Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has recounted how the death of his father forced him to hawk soft drinks on the streets of Lagos to help his mother make ends meet.

Eno made the revelation while delivering the Convocation Lecture at the 7th Convocation of Mountain Top University, Ibafo, Ogun State, on Thursday.

He said his father, a police officer, died in the line of duty and life became difficult for him.

The governor said, “Life became very difficult after my father’s death. I had to help my mother augment the family’s income by hawking soft drinks on the streets of Lagos, even as a Senior Prefect of Victory High School.”

He described those early struggles as the foundation of his entrepreneurial spirit, which later saw him run one of the largest hospitality conglomerates in Akwa Ibom State.

Eno urged graduates to dream big, embrace creativity, and work hard, warning against entitlement and the desire for quick success.

Eno, in a statement issued by the Press Unit of the Akwa Ibom State Government House in Uyo, on Friday, urged Nigerian youths to discard the entitlement mentality and quest for an easy path to success.

He stated that contemporary society, reshaped by technological advancement and the breach of known boundaries, required a creative mindset that dared to challenge long-held norms.

The statement read partly, “Let me state here that we are living in a world shaped by new realities, a world where known boundaries have been breached and expanded by advancements in technology, where values once considered sacrosanct are no longer the defining ethos, and where groupthink is rapidly dissolving and being replaced by the need to do something daring, something different, and something that challenges long-held norms.

“The majority of the graduands here belong to the now-famous Generation X. Quite a number of people in this generation believe in the concept of immediate gratification and, to some extent, an entitlement mentality.

“They want to achieve success without putting in the corresponding hard work, and most times, they crash and burn.”

He stated that the growth of his business was made possible by his “implicit faith in the Invisible Hands of God to bring destiny helpers who would propel me to the heights God had destined for me.”

Maintaining that the road to success is not all rosy, he said: “You will achieve success only if you are upright in your dealings and guided by ethics and morality, and with faith in God. Whenever I remember my small beginnings and how God stepped in to arrange my path and the people who led me to the point He had destined for me, I am in awe of His mercies and grace.

“God can and will do the same for you, but you must learn to start something, grow something, dream of something, and put in the hard work.”

Eno said that despite his current roles as a minister of the Gospel, an entrepreneur, and a politician, he had not forgotten the grounding he received from his parents, the humility he wears as a badge of honour, and a deep sense of compassion for the poor and downtrodden.

The Chancellor and General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Professor Daniel Kolawole Olukoya, lauded Governor Eno for inspiring the graduands.

He said: “We specially honour and thank our Convocation Lecturer, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, for accepting to be part of this historic celebration. Your presence dignifies this occasion; your words inspire this generation; and your example reminds us that leadership can be both competent and values-driven.”

The Vice-Chancellor of Mountain Top University, Professor Elijah Adebowale Ayolabi, commended the Governor for honouring the occasion and delivering a stimulating and inspiring lecture.

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The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, is set to install Seyi, the son of President Bola Tinubu, as the “Okanlomo of Yorubaland” on Saturday.

The monarch on the same occasion will also install Senator Abdul’Aziz Yari representing Zamfara West as the “Obaloyin of Yorubaland”.

The chiefataincy installation of the duo was contained in a flier that was obtained by PUNCH Online on social media platforms on Wednesday.

In the flier, the monarch and his wife, Ayaba Abiwumi Owoade, invited the general public to the said installation and implored them to save the date of the event scheduled to hold on Saturday, December 21, 2025.

“Okanlomo of Yorubaland” is a prestigious Yoruba title meaning “the one dear to the hearts of all Yoruba people” or “beloved child,” signifying deep affection and importance to the race.

Confirming the chieftaincy installation to our correspondent in a telephone conversation on Wednesday, the Alaafin’s media aide, Bode Durojaiye, said it is true and that the event will hold as planned.

He affirmed that the press statement for the said event would be made available to journalists any time soon.

“Yes, it is true. The Alaafin of Oyo wants to install Seyi Tinubu as the Okanlomo of Yorubaland and Senator Abdul’Aziz Yari as the Obaloyin of Yorubaland.

“The press statement on the said event would be made available today or anytime soon,” he said.

