The Cross River State Ministry of Lands has celebrated its retired Permanent Secretary, ESV. Gold Okpo Ita, and other retired staff members at a special send-forth ceremony in recognition of their years of dedicated service and contributions to the growth and development of the Ministry.
The ceremony brought together management staff, heads of departments, family members and friends of the retirees to reflect on their professional journeys and acknowledge their roles in advancing the Ministry’s mandate.
In a series of tributes and goodwill messages, senior officials and heads of departments commended the retirees for their dedication, professionalism and commitment to public service. They highlighted their achievements and the lasting impact of their contributions to the Ministry over the years.
The new Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Philomena N. Nyiam, who represented the Commissioner for Lands, Dr. Erasmus Ekpang, at the event, commended the retirees for their years of dedicated service and contributions to the Ministry. She acknowledged the value of their experience and institutional knowledge, noting that their commitment had helped sustain the Ministry’s operations and advance its responsibilities within the state’s public service.
Nyiam also encouraged serving staff to draw lessons from the retirees’ professional journeys by upholding discipline, teamwork and a strong sense of responsibility in the discharge of their duties. She stressed the importance of continuity and effective collaboration in maintaining the Ministry’s standards and ensuring that its work continues to contribute to the development of Cross River State.
The ceremony also provided an opportunity to reflect on the importance of experience, institutional knowledge and teamwork in building an effective public service. Participants acknowledged the professional relationships and enduring bonds forged through years of working together in pursuit of the Ministry’s objectives.
A solemn moment was observed as participants stood for a minute’s silence in honour of two deceased colleagues, paying tribute to their memories and recognising their contributions to the Ministry.
The event featured the presentation of gifts to the retirees as tokens of appreciation for their years of service and dedication. This was followed by the cutting of a commemorative cake and a toast to their health, happiness and fulfilment in retirement.
The send-forth ceremony served not only as a celebration of the retirees’ achievements but also as a reminder of the value of dedicated public service and the importance of recognising those who have contributed to institutional development.
By Afiong Ndem
