Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has applauded Ngozi Obioma, the immediate past head of service, for her worthy services to the state as a civil servant and head of service.
He said the retired official is worthy of celebration.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by Ferdinand Ekeoma, the governor’s special adviser on media and publicity, Mr Otti made the declaration during a send-off organised by the Abia State Government in honour of the former head of service on the evening of Friday, 28 February 2025, at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Umuahia.
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The governor went back in time to explain how Mrs Obioma got appointed head of the service, explaining that it was purely based on merit after she emerged as the best performer in an examination for the selection of permanent secretaries.
He expressed joy that she showed competence and capacity throughout her service to justify the position.
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According to the Governor, “She is worthy of being celebrated. She got the job on merit and has contributed immensely to what we have today as civil service.
“Though her retirement is painful, it is good she’s retiring in good health and still has a lot to contribute because she doesn’t need to be the head of service to make such contributions. Again, if people don’t retire, others won’t have the opportunity to grow, but the most important thing is that the same process of excellence produced her successor, Mr Benson Ojeikere from Edo State.”
Mr Otti also thanked the celebrant’s husband, King Obioma, for being a “pillar of support” to her wife and wished them a continuous happy home.
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The governor reminded the attendees that the reception and celebration of the former head of service should also serve as a lesson to others. He stated that if she had not done well, the celebration would not have taken place. He assured those present that the state would celebrate anyone who did well in any capacity.
He explained that the same blind process that produced Mr Ojeikere as the new head of service does not care about where one comes from but that what matters to his administration and Abia people is competence, capacity and merit over mediocrity.
The governor said that Abia people are known as competent and resilient, citing Aba as an example. He subsequently made a strong case for Aba’s fixing, without which no real progress would be made.
Apart from Governor Otti and the First Lady of Abia State, Priscilla Otti, others present at the ceremony were the Deputy Governor of Abia, Ikechukwu Emetu, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Caleb Ajagba, Head of Service, Mr Ojeikere, and Senator Darlington Nwokocha.
Commissioners, special advisers, senior special assistants, special assistants, heads of different MDAs, and permanent secretaries, among other government officials, were also present at the ceremony.
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