The Chukwuma Soludo administration on Wednesday swore in Mrs Chiamaka Nnake as Secretary to the State Government, alongside other newly appointed key officials.
The ceremony was held at the Executive Council Chamber of the Government House, known as the “Light House,” in Awka. Mrs Nnake took the oath at 12:47 pm, joining other top state appointees.
Before this, the former Solicitor-General, Mrs Ngozi Iwouno, administered the oath to the new Attorney-General, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, who then swore in the other officials.
Addressing the appointees, Soludo welcomed them into “Team Solution 2.0,” noting that each had been carefully vetted before receiving their portfolios. He described the appointments as the first batch in a series and emphasized that the roles are a “call to serve.”
“I want to sincerely congratulate all of you and also commiserate with you. I say congratulations because it’s always an honour to serve.
Out of the estimated over nine million Ndi Anambra, you have been called upon to serve, and I know each of you will carry the responsibility of the Ndi Anambra on your shoulders.
“I commiserate with you because of the task ahead, but you are among the team we are calling upon to pay to serve; there will be sacrifices, and all I see is a call to serve.
It is in the collective interest of the people resident in the state, and when you think of the weight you are carrying, you realise that it is beyond you.
“When people are called to serve, they see it as a means to ‘chop’, but here, I didn’t see any table, for me, I don’t actually see the benefit, yet you are called upon to serve.
“I want you to remember that we swore to the same oath of office and allegiance. I placed my oath of allegiance and oath of office in my bedroom, and every morning before I step out, I take a look at them.
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“This is not just a ceremony; you have taken an oath, and beyond this moment, just sit down and read every sentence in the oath and reflect on what it means. Provide your compass for the rest of the service.
“Each one of you has been carefully vetted with a thorough process, and we were very intentional in picking everybody who is in this team.
The plane is on autopilot, and if you don’t get into the plane, you get into the cockpit.
Welcome to the ‘Team Solution 2.0.’ I stressed the word Team, it’s about teamwork, with one ball and 11 players, and the goal is to put the ball into the net in the opposite direction.
The word is collaboration, coordination, it’s about value, the title is simply to let you in on the room.”
The governor also appealed to families and relatives of the appointees to avoid placing personal demands on them, noting that their services are primarily for the state.
Other officials sworn in include: Head of Service, Mrs Ngozi Iwouno; Principal Secretary to the Governor, Joachim Anetoh; Chief of Staff, Dr Ben Nwankwo; State Chief of Protocol, Prof. Frank-Collins Okafor; Commissioner for Finance, Uzochukwu Okafor; Attorney-General, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN; Chief Press Secretary, Christian Aburime; Deputy Chief of Staff, Dr Vincent Okechi; Deputy State Chief of Protocol, Ms Ngozi Okoye; Special Adviser, Medicals and Pharmaceuticals, Dr Godwin Nnadozie; Special Adviser, Innovation and Business Incubation & CEO, Solution Innovation District, Ms Chinwe Okoli; Special Adviser, Special Projects and Director, Project Evaluation and Monitoring, Prof. Ebuka Nwankwo; and Special Adviser, Community Security, Ken Emeakayi.