Educational Development in Ibibio land: The Era of Sampson Udo Etuk by Uwem Jonah Akpan

ABSTRACT
The Ibibio people beginning from the pre-colonial period fully appreciated the crucial role of education in the development of the society and therefore accorded education its due priority. With. the advent of Western education, the system was propagated through various agencies such as the Christian missionaries, the
government as well as non—governmental agencies particularly the Ibibio Union. The Ibibio Union influenced the establishment of a Teacher’s Training College in Uyo, an institution that has metamorphosed into the University of Uyo. Initiated as the first community based tertiary educational programme in the country, — the Ibibio Union
scholarship in 1 938, built the Ibibio State College in Ikot Ekpene in 1 946. This institution was described by some scholars as the first educational institution established by an ethnic union in Nigeria. The Union also organized the overseas educational training for some selected Ibibio women. Undoubtedly, the path-breaking initiatives became possible because of the visionary leadership of Obong Sampson Udo Etuk. Although the Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio has instituted the annual Obong Sampson Udo Etuks memorial lecture with the objective of immortalizing the impeachable leadership qualities of this statesman, only the 1938 scholarship initiative has been highlighted as his achievement while in office. This paper therefore, attempts a re—assessment of other contributions of Obong Sampson Udo Etuk to the educational development of Nigeria. It is done with the intention of challenging the present and future generations to rise to the challenge of nation building by rendering selfless services to the nation as well as filling the existing historical gap.
Keywords: Sampson Udo Etuk, Ibibioland, Resource Management. Educational Development, National Transformation