By Smith Akoko | October 12, 2022
Immediate past Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education and Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sonny Echono, was yesterday honoured as Officer Order of the Niger (OON) by President Muhammadu Buhari.
It was gathered that Echono’s award is an acknowledgement of his successful stint as Permanent Secretary and startling performance in barely six months of saddle as TETFund’s Executive Secretary, reputed to be portrait of a detribalised Nigerian with uncommon passion for the educational transformation of the Nigerian state.
It is on record that in his new responsibility as TETFund boss, Echono has exuded rare commitment to quality leadership, evident in his reform that saw to the holistic review of the operating procedures of the Fund, suspension of wasteful programs, initiation of partnership with both local and global institutions, prevention of cost escalation and improvement of general efficiency in the discharge of the Fund’s mandate.
Reacting to the award conferment on Arc. Echono, Apa-Agatu Youth who wrote through their national Co-ordinator, Isaiah Adanu, said it is both timely and well deserved, describing the technocrat as silent achiever who has demonstrated passion and commitment to the development of the Nigerian society.
According to the Idoma sociocultural group, Echono’s recognition by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government is a testimony of his impacts and innovative inputs in the overall progress, peace, growth and development of the country.
*THERE ARE TEACHERS AND THERE ARE TEACHERS*
By steve anyebe.
The entrance to the expansive premises of the Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC), Akpegede, Otukpo, Benue State, has suddenly taken on a new look. The gate and its surroundings seem to be attended to on an hourly basis now. The grasses, which hitherto behaved in unruly manners, overgrowing both vertically and horizontally, have been tamed, leaving the whole area really trim and beautiful.
Farmers from Otukpo town and Akpegede village now stop to admire the FSTC entrance on their way to and from their farms. They are probably surprised that the former nondescript appearance could be so completely changed in such a short time.
Yours sincerely snooped around Akpegede to get some fillers regarding the new pride of place the FSTC entrance has adopted, only to be told that the new Principal is behind it all. This new look is not limited to the entrance, but has also permeated the vital areas of the academic institution. Classrooms are being renovated. Drainage lines are being re-established and concretely endowed. FSTC Otukpo has become a great beehive of activities with all the attendant construction works. The import of this is that the youths in Akpegede and other peripheral settlements have become more fruitfully engaged, their income has increased and their spending power blown up, resulting in happier lives. The positive consequences of a positively engaged youth population in any settlement include: an enhanced community economic base; a less criminally inclined society; a brighter future for children; as well as a pervading positive peace environment and rest of mind for the elderly in the communities.
So whoever is instituting strategies to positively engage youths, as is being done by the new Principal of FSTC Otukpo, is doing the general society immeasurable service that must be commended.
In Akpegede, the loud mouths are also quick to point out that the New Principal has also employed some local security men and women from the village to keep their eagle eyes around the walls of the College, with the view to arresting bounds breakers. What is more, these security agents are very well paid.
Stories abound about the greatness of this New Principal of FSTC Otukpo. It is also said that he has substantially increased the salaries of the PTA staff. This alone is unequalled motivation for the teaching staff. The result of a motivated teacher can best be imagined.
Trying to get the name of the New Principal of FSTC Otukpo, became a herculian task as even the loudest mouths and his greatest beneficiaries in Akpegede suddenly realized that *”New Principal”* is not his name.
Whatever the name of the New Principal of FSTC Otukpo is, on the occasion of World Teachers Day today, a huge thumbs up for him!
*There are teachers and there are indeed Teachers*.
*This piece was written and published on International Teachers Day 2021.*
*AWARDS GALORE FOR PROF INNOCENT UJAH.*
By steve anyebe.
This is indeed a season of awards. Awards for the deserving. Not for everyone but for those found worthy at this particular time, for something uniquely outstanding. Awards are given to people who stay awake while the rest of us sleep and disturb them with our frighteningly loud snores. They are people who think outside the box to fix problems usually caused by the rest of us.
And so it was that recently, President Muhammadu Buhari had very good reason to confer the prestigious National Honour of OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF THE NIGER (OON) on Prof Innocent Achanya Otobo Ujah, mni, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo (FUHSO).
