December 28, (THEWILL) – The Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has charged the state indigenes in public service, who were recently elevated, to be role models in service.
The Governor gave the charge at a luncheon organised by the government in honour of state citizens who were elevated to higher offices by the Federal Government.
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, Governor Otu said he was privileged and humbled to be at the helm of affairs of the state when the awardees were elevated.
He said, “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 chosen in their different fields of endeavour.
“To the honourees, the social responsibility each of you owe the state 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 therein lies the beauty of purposeful leadership.”
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 has a monopoly of knowledge.
Governor Otu also charged them to kindly make themselves available when duty calls and watch the 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 idea is to bring the awardees together and harmonise critical stakeholders 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 they can help to bridge whatever gaps are created against the state at the national level.
The event was graced by notable personalities including High Chief Edem Duke, Senator Ita Solomon Enang, Legor Idaho, and many others.
About the Author
THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
