BY ANIEKEME FINBARR
There are only very few words to describe the enterprising Commissioner For Works in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Ephraim Inyang-eyen on his golden day. The endearing, hardworking and quintessential gentleman is one man you will love to associate with, any day.
There are only very few words to describe the enterprising Commissioner For Works in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Ephraim Inyang-eyen on his golden day. The endearing, hardworking and quintessential gentleman is one man you will love to associate with, any day.
Very daring and energetic, the fervour he exerts on his work and the unequal passion he brings to everything he sets his eyes on is simply amazing. His life is a testimony of hard work and success.
Born on November 25, 1965 into the family of Mr. & Mrs. Akparawa Inyang-Eyen of Nung Nya in Ikot Ebiere of Onna Local Government Area, Ephraim Inyang attended the famous Etinan Institute from 1977 to 1982 where he obtained his GCE O’Level certificate.
Ephraim Inyang-Eyen started his working life in 1982 with a stint at the then Cross River State Teaching Service Commission as an auxiliary teacher and taught Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics at Community Secondary School, Okat in Onna before he left to further his education.
In 1989, while serving in the Nigeria Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Ephraim worked as a Chemist with the Nigeria Railway Corporation. Upon completion of his NYSC programme, he was enlisted on August 31, 1990, into the Nigeria Customs Service as an Assistant Superintendent of Customs.
In his about 25 years in active service, Ephraim has maintained an excellent track record of performance, discipline and working knowledge across various departments of the Service. Between 1992-1995, he served as Special Assistant to the O/C Terminal, Apapa Port, Lagos and was transferred to Bauchi Area Command, where he served as the Commands’ Public Relations Officer for over two years. Thereafter, he was redeployed to Apapa Port Command, where he served as Staff Officer of the largest Container terminal in West Africa for four years and was responsible for staff and operations management. His outstanding performance in this assignment which led to the turn-around of the revenue profile of the terminal led to his immediate promotion.
Similarly, when he was assigned to lead the team that repositioned the Port Express Bonded Terminal as O/C Terminal, he was credited with exceptional performance for changing the fortune of the hitherto moribund terminal within a record time of one month which earned him several management commendations for the achievement. This feat was repeated when he moved to Tincan Island Port, and was subsequently posted to Classic Bonded Terminal that had closed down. Ephraim turned-around the situation within three months and posted very impressive revenue stream. He went on to serve as O/C terminal there before he was posted to FANO bonded terminal before he became actively involved in politics.
Ephraim Inyang-Eyen has contributed significant to national building within and outside his immediate community which has earned him numerous Honors, Awards and Recognitions. This award were accorded him before he was made Commissioner. They include Certificate 0f Merit as Patron- Akwa Ibom State Students (NAAKISS) JULY, 2000. Role Model Award – Sage Communications International (December 2010), Transport Development Excellence Encouragement Award (2009), and Award for providing Trade Facilitation in Customs by Transquest Magazine (2009).
Other awards are Transport Development Excellence Award conferred as special Encouragement Award for promoting trade facilitation-Transquest Magazine(2010), Golden Award for Excellence, Honesty, Hardwork and Accountability by Nigeria Print Journalism Development(2011),
Others are Customs Commitment Merit Award in Recognition of Outstanding Operation and Ethics to place Nigeria Customs Service in the front burner by skyline 24Hrs Newspaper(2014), Association of Movie Practitioners (AMP) Akwa Ibom State chapter-Award for Excellence for Outstanding Support for Success of the movie – WOMAN’S RIGHT and the fight against human rights abuse and violence against women(2014), Transport Development Excellence Award(TDEA) as Customs Operative with exemplary MIDAS TOUCH by Quest Media Group(2014), Federated Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists and Award for excellence from the University of Lagos Alumni Association (Lagos Branch) to mention but a few.
Akparawa Inyang has maintained an excellent track record of performance, discipline and hard work in his working career.
It is that same spirit and passion for excellence that Mr Ephraim Inyang has imported to the Ministry of Works, Akwa Ibom State and the people are experiencing a refreshing phase of superior infrastructural renaissance.
Ephraim is God-fearing, possesses good team spirit, tremendous work capacity, strong character and leadership capabilities.
Among his numerous endearing and attractive qualities is his detribalized nature. Just like his boss, Governor Udom Emmanuel, the commissioner does not care about where one comes from provided he is an Akwa Ibomite, he sees all as one and equal who deserve the best. It was this exceptional and rare quality in him, coupled with his integrity, honesty and perseverance that stood him out as one that people could reckon with as a rallying point for the emergence of Mr Udom Emmanuel while he lead the Transformation Initiative For the Empowerment of Ibom People.
Undoubtedly, the commissioner has brought his good nature to bear in the discharge of his ministerial responsibilities. His words are bankable assets. He is not your everyday politician. This is one man who will not make any promise he is not sure of fulfilling them in the name of politics. He is one man who makes himself available and accessible to all. His humility and simplicity is second to none.
He allows sincerity and truth to be his watch words. These explains why the Akwa Ibom state ministry of works today has become a destination point to many who desire to tap from the compassionate and humane disposition of the amiable works commissioner.
Within the public sphere, there is a renewed sense of trust and belief that the Ephraim Inyang led Ministry of Works is working its socks off to provide adequate, safe and well maintained public works and transportation infrastructure and services such as public buildings, state road network, electro-mechanical installations that support socio-economic transformation and development of the State. He personally embarks on site inspections and supervision.
Given Mr Ephraim Inyang’s rich experience, exposure, committed work ethic, ability to interpret the vision of the Governor, it is settled that this government will deliver in respect of critical infrastructure at reasonable cost. The ministry is employing the intellectual, management and material resources available to it to make the state roads functional all the time under the dynamic leadership of Mr Ephraim Akparawa Inyang
Ephraim Inyang is happily married to Mrs Ime Ephraim Inyang and the union is blessed with five children.
Sir, today, you’ve earned another merit badge. It is hard won, your plaques and certificates will attest. It is one that marks you as a warrior, survivor and super-human for having bested life’s strange twists and turns and come out victorious. As you sound the happy gong, my wishes for you are grace for long life and God’s protection. The courage to face the daunting challenges of public life. The fortitude to forge ahead and achieve your dreams and desires and the disposition to continue to touch lives and change humanity for the better.
May every unfulfilled dream of yours during the past half century come true. Don’t you dare start calling yourself old. There is a lot in your life, yet to unfold. Don’t even think of calling yourself weak. Of strength and youthfulness, let your personality reek. Don’t just assume that you are past your prime. Life will still offer many more precious moments, which will create memories sublime.
Turning fifty one is when you will realize, that life is not a race, it is a wonderful prize. You will start slowing down and begin to cherish, even the quirky moments that once seemed garish. Such is life after fifty – beautiful, captivating and utterly heavenly. You are in the best phase of life. You can complain that your knees ache when you don’t want to go to work and you can say that you feel young at heart when you want to travel. Now that you have turned fifty, you are officially allowed to be forgetful, have selective memory and only remember the things you want.
Celebrating your 50tt birthday is one of the greatest feats one can ever achieve. Being in this world for about half century is no easy achievement. As you look back on five wonderful decades of your life, as you cherish every moment with your kids and wife, as you think about those hard struggles and those beautiful days. Its a special day, laced in gold. Happy birthday, Sir
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