Now, a few days after the Presidential Award, Prof Innocent Ujah has been found worthy of another award.
The Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON), which is Prof Innocent Ujah’s primary constituency, has conferred on him the *AWARD OF EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE TO SOGON.*
In a letter of 28th September 2022, the Secretary General of SOGON, Prof Christopher O. Aimakhu, conveyed the Award to Prof Ujah on behalf of SOGON Executive Council and entire Association, based on his professional activities which have continued to distinguish him in outstanding and exemplary ways.
It has become a tradition for SOGON to annually recognize her members who distinguish themselves. Such recognitions are done during their Annual General Meeting (AGM). This year’s AGM, during which Prof Innocent Ujah would be conferred with the Award, is scheduled to hold between 22nd and 25th November at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Center, Abuja, tagged “SOGON ABUJA 2022”. The event would be the 11th International Scientific Conference and 56th AGM of the Association.
The Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria is the apex body of medical Doctors who specialize in the business of caring for women during pregnancy and childbirth, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of diseases related to the female reproductive organs.
SOGON is affiliated to both the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) and African Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (AFOG).
Prof(Dr) Innocent Achanya Otobo Ujah is an alumnus of the famous Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria and the prestigious National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria. He is the immediate past Director General of the National Institute of Medical Research, Lagos, as well as the immediate past President of the Nigerian Medical Association(NMA). He is a Member of the National Institute, Kuru, for which mni is affixed to his name.
Prof Ujah is presently Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo (FUHSO), the first ever established federal medical University in Nigeria.
An astute unionist, it is on record that Prof Innocent Ujah is the first Nigerian to wear two large hats at the same time, as both Vice Chancellor and NMA President.
*Dated 30th September 2012.*
*PRESIDENT BUHARI ELEVATES PROF INNOCENT UJAH.*
By steve anyebe.
Immediate past President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), and current Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo (FUHSO), Prof Innocent Achanya Otobo Ujah, mni, has been conferred with the prestigious National Honour of *OON*(Officer of the Order of the Niger.
An official letter from the Office of the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, personally signed by Senator George Akume, affirmed that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, had approved the conferment of the National Honour on Prof Ujah and gave the date for his investiture as Tuesday 11th October, 2022.
The Ministerial letter which was dispatched from the Office of the Minister on 19th September, 2022, further indicated that the investiture ceremony is scheduled to hold at the International Conference Center, Central Business District, Abuja, beginning from 9 o’clock in the morning. It required all recipients of the 2022 National Honours to be identified at the premises of Reiz Continental Hotel in the Central Business District, Abuja on the afternoon of Monday 10th October 2022.
The National Honours Awards is a Federal Government Scheme in which deserving Nigerians are selected annually through the recommendations of a Committee, and recognized by Mr President for outstanding contributions in all sectors.
Dated Saturday 24/09/2022.
*PRESIDENT BUHARI ELEVATES PROF INNOCENT UJAH.*
By steve anyebe.
Immediate past President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), and current Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo (FUHSO), Prof Innocent Achanya Otobo Ujah, mni, has been conferred with the prestigious National Honour of *OON*(Officer of the Order of the Niger.
An official letter from the Office of the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, personally signed by Senator George Akume, affirmed that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, had approved the conferment of the National Honour on Prof Ujah and gave the date for his investiture as Tuesday 11th October, 2022.
The Ministerial letter which was dispatched from the Office of the Minister on 19th September, 2022, further indicated that the investiture ceremony is scheduled to hold at the International Conference Center, Central Business District, Abuja, beginning from 9 o’clock in the morning. It required all recipients of the 2022 National Honours to be identified at the premises of Reiz Continental Hotel in the Central Business District, Abuja on the afternoon of Monday 10th October 2022.
The National Honours Awards is a Federal Government Scheme in which deserving Nigerians are selected annually through the recommendations of a Committee, and recognized by Mr President for outstanding contributions in all sectors.
Dated Saturday 24/09/2022.