The 1988 Set of Saint Augustine’s Teachers’ College, Lafia, Nasarawa State, on Tuesday, paid a congratulatory visit to one of their own Mr Isah Mohammed Eya in a 34 years nostalgic reunion
Mr Eya who was recently appointed as Permanent Secretary by Governor Abdullahi Sule was subsequently deployed to the Nasarawa State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.
The occasion took place at the office of the Permanent Secretary in Lafia.
Among the visiting delegation were former Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Bamaiyi Anangba, and Head Coach of Nasarawa United Football Club, Abubakar Arikya(Interim Chairman of the Set).
Expressing his excitement, the Permanent Secretary, Isah Mohammed Eya, said, “I want to thank God for the gift of life and for the progress we have made so far.
“Unfortunately, some of us are no longer alive, while some of us are either nowhere to be found or living in difficult situations.
“I began my Civil Service job in 1988 as a Class Teacher. I went on to become a Head Teacher, and then School Supervisor, LG Coordinator, and later moved to the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB in 2003.
“I grew from that level up to the position of a Director. Within those periods, I was handling training activities in SUBEB where I began to meet some of my School mates and the link up is what birthed this large gathering today and we are enjoying the fond memories shared.
“Indeed, this reunion is to enable us get into another level of life and career.
“We shall have more time to reunite and recall with nostalgia, old memories.
“But in all, I thank you for this wonderful gesture. You have completed my joy by coming together like this.
“My commitment to you is that I will live above board.
“I will ensure that whatever I am supposed to do which will require me to carry you all along, I will do my best to reach out to you.
“I will also reach out to you for advice and whatever will be mutually beneficial and help Nasarawa State to grow.
“My door will be open to you always.
“However, what I need mostly from you now are your prayers because I am already at the pinnacle of my Civil Service career.”
In his earlier remarks, leader of the group, Abubakar Arikya, said the aim of the visit was to identify and show solidarity with one of their own and accord him the necessary support to excel at his new office.
He noted that the occasion was to set a new tone for the Association to wax stronger, accommodate more members who are scattered around the country and beyond, and to initiate programmes to help some of their members and teachers or their families who are in palpable conditions in order to lead a better life.
Lending his voice, Hon. Bamaiyi Anangba, congratulated Mr. Isah Mohammed Eya on his recent appointment and opined that the reunion opened the vista for stronger collaborations among members of the group.
He urged the Permanent Secretary to live above board and serve the State with the best of his ability and endeavour to bequeath credible score card, emphasizing that a good name is better than silver and gold.
The former Commissioner pledged to work in synergy with the Permanent Secretary to organize a dinner for the Form Five Set of 88′ in order to fraternize and chat a way forward for the group.
While praying for the Permanent Secretary to succeed on his new task, the group wished him better opportunities in the nearest future and wished him sound health and length of days to continue to serve God and humanity.
Mr. Isah Mohammed Eya, together with five others, was nominated as Permanent Secretary on 16th June, 2022, inaugurated on 17th July and deployed to the State’s Ministry of Youth and Sports Development on 18th August, 2022, before officially resuming duties on Wednesday, 23rd of same month.
/Eche Amos