This was coming a few months after Alaafin’s counterpart, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi,  bestowed the title of “Okanlomo of Oodua” on an Ibadan-born philanthropist and the Bada Olubadan designate, Dotun Sanusi.

This title sparked supremacy controversy between the two respected monarchs of Yorubaland, but was quelled by the region’s stakeholders.

Recently, the Ooni also conferred the First Lady, Remi Tinubu, with the prestigious chieftaincy title of Yeye Asiwaju Gbogbo Ile Oodua.

Arriving at the Ooni’s palace around 1 pm amid fanfare and heightened security, Mrs Tinubu was received by the monarch and his chiefs.

The installation ceremony, held at the Palace Square, coincided with celebrations marking Oba Ogunwusi’s 10th coronation anniversary.

The event drew a gathering of traditional rulers and dignitaries from across Yorubaland, including the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III; the Sultan of Sokoto; and the Soun of Ogbomoso, alongside cultural leaders and other notable personalities.

The title Yeye Asiwaju Gbogbo Ile Oodua carries historical significance, having been previously held by the late Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, wife of the revered statesman Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

The title Yeye Asiwaju Gbogbo Ile Oodua carries historical significance, having been previously held by the late Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, wife of the revered statesman Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

It is a recognition of leadership, influence, and contributions to society, particularly within the Yoruba cultural sphere.

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TikTok content creator, Elizabeth Amadou also known as Jarvis, has confirmed that she has ended her relationship with fellow influencer and livestreamer, Hamzat Habeeb, popularly known as Peller, while appealing to the public to stop mocking him following his recent car crash during a livestream.

Jarvis made the disclosure in a live video shared online on Tuesday, amid widespread reactions to Peller’s hospitalisation after the incident on the Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos.

Addressing online commentary surrounding the crash and the couple’s relationship, Jarvis said public ridicule was worsening the situation.

“It’s always people will mock me. Because I can see concern about this online. People will mock him, Stop mocking him. Stop shading him,” she said.

She insisted that the incident should not be used to define Peller’s character, stressing that she never portrayed him as a bad person.

Jarvis acknowledged that Peller struggles with emotional control, describing it as the core issue rather than malice.

“Yes, he cannot control his emotions. He cannot control. That’s the problem.

“I can control mine, but he can’t control his. We need to join hands together to help him,” she said.

Confirming that they are no longer together, Jarvis said the breakup was necessary and should not be misconstrued as abandonment.

“Peller is a sweet guy, I do not even want it to even end but it has happened, it has happened.

“The relationship is not the thing now. It’s not saying let’s go back to who we were.

“The solution is let’s put our heads together to work on him.

“To be better. Not space of we not talking , it is space of this relationship thing. It is over for now,” the influencer said.

She further clarified that the separation was about giving space for healing.

Jarvis also appealed to supporters and social media users to stop what she described as harmful narratives and mockery.

“Stop your shading. How is it helping? It’s not helping.

“Don’t use it against him. Encourage him. Encourage us. Help us. Stop using our pain to mock us,” she said.

Expressing emotional distress, she said the online reactions had deepened the pain surrounding the situation.

Jarvis urged the public to focus on gratitude that no life was lost. She added that her priority was wellbeing for both herself and Peller.

“All you people should be saying is thank God for life. Thank God for Peller. Thank God nothing happened to him.

“I love him, but for now we need to be okay. I’m not okay anymore. I want to be okay.

“He needs to be okay, he needs to be fine,” Jarvis said.

She concluded by noting that breakups do not always stem from hatred but sometimes from a need for clarity and calm.

PUNCH Online had reported that Peller sparked concern on Sunday after crashing his car during a live Instagram broadcast titled “RIP Peller” on the Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos.

During the livestream, the influencer was seen driving alone in his newly acquired Mercedes-Benz while visibly distressed and crying during a phone conversation believed to be with Jarvis, amid rumours of a breakup.

At several points, he appeared agitated and made alarming statements, including, “I will use this car and have an accident right now,” and later, “I’m scared. I’m scared.”

In another moment during the broadcast, he said, “If you break up with me, people will be mocking me… Thank you, I’m going to kill myself.”

Moments later, the vehicle was seen veering off the road before crashing into a stone barrier.

Subsequent videos circulating online showed Peller being assisted by bystanders before he was taken to a hospital.

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