Did Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom Approve May 30 as Biafra Remembrance Day?

A Facebook post is making the rounds. It claims that the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, has approved May 30 as Biafra Remembrance Day.

It goes further.

It claims the governor has declared himself Igbo. And even renamed the state… “Akwa Igbo.”

The post is gaining traction. Thousands of reactions. Shares. Heated comments.

But did this really happen?

The claim is spreading mostly on Facebook, accompanied by an image of Governor Umo Eno and symbols associated with the defunct Republic of Biafra.

The message suggests three things:

• That Akwa Ibom State has officially recognised Biafra Remembrance Day
• That the governor has publicly identified as Igbo
• That the state is now being referred to as “Akwa Igbo”

These are serious claims.

They touch on identity, politics, and history.

We investigated.

First, we checked for any official approval.

There is:

• No government announcement
• No policy directive
• No executive order

There is no record that Akwa Ibom State has declared May 30 as a state observance.

For a decision of this magnitude, official communication would be unavoidable.

It does not exist.

[Verification Step 2: Media Cross-Check]

Next, we reviewed reports from credible news organisations.

No reputable Nigerian media outlet has reported this claim.

That absence is important.

A development involving Biafra remembrance and a state government would attract national coverage.

Silence from credible media is a strong indicator.

[Verification Step 3: Origin of the Claim]

We traced the claim online.

Keyword searches show that this narrative first appeared in 2025.

It has been recycled multiple times, using similar wording and visuals.

This is not a fresh development.

It is reused content.

A common tactic in misinformation.

[Verification Step 4: Identity Claim]

The post also claims that Governor Umo Eno declared himself Igbo.

We checked his background.

Umo Eno is from Nsit Ubium Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State.

He belongs to the Ibibio ethnic group.

There is no record of him identifying as Igbo.

No speech.
No statement.
No verified source.

[Verification Step 5: “Akwa Igbo” Claim]

Finally, we examined the claim that the state has been redefined as “Akwa Igbo.”

Akwa Ibom State remains its official name.

There is:

• No legal recognition
• No political declaration
• No constitutional change

The term “Akwa Igbo” has no official status.

[Evidence Reveal]

So let’s review:

• No official approval of May 30 as a state observance
• No credible media reporting
• A recycled misinformation pattern
• No evidence of ethnic identity change
• No recognition of “Akwa Igbo”

The claim collapses under scrutiny.

[Verdict] FALSE.

There is no evidence that Umo Eno approved May 30 as Biafra Remembrance Day or declared himself Igbo.

This is a recycled social media claim, presented without evidence and amplified through repetition.

Available records confirm that the governor remains Ibibio, and Akwa Ibom State has made no such policy or identity shift.