David Mbek Anako (1916–1998) was a pioneering Nigerian community developer, educator, and prominent church leader from Etinan, Akwa Ibom State. He is highly celebrated in local history for his foundational contributions to education and Christian ministry in the region.
- Establishing the First Library in Ibibioland
David Mbek Anako holds a historic position in regional development for establishing the Etinan Reading Room, which is recognized as the first library in Ibibioland. The library became immensely popular and a vital center for community literacy. Its impact was so significant that it attracted a visit from the British Governor of Eastern Nigeria, who traveled to Etinan personally to inspect the project
- Pioneer of the Church of Christ in Nigeria
Beyond his community educational projects, Anako was an influential figure in the expansion of the Church of Christ across Eastern Nigeria during the mid-20th century.
- Preacher Training: In the late 1970s and 1980s, he served as a pioneer, self-sacrificing instructor for the program that laid the foundation for the School of Preaching at the Nigerian Christian Institute (NCI) in Uyo. He routinely volunteered his time alongside other historic regional church leaders to train grassroots ministers without compensation.
- Institutional Legacy: In recognition of his lifetime of ministry, a major academic facility—the Late David Anako Building for Biblical Studies and Ministry—was built at Obong University in Akwa Ibom State with the support of international partners.
- Family Lineage
He belongs to the influential Mbek Anako royal lineage of the Nnung Umo Etukudo family block in Etinan Town, an extraction closely tied to the traditional village administration and leadership history of the Iman Ibom clan.