It was a harvest of plaudits for Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state at the weekend as a Lagos-based group- Ezike Diamond Club- honoured him for excellence in service just as workers in the state rounded off their Civil Service Week commending the Governor for attending to their welfare promptly.
The grand finale of the Civil Service Week in the state provided ample opportunity for the workers and the labour leaders to express appreciation of the Governor’s friendly disposition to the workers and their welfare, especially the on-going exercise in which local government pensioners who retired between 2002 and 2005 are now receiving their gratuities while workers are receiving arrears of leave allowances.
Also,during its 20th anniversary and annual lecture held at the Princess Alexandria Auditorium of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, on Saturday, the club conferred the Diamond Special Excellence award on Service on Ugwuanyi while other eminent indigenes of the state, including former presidential economic adviser, Prof. Osita Ogbu, were also honoured.
Beside the club’s commendation because the governor “is already redefining governance standards in Enugu state despite the obvious economic situation in the country”, dignitaries at the occasion were quick to point out that the present administration in the state has continued to spring pleasant surprises, even creating thousands of jobs when some better endowed states find it very difficult to meet up their recurrent responsibilities.
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Uwakwe Abugu, who represented him on the occasion had told the elite gathering that while many state governors continue to sweat under the present economic season of anomie, “our governor here has continued to create thousands of jobs”.
He had pointed at the approval by the State Executive Council last Wednesday of the engagement of 857 post-primary school teachers who had in the past five years worked as volunteer teachers and a proposal to engage a fresh batch of 1000 graduate-teachers also for the post-primary schools in the state.
Ugwuanyi had earlier employed 2000 primary school teachers while over 200 traffic marshals had been trained and employed to help ease traffic congestion in Enugu metropolis.
Among those who spoke in commendation of the rare giant strides of the Governor in these hard times included Prof. Ogbu who wants him to continue to explore avenues for better delivery of service to the people, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) of the University of Nigeria, Prof. James Ogbonna, House of Representatives member from the state, Hon. Dennis Agbo, astute politician and lawyer from the state, Chief Charles Ugwu, among others
The president of the club, Engr. Frank Odo explained that the club decided to honour Governor Ugwuanyi because he has made the people of the state very proud through the massive dividends of democracy which he continues to deliver equitably to all parts of the state, notwithstanding the recession plaguing the economy of the nation.
The award ceremony coincided with the club’s 20th anniversary and presentation of a book titled ‘The Power of Excellence’.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Ogbu who is now the Director, Institute of Development Studies, UNN, said what Governor Ugwuanyi has done for the people of the state within his two years in office is just a tip of the iceberg when compared to what he has in stock for the people of the state, adding that the club has done well to recognise the excellent services of the governor even as he urged all the members to distinguish themselves in their different walks of life through excellent services.
Also, the member representing Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Sir Dennis Agbo said Governor Ugwuanyi “Made the people from Nsukka very proud . He is our best gift to Enugu State, Nigeria and the world at large”.
While making his remarks, former Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs in the state , Barrister Godwin Ogbo commended the governor for doing quality roads in Nsukka metropolis and in other parts of the state, assuring that when he comes back for second tenure, he would urbanise more communities in the state as he has done to Nsukka urban. He equally thanked members of the club for thinking home and encouraging the spirit of excellence on the people of Enugu North Senatorial Zone.
In his response, Governor Ugwuanyi thanked the club for honouring him even as he pledged to continue in his good governance in the state, urging them to continue praying for his administration.
The highlight of the event was the review of the book ‘The Power of Excellence’ which borders on community development and spirit of excellence in ones human endeavours.
