My Passion for Gender, Women Welfare will benefit Women Affairs Ministry-Ekpa
By Ignatius Ushie
The newly redeployed Permanent Secretary to the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs Anthonia Akpabio Ekpa PhD, has resumed duties with a commitment to make a difference.
Ekpa resumed Tuesday after a brief handover ceremony between her and the outgoing Permanent Secretary, Dr. (Mrs) Ifeoma Adaora Anyanwutaku, at the Ministry in Abuja.
Speaking during the occasion, Dr. Ekpa, who was a Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation before her redeployment to the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, vowed to bring her passion in gender and women to bear in order to realize the agenda of government in the ministry.
Ekpa described her redeployment to Women Affairs, as a God-given opportunity to share her passion with others in the ministry adding that her PhD centered around Gender and Women studies.
According to Ekpa, “I happen to have some interest in gender. I specialized in Gender/ Women studies in my PhD. I have some knowledge of what you are doing here. It is a passion and God has given me an opportunity to share with you.
“The outgoing Permanent Secretary has told me how good you are. She said the directors here are very hardworking, they are collaborative, cooperative. So you are a team and I am part of the team. So we continue where she stopped.
“I will give the honourable Minister, whom I respect very much all the support that she deserves so the agenda of government will be realized. What I say you are privileged about is that you are at the centre of the issues that pertain to your mothers and your daughters. I will solicit your cooperation, I know you will give me that and we will do our very best also” she stated.
Earlier Dr. (Mrs) Ifeoma Adaora Anyanwutaku, said her short stay at the Ministry was worthwhile because of the immense support she received from the staff.
Anyanwutaku assured the incoming Permanent Secretary a promising work experience in the ministry, while urging the staff to extend the support to the new Permanent Secretary.
“Its a mixed feelings considering that I had a very short time of three months in the ministry. It was worthwhile for me, being the first time I was leaving the federal Ministry of Labour and Employment where I spent seven years.
“I enjoyed every moment of my stay. I want to thank everybody here for your cooperation because you made my stay here worthwhile.
“And I only ask that you also extend the same level of cooperation to the incoming Permanent Secretary. As I leave, you never know, our paths may cross again. And I thank you all for the cooperation I have received in this ministry. On that note, I will like to officially hand over to you the incoming Permanent Secretary”.
