for the health sector in September 2025.

The governor's decision comes in response to a troubling drop in the state's ranking in the 2026 National Examinations Council (NECO) assessments, where Akwa Ibom fell from 12th place in 2025 to 36th nationally. Eno emphasized the need for urgent reforms to improve educational outcomes, stating, "To whom much is given, much is expected."

As part of the emergency measures, Eno announced the recruitment of an additional 2,000 teachers, building on a previous approval for 1,000 teachers. The recruitment process will include a Computer-Based Test (CBT) and an oral interview, with the governor clarifying that high scores in the CBT alone would not guarantee employment. He highlighted that candidates' overall conduct and records would be taken into account, following complaints from unsuccessful applicants in a recent recruitment exercise.

The governor noted that the pool of candidates for the oral interview would be narrowed from approximately 12,000 to 4,000 based on performance.

In addition to teacher recruitment, Governor Eno announced the upgrade of the Akwa Ibom State College of Education to a full university, naming Professor Philip Afaha as its first Vice-Chancellor. This move is part of a broader strategy to enhance the quality of teacher education in the state.

Further reforms include the establishment of 38 model primary schools across all 31 local government areas, equipped with solar power, ICT facilities, teachers’ quarters, sick bays, and libraries. The state government has allocated N15 billion as a matching grant to the State Universal Basic Education Board and has been covering examination fees for students taking the West African Senior School Certificate Examination and NECO tests, with 172,000 candidates registered so far.

In recognition of teachers' contributions, Eno also announced cash bonuses of N50,000 each for over 25,000 public school teachers and N500,000 donations to each private school in the state. He directed the swift completion of the Teachers' House in Uyo within six months, further demonstrating his commitment to improving the educational landscape.

The governor has tasked Deputy Governor Akon Eyakenyi and Commissioner for Education Ubong Umoh with leading a comprehensive review of the education sector, aiming to produce a reform document similar to the one developed for the health sector. These initiatives reflect Eno's urgent call for accountability and modernization within Akwa Ibom's educational framework as the state seeks to recover from its recent academic setbacks.