Soludo swears in 18 commissioners, four agency heads in Anambra
By Margaret Abah
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, on Monday swore in 18 commissioners and four heads of government agencies following their confirmation by the Anambra State House of Assembly.
The inauguration ceremony was held at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House, popularly known as the “Light House”, in Awka.
Addressing the newly appointed officials, Soludo charged them to prioritise service delivery and uphold the “Anambra spirit” of excellence in the discharge of their duties.
The governor urged members of his cabinet to see their appointments as a call to selfless service, sacrifice and public accountability rather than an avenue for personal celebration.
The newly sworn-in commissioners include Ben Odoemena (Agriculture), Chukwukadibia Okoye (Budget and Economic Planning), Udoji Amedu (Culture, Entertainment and Tourism), and Dr Ekene Ogugua (Education).
Others are Clem Aguiyi (Environment), Dr Afam Obidike (Health), Dr Law Mefor (Information and Value Reorientation), Prof. Offornze Amucheazi, SAN (Lands), and Vin Ezeaka (Local Government and Community Affairs).
Also inaugurated were Prof. Charles Ofoegbu (Petroleum and Mineral Resources), Chijioke Oseloka Ojukwu (Physical Planning and Urban Development), Casmir Agummadu (Power), Okey Ezeobi (Works and Infrastructure), Eddy Ibuzo (Transport), Esther Onyekesi (Women Affairs and Social Development), Patrick Agha (Youth Development and Sports), Henry Arinze (Housing), and Nonso Chukwuma Ebonwu (Commerce).
Some of the commissioners, including Law Mefor, Afam Obidike and Patrick Agha, served in Soludo’s first term administration.
The governor noted that the appointees were carefully selected after a thorough screening process and charged them to ensure prudence, teamwork and effective governance across their respective ministries.
“I welcome you all to the ‘Team Solution 2.0’. See your appointments as strictly a call to rigorous work, sacrifice and public accountability, and not personal celebration,” Soludo stated.
He reminded the commissioners that their decisions would directly affect the lives of over nine million residents of Anambra State.
Soludo also inaugurated four agency heads, including Emeka Okonkwo as Managing Director of the Anambra Road Traffic Agency, Dr Ossy Onuko as Managing Director of the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, Fred Agbata as Managing Director of the Information Communication Technology Agency, and Obi Okonkwo as Managing Director of the Bureau of Public Procurement.
The governor had earlier sworn in Tochukwu Nweke, SAN, as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, alongside Izuchukwu Okafor as Commissioner for Finance in March, bringing the total number of commissioners in the state executive council to 20.
Margaret ABAH