TUESDAY March 11, 2025 |TheNewsDESK

By Evelyn-A. IBANGA

It was a beautiful Monday morning, and the Auditorium of the Ministry of Works and Fire Service was filled to capacity. Those who couldn’t find seats stood at the back, creating an unusual crowd for the typical Monday weekly devotion.

The Ministry’s Chaplain, Rev. Etim Ntia, had just concluded his sermon, and a sense of anticipation and excitement was evident on the faces of the staff.

Then, a slight commotion near the entrance door broke the moment of silence. Instantly, all heads turned, and smiles spread across the room.


It was the arrival of the newly reappointed Honourable Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Professor Eno James Ibanga.

Dressed in a crisp cream coloured outfit paired with a dark blue cap, the Professor of Solid State Physics walked in, exuding confidence and humility. He was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Ignatius Ekwere, and Directors of the Ministry, who had stepped out earlier to welcome him.

With a warm smile, the Commissioner walked to the front row and took his seat in the designated area.

Shortly after, the Permanent Secretary took the podium, set the tone for the meeting, and invited Prof. Ibanga to address the staff—his first official engagement with the staff since his reappointment.

As he approached the podium, the hall erupted in claps and cheers. Facing the sea of expectant faces, he exuded both humility and admiration.

Prof. Ibanga began his remarks by expressing gratitude to the Management and staff for their unwavering support during his previous tenure, which he described as marked by great success.

He emphasized that the Ministry of Works and Fire Service is a key pillar in the realization of Governor Umo Eno’s A.R.I.S.E. Agenda, which prioritizes first-class infrastructure and accelerated development.

Highlighting the Governor’s commitment to infrastructural growth, the Commissioner reaffirmed the Ministry’s crucial role in executing the administration’s vision and expressed the Governor’s confidence in the Ministry’s capacity to deliver on the A.R.I.S.E Agenda in the area of infrastructure.

He urged staff members to work diligently and with sincerity, assuring them that hard work would be rewarded, as he pledged to prioritize staff welfare and ensure a conducive working environment.

Maintaining that teamwork is essential for success, Prof. Ibanga discouraged divisive tendencies and called for a shared commitment to the Ministry’s core mandate.

He also urged everyone to work with humility in their respective positions, saying, “If you are given the privilege to be the Head, a Commissioner or Director, know that people had occupied that position before you and others will occupy it after you. So, let us do the work with utmost humility as if someone superior is supervising us and that is, the Almighty God”.

Specifically addressing the Ministry’s engineers, Prof. Ibanga urged them to take full ownership of the projects they supervise and to maintain high standards of quality service delivery.

He stated, “if there is a failure in any project, the supervising engineer would be contributing to it and would be held accountable”.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Ignatius Ekwere, welcomed Prof. Ibanga back to the Ministry as Commissioner for the third time, assuring him of the staff’s unwavering support and commended the progress made by various departments and units.

The meeting concluded with a prayer session conducted by the Ministry’s Chaplain, followed by a facility tour led by the Permanent Secretary.