Seven top civil servants in Akwa Ibom State Civil Service have joined the rank of Permanent Secretaries and Auditor-General for Local Government.
The new Permanent Secretaries are Mfon Inuaesiet Edemekong, Esq, Dr. Stephen Ita Effiong, Atim Chelly Okoko, Iquo Okon Abia, Esq, Uwem Sunday Andrew-Essien, Isaiah Robson Ntekim, while Emeyak Nyong Akpan is appointed as Auditor-General for Local Government.
Until their appointments, Iquo Okon Abia was a director in the Ministry of Justice and Uwem Sunday Andrew-Essien was the state Accountant-General, among others.
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A public service announcement signed by Elder Effiong Essien, Akwa Ibom Head of Civil Service on Friday said the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, has approved the appointments.
‘‘The swearing-in will be performed by His Excellency, the Governor, on Monday, 30th January, 2023 by 5.00 p.m, at Exco Chambers, Governor’s Office, Uyo,’’ Essien said.
Scholarships to Akwa Ibom indigent students
Akwa Ibom Government has presented scholarships 500 indigent undergraduates of the state origin a cheque of N200,000 each for the 2021/2022 academic session.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, a physically challenged beneficiary, Comrade Moses Umo who is a 300- level Bio-Chemistry student of University of Uyo, said the gesture has saved some of them who would have dropped out of school because of inability of their parents to pay their fees.
Umo described the selection process as transparent, fair and credible, and commended the Education Commissioner, Mrs Idongesit Etiebet, Scholarship Board and the entire selection committee for the transparent selection process.
He pledged on behalf of other recipients not just to make the best out of the opportunity but to reciprocate the kind gesture with excellent results.
The state Governor Udom Emmanuel represented by the state Commissioner for Education, Mrs Idongesit Etiebet said the gesture was part of his administration’s commitment to promote education in the state, adding that the scholarships will be done annually.
Emmanuel urged the beneficiaries to pursue with vigour, the ennobling ideals that promote qualitative education.
While congratulating the beneficiaries of the scheme, the governor stressed that his administration will not relent in ensuring that outstanding indigent students complete their studies.
Meanwhile, a review done by the scholarships committee showed indicates that a total of 1,665 online entries were received of which 1,192 students passed the first round of the screening and were subsequently invited for an ICT-based aptitude test where the 500 applicants with the highest grades were selected for the 2021/2022 academic year.
In his remarks, the President, National Association of Akwa Ibom state Students (NAAKISS), Comrade Ubong Ekwere thanked the Governor for his passion for education and the love for Akwa Ibom students.
According to Ekwere, Akwa Ibom youths are assured of a brighter future with the recent positive initiatives, industrialization and developmental strides of Governor Udom Emmanuel.
The Chairman, State scholarships Board, Sunday Isokobo and SUG President of University of Uyo, Comrade Wisdom Ofong in their respective remarks were full of praises to Governor Emmanuel for the initiative.
They, however, charged the beneficiaries to make the best use of the opportunity.
