UK-Based Petroleum Engineer Uya Okwong Joins 2027 Akwa Ibom Assembly Race to Drive Grassroots Innovation

UK-based engineer Uya Okwong enters the 2027 Akwa Ibom State Assembly race. Discover his plan for youth empowerment and infrastructure in Urue Offong/Oruko.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 28, 2026, 4:13 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from The Nation

The Transition from Global Energy to Local Governance

Uya Okwong represents a new wave of professionals seeking to transplant international standards of accountability into the Nigerian legislative framework. According to Okwong, his tenure in the United Kingdom energy sector provided exposure to systems that prioritize public service and institutional integrity, qualities he believes are currently lacking in his native constituency. By contesting the 2027 state assembly polls, he aims to utilize his background in subsea engineering and industrial automation to contribute to policies that go beyond mere seat-filling to offer a substantive voice for Urue Offong/Oruko.

Bridging the Advocacy Gap in Urue Offong Oruko

The challenges facing the constituency are not rooted in a lack of human capital, but rather in a persistent deficiency of effective advocacy and government attention. Okwong argues that the residents of Urue Offong/Oruko are resilient and hardworking, yet they remain isolated from significant development projects due to a weak connection with state and federal authorities. His proposed solution involves a proactive representation model that consistently engages development partners to ensure that remote communities are no longer bypassed by mainstream economic opportunities.

Institutionalizing Grassroots Connectivity via Liaison Offices

One of the central pillars of Okwong’s 2027 strategy is the establishment of a formal Constituency Liaison Office, a facility he notes is currently absent in the local government area. He contends that legislative representation must extend beyond the House of Assembly Complex in Uyo to include a permanent, physical presence within the community. This office is intended to serve as a hub for transparency, ensuring that constituents are adequately positioned to access existing government programs that often go underutilized due to a lack of local awareness.