By: Comrade Wilbet Ijeoma
Two-term Chairman of Committee of Heads of Federal Government Establishments (COHEADS), Delta State, Geologist Abraham Omodu Enukpere, Esq. retires as the Geologist in-charge, Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, under the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development (Solid Minerals Development) after a meritorious civil service on attainment of the compulsory retirement age of 60 on the 23rd day of June, 2024.
Although, a sent-forth party was organized on 19th June 2024 for this event which took place at his office in Federal Secretariat Complex, Asaba, and was graced by dignitaries comprising Directors and Heads of Federal Establishments, staff members of the Agency, families, friends, well-wishers and gentlemen of the press.
Speaking to journalists in the occasion, Barr. Enukpere recounted his experience during his civil service career and the remarkable progress he made in his career spanning from his spell with the Agency’s Headquarters in 2001 to Enugu State where he served for 7 years until 2007; thereafter to Awka Anambra State where he served for 12 years in National Geo-hazard Monitoring Centre of the Agency. Moving forward, he got to the peak of his career as the Geologist in-charge of the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, saddled with the day to day administration of the Agency in Delta State, and this pinnacle he occupied for 5 years until his retirement.
Speaking further, the two-term Chairman of COHEADS who also served as a Caretaker Chairman for another 6months expressed his profound gratitude to his colleagues at COHEADS for the leadership confidence reposed on him and staff members of his Agency for the enabling environment and cooperation that fostered love, peace and progress in the activities of the Agency. Barr. Enukpere recounted his achievements as Chairman of COHEADS which includes, but not limited to; restoration of electricity in Federal Secretariat Complex after several years of blackout, rebating and regulating the outrageous estimated billing of the Secretariat by BEDC through an Application of Urgency to National Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC), acquisition of prepaid meters for each MDA and fostering cooperation amongst all MDAs within and outside the Secretariat extending to Warri and other LGAs with federal presence.
On his professional achievements as the Geologist in-charge of the Agency, Barr. Enukpere, in collaboration with Delta State Investment Development Agency (DIDA), was instrumental to the scientific investigation of Kaolin (an Industrial mineral used in the production of ceramics, tiles, pharmaceutical industries, electrical insulators and other civil Engineering products) in Delta State.
Furthermore, the Geologist in-charge who doubles as a legal practitioner assisted through scientific means in the successful drilling and installation of boreholes in a problematic, unlikely and non-feasible demographic region in Ogbe-Obi Quarters of Okpanam community, Delta State which resulted in the establishment of a pharmaceutical industry that needed portable running water for its production processes.
On how he became a legal practitioner, the Geologist in-charge recounted how he defied all odds and overcame some setbacks with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in the 4th year of his pursuit for a degree in Law. “The Council of Legal Education published in 2015 that Law students will not be admitted to Nigerian Law School. So, I proceeded to Enugu State University of Science and Technology where I registered for another law programme, and as God would have it, I graduated, went to Law School and was called to Bar in 2021 as Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria”; Barr Enukpere expressed amidst joy and excitement of his retirement achievements.
The auspicious occasion of his retirement doubling as his 60th birthday anniversary turned out to be a beehive of activities with a euphoria of joy, cheers and excitement, moreso as the event culminated in guests trooping in for refreshment and celebration with the celebrant, taking photographs and presenting gift items in the same accord.
