UYO
The Akwa Ibom head of civil service (HCS) has said the Ministry of Information and Strategy, under the leadership of Comrade Ini Ememobong, has reached an enviable height, with its training and other programmes worthy of commendation and emulation.
Elder Effiong Essien stated this, recently, during the send-off/reception ceremony in honour of the retired and serving permanent secretaries of the ministry, Mr Inyang Jameson and Akparawa James Edet, respectively, at the Helemah Events Centre, Uyo.
The HCS, who was the special guest said, since the assumption of office of Ememobong, staff of the Ministry of Information and Strategy have witnessed numerous welfare and training programmes, which are in tandem with the vision of the Gov Udom Emmanuel-led administration and particularly, the training aspirations of the office of the HCS for workers in the state.
“We have watched with admiration the numerous initiatives brought to the ministry by your commissioner, Comrade Ini Ememobong. His trainings for you, within and outside the ministry key into the aspirations of government and it is our earnest prayers that others will emulate him,” Essien said.
Represented by the permanent secretary in his office, Mrs Ekaette Ekanem, the HCS reiterated that the welfare and training programmes of Ememobong have eased the burden of government in this direction, expressing that if other MDAs were to take a cue from the Ministry of Information and Strategy, it would have been a seamless capacity building and development process for government.
“You are blessed to have a man with such enviable leadership qualities as your commissioner. This is the only ministry where a commissioner serves a permanent secretary and ensures that every staff is well attended to,” he added.
The HCS expressed gratitude to the information commissioner and the entire management staff for the grand ceremony organised in honour of both the retired permanent secretary and the serving permanent and congratulated all the newly promoted staff of the ministry as well as the March born staff of the ministry.
He charged all the staff of the ministry to remain dedicated and supportive to the commissioner to enable him do more for them and pray that God would continue to imbue Ememobong with the knowledge for more innovative ideas and also grant him the resources and grace to continue to lift the ministry from glory to glory.
Ememobong appreciated the HCS, Essien, for always identifying with the ministry and particularly thanked him for the posting of career information personnel as permanent secretaries to the Ministry in the persons of the retired permanent secretary, Mr Inyang Jameson and the serving one, Akparawa James Edet.
“Ministry of Information and Strategy is a professional ministry therefore it is important that professionals are posted here as permanent secretaries, to put the commissioners, the politicians on the right footing”, the commissioner stressed.
He congratulated both permanent secretaries in their different capabilities and prayed that the God who made him succeed with the retired permanent secretary would be faithful to leadthe new permanent secretary, Edet, on the path of success and called on all the staff to give the permanent secretary maximum cooperation.
In their separate responses, the retired permanent secretary, Jameson and the serving permanent secretary, Edetappreciated the commissioner for being an exceptional boss who has been very inspiring, loving and friendly thus turning the Ministry of Information and Strategy into a highly rated ministry in the state.
They thanked the management and staff for their cooperation and support and prayed that, with the bond of love and togetherness now growing in the ministry, staff would continue to witness numerous welfare packages and training programmes both within and outside the country.
The event, which featured the celebration of all newly promoted staff as well as March-born staff of the ministry also witnessed a paper presentation on the topic: “Financial Intelligence: Preparation for Retirement by Akwa Ibom Civil Servants.”
Goodwill messages were presented by former commissioners of information including, Mr Okon Nsabasi, Mr Chris Abasieyo, the widow of a late former commissioner of information, Mrs Nkoyo Ekpo as well as the state chairman of the NUJ, Comrade Amos Etuk.
Highpoints of the celebration were the presentation of washing machines to the two permanent secretaries, giving of charge and blessing of the newly promoted staff of the ministry as well as the cutting of birthday cake and presentation of cards and cash gifts to all the celebrators.
Present on the occasion were the director-general of Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation, (AKBC), Pastor Anietie Ukpe; the general manager of Comfort FM, Mr Eddy Ekpenyong; the national secretary of NAWOJ and Editor, daily, Pioneer Newspaper, Comrade Helen Udofa; directors in the ministry, stakeholders of the information sector and staff of the ministry, among others.
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