Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State on Friday described Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as the “Pride of Nigeria,” stressing that he is a teacher and a mentor.

Governor Emmanuel who received the Vice President on a one-day official working visit to the oil-rich state of Akwa Ibom said he wished that the Vice President was going to spend more than a day in the state.

Prof. Osinbajo was in Akwa Ibom to celebrate the state’s 34 anniversary and commission a number of projects including the Dakkada Tower. The 21 storey building structure in Nigeria known as the finest smart building in the South South region of the country.

Speaking after the commissioning of the Dakkada Tower, Governor Emmanuel said, “How I wished our special guest was not going today, these women want to dance but we have to let the Vice President to go.

“Your Excellency, the pride of Nigeria, just whispered to me now that he is from Onna local government, so finally, finally he has told me the local government he comes from, he is from Onna local government. Our brother, our teacher, our pastor, our mentor, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, GCON, SAN,” he added.

While commissioning the Dakkada Tower, Prof Osinbajo noted that the tower will boost revenue of Akwa Ibom State and that the value chain effect will be tremendous.

Prof Osinbajo said, “Now that the governor has finally found me a local government of my own where I belong, I am very proud to be a recognized citizen of Akwa Ibom State.

“We bless God that we are all alive and well to celebrate the 34th anniversary and if the Lord tarries we will be here to celebrate many, many more anniversaries and we will all celebrate in joy and in good health in Jesus name, Amen.

He noted that, “I recall in 2015 when the governor shared his vision to construct the tallest building in the South South and South East region in Akwa Ibom State here. Today, I am filled with joy and pride to witness the realization of that dream as we gather to celebrate a commitment to excellence and vision as represented by this 21st edifice.

“This building is not just the tallest in the South South and South East region but it is certainly one of the tallest in Nigeria and West Africa. So the completion of the Dakkada Tower will most definitely address the question of the paucity of world class accommodation for both local and corporate international companies especially oil and gas companies, with this development the big players in corporate Nigeria and especially in the oil and gas industry should now find it entirely auspicious to relocate their administrative headquarters to Uyo.

“This tower is a state-of-the-art smart building, combining architectural beauty with the latest technology developed for efficient and smart work places. I hear that various expressions of interest have already been received from companies in oil and gas to banking and all the various sectors of the economy. It gladdens my heart to know that the investment in the Dakkada Tower is already yielding results, this will certainy boost the revenues of the state, he said.