C’River Govt honours 10 illustrious sons, daughters serving in public service
From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
Photo
From L-R AIG Paul Ojeka, Justice Jane Inyang of Appeal Court, AIG Okon E . Okon, representative of AIG Patrick Idung, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs/Poverty Alleviation Dr. Betta Edu, Cross River State
Governor Senator Bassey Edet Otu, Minister of Sports Senator John Owan Enoh, Rtd. AIG Susan Horsefall, AIG Echeng Echeng, and AIG Emmanuel Effiom shortly after receiving award of honour by the State governor Senator Bassey Edet Otu for their elevation in their respective Public offices by federal government Wednesday night in Càlabar. Photo Credit: Aniekan Aniekan
The Cross River State government has honoured ten of its sons and daughters serving in the public service.
The awardees who are newly elevated public servants of the state origin were presented an award in recognition of their service to the country.
The awardees include Senator John Owan Enoh (Minister of Sports), Dr. Betta Edu (Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty alleviation) and Justice Jane Inyang (Justice of the Court of Appeal).
Others are Maj. Gen. EAP Undiandeye (Chief of Defence Intelligence), AIG Okon Effiong, AIG Echeng Eworo, AIG Paul Ojeka, AIG Patrick Edung, AIG Emmanuel Effion and AIG Susan Horsefall (Rtd).
Speaking while presenting the awards, the state governor Senator Bassey Otu said he is privileged and humbled to be at the helm of affairs of the state when the awardees were elevated.
He said they have impacted the State’s development agenda and no responsible government will downplay this.
“I’m privileged, humbled and highly elated to be at the helm of affairs in the state when these our illustrious sons were elevated and choose in their different fields of endeavour.
“They have impacted the states development agenda therefore no responsible government will downplay the importance of this distinguished human capital”, he said.
The governor charged the awardees to serve as role models for future awardees and called for unity among the various tribes in the state.
“To the honourees, their social responsibility each of you owe the is to serve as role models in terms of mentorship and provision of transformational leadership.
“You need to replicate the zeal in governance and patriotism in the service of the state and of course the nation.
“These values when nurtured will spur the future awardees to greater service to the point of their recognition by the federal government of Nigeria and there in lies the beauty of purposeful leadership.
“Fellow compatriots, permit me to use this forum to reiterate the essence of unity among our diverse ethnic groupings and party lines in the state.
“The unity of Cross River State is sacrosanct and therefore takes precedence over and above other considerations and nation building.
“The challenge of building a peaceful and harmonious and prosperous state rests squarely on everyone’s shoulders irrespective of tribal, and political in inclinations”, he said
The governor added that they are all strategic stakeholders in the state and his administration is ready to tap from the pool of knowledge and enterprise as no one is a monopoly of knowledge.
Governor Otu also charged them to kindly make themselves available when duty calls and watch our state grow exponentially to the admiration of all.
Speaking on behalf of the awardees, the newly elevated Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Jane Essienanwan Inyang pledged that in their respective functions they will lift the image of the state higher.
Earlier in his welcome address, Professor Eyo Etim Nyong said the event is epic and he cannot remember anytime in the history of the state where did it to harmonise critical Stakeholders.
He disclosed that the idea is to bring the awardees together to work as a team knowing that at the end of the day they will come back to the state.
He also added that they hope that whatever gaps created against the state at the national level they can help to bridge it.