Umanah bags overall best Commissioner for Information in Nigeria

L-R Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Atim Antai, Commissioner for Information & Communications, Hon. Aniekan Umanah and Commissioner for Economic Development, Mr. Akan Okon during an executive council

 

 

 

The Hon. Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, has bagged the Award of “The Overall Best Commissioner for Information in Nigeria.”

The Award was presented to the State Information Commissioner, Mr. Umanah, recently in his office by the Grassroots Leadership Centre, Abuja, as part of the Centre’s 24th Annual Edition of National Award of Excellence in Leadership.

Responding after receiving the Award, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, said he was humbled that his modest efforts at managing the Information machinery of Government has been acknowledged by the Centre and dedicated the Award to God, the source of his inspiration and to Governor Godswill Akpabio for giving him the opportunity to serve, without which, he would not have been noticed for the award.

 Represented at the occasion by the Director of Information, Pastor Mike Etuk, the Information Boss, thanked the organizers of the event for extolling excellence and accountability in service reiterating that, the gesture will spur him and other Awardees to do even more in their various sectors to the glory of God and for humanity.

The Director of Information expressed with pride that, the Award was well deserved, added that, the good works of Mr, Aniekan Umanah has manifested in the high level of publicity enjoyed by the State and indeed the Uncommon Transformation programme of the Governor Akpabio-led administration, in the Media at all levels.

He enumerated other achievements of the Commissioner to include; the raising of the publicity rating of the State from 35% in 2008, when he assumed office to 85% by 2014 , establishment of 24 work station internet media centre, acquisition of Goss Community Printing machine for Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation and introduction of Uncommon Transformation series on NTA (International), AIT, Channels TV, NTA (Channel 12) and AKBC, among others.

While presenting the Excellence Award and the commemorative plaque to the Information Commissioner, on behalf of the Management and Board of Grassroots Leadership Centre, Abuja, a Board member and Editor-in-Chief of Grassroots Media Ventures Ltd, Barr Yinka Awoyinka, said Mr. Aniekan Umanah was selected as the overall best Commissioner in excellent performance based on analysis from the Nomination call, published on page 70 of the Punch Newspaper of Monday, 23rd December, 2013.

Barr Awoyinka said, Mr. Umanah emerged overall best from the fourteen (14) nominees selected amongst States’ Commissioners for Information, emphasizing that the choice of Mr. Umanah cannot be faulted as no day passes, without publicity on the Government and people of Akwa Ibom State by various National tabloids.

 Highlights of the event witnessed by Heads of departments of the Ministry were; the decoration of the Hon. Commissioner with the Excellence Award, presentation of the Plaque, Souvenir Publication and life-size roll-up banner to the Commissioner as well as the presentation of souvenir items to the team from the Grassroots Leadership Centre.