The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development Nasaraws state on Tuesday, welcomed a new Permanent Secretary, Isah Mohammed Eya.
He took over from a Covering Permanent Secretary and the Director of Youth Development in the ministry, Mr Umar Abubakar who stood in that capacity for eight months, pending the appointment of a substantive occupant.
Mr. Isah Mohammed Eya, until his recent appointment and subsequent deployment, was Director, Planning, Research and Statistics(DPRS) at the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board, NSUBEB.
He was among the six Permanent Secretaries appointed and sworn-in early this month by Governor Abdullahi Sule.
Shortly after the handing-over ceremony, the new Permanent Secretary thanked his predecessor for his wonderful contributions to the growth and development of the Ministry during his short spell and promised to bring his wealth of experience to bear through the introduction of new workable policies and programmes in line with the mandate of the Organisation aimed at actualizing its goals and aspirations.
“I want to thank God for this historic day. I am coming into a new environment, and I believe that those who are here are experienced, dedicated and hardworking and will make the job easy for me.
“I will continue from where the Covering Permanent Secretary stopped prior to my coming here. We must work as a team to get the desired results.
“Let’s work together to attain the Ministry’s vision, mission, core mandates and values because those were what kept me going in all the places I have worked before.
“I wish to assure you that I will do everything humanly possible to give value addition to this Ministry and make our impacts felt.”
The new Permanent Secretary commended the feats being achieved in various areas of the Ministry, noting that such achievements enhance the work and outputs of the Organisation’s staff.
He added that he would work in synergy with everyone, irrespective of his or her status, to further improve staff competency and better productivity.
Earlier, the out-gone Covering Permanent, Umar Abubakar, who has since returned to his original position as Director of Youth Development, appreciated the Commissioner, for reposing confidence in him as Covering Permanent Secretary.
He also thanked Management and Staff of the Ministry for their support during his term, calling on them to lend their onerous support to his successor by putting in their best.
Mr. Umar pleaded for leniency and understanding in the event any staff was hurt during the period he was covering as Permanent Secretary, explaining that the nature of the task provides for the protection of Government’s interest first.
He enjoined Staff to remain focused on their job specifications and go an extra mile to support their superiors for the overall benefits of the Ministry and State at large.
In his remarks, Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Amb. Lucky Isaac Yargwa, acknowledged the professional wherewithal of the out-gone Covering Permanent Secretary, describing him as a workaholic personnel whose inputs helped to shape the Ministry during his brief stint.
“I want to commend the outgoing Covering Permanent Secretary, Umar Abubakar, for coordinating the staff and activities of the Ministry.
“It’s not easy managing a Ministry like ours which is one of the largest in the State with different categories of Staff.”
While welcoming the new Permanent Secretary, the Commissioner assured him of total support to excel.
“Your coming is apt and timely as it will help us to actualize our goals and aspirations.
“We will accord you all the necessary support to excel.”
He warned indolent staff to sit up and contribute their quota towards the growth and development of the Ministry and State in general, stressing that truancy and indiscipline will not be tolerated as hard measures will be meted on anyone who errs.
The ceremony which took place at the Conference Hall of the Ministry was attended by Management and Staff of the Ministry, family members and well-wishers of the new Permanent Secretary as well as Rt. Hon. Shuaibu Sani(SSA to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Youth Affairs), Chairman of Nasarawa United FC, Chief Barr. Isaac Danladi, and Comr. Ja’afaru Mohammed Loko(SSA to Governor Abdullahi Sule).E
/Eche Amos
