By Scholastica Joseph, Makurdi
The immediate past Commissioner of Energy, Science and Technology Dr Godwin Oyiwona has charged his successor, Mrs Jane Ajah, to strive to make Benue state a hub of Information Communication Technology, ICT.
Mr Oyiwona stated this while handing over briefs to the incoming Commissioner, Mrs Jane Ajay.
According to him, Benue state cannot afford to do without Science and Technology or ICT especially with the fourth industrial revolution in the world.
He urged Mrs Aja not to relent but to seek synergy and partnerships to ensure that science and technology especially ICT is given priority attention and domiciled in Benue state.
He said, with the cooperation of the staff, he was able to record a lot of successes such as making Benue state to emerge Best in Science innovation at the recently held Science Innovation Expo in Abuja, produced students that will represent Nigeria in Ethiopia this year among others.
He congratulated Mrs Ajah on her appointment, wishing her double success and better performance in her tenure saying he was elated that he was leaving the ministry better than he met it.
Responding, Mrs Ajah appreciated her predecessor for the great work he did by lifting the new ministry from the grassroot to great heights and solicited support of the staff to consolidate on the achievements made.
Mrs Ajah said “Governor Samuel Ortom is out to make an impact and better the lives of citizens. So it behoves on us to support him in moving the state forward. So we will do our best.”
Earlier, Dr Godwin Oyiwona had also taken over at the ministry for Water Resources and Environment, where he pledged to synergize with staff of the ministry to end water scarcity in Makurdi and its environs.
Oyiwona who headed four Ministries in the Governor Samuel Ortom administration; Energy, Science and Technology, Health and Human Services, Education and now Water Resources and Environment, appreciated his boss for giving him opportunities to contribute his quota.
Oyiwona, an environmental expert, also lamented what he called excessive lumbering in parts of Makurdi and other places in the state and promised to put an end to such illegal activities.
Earlier in his handover speech, outgoing supervising commissioner, Victor Ukaha congratulated Dr Oyiwona on his retention and redeployment to the ministry saying with his experience, he would have a smooth sail in handling the ministry.
Ukaha urged the staff to also give him the same support he received while working with them.
