I STILL REMEMBER THAT LIKE YESTERDAY!
It was on 23rd January, 1985 that I was able to meet the Principal of Girls Technical School Abor Mr. Donatus Ofordu after missing him on the 22nd as my late Uncle Mr. Augustine Ekeneme Mgbemena who was working with the then Anambra State Education Commission secured the appointment for me.
Armed with an OND from the Anambra State Polytechnic Oko and losing my father to the cold hands of death just after my OND exams, my mother’s eldest brother Mr. Ebenezer Iloka took me to his home in Umuahia and got me a job as a Communication Assistant at Chidiebere Transport Corporation for me to do my one year compulsory industrial attatchment. This arrangement did not go down well with my educationist Uncle Mr. Augustine Mgbemena hence he advised my relocation to his house in Enugu to take up a teaching job with the Anambra StateEducation Commission where he was already a Supervising Principal.
This new development was vehemently resisted by me giving him so many reasons why I did not want to be in this part of the world including that it was very far from our ancestral home of Umuchu in Aguata L.G.A. Anambra State. As a kind man that he was, he kept encouraging me that it was going to pay off in the long run showing me so many opportunities that abound if only I should change my mind. He eventually had his way because his arguments were convincing not withstanding the free accommodation available to me in his house. (May his kind soul continue to rest in peace).
I relocated from Umuahia to Enugu to become a teacher (Assistant Commercial Instructor) at Girls Technical School, Abor doing the shuttle from my kind Uncle’s house at New Haven Enugu while being fed by his beautiful wife, Mrs. Esther Ugochukwu Mgbemena (a daughter of Nduanya of Awha Imezi) until I got my first pay after 3months and then got an accommodation at Abor where I stayed for 8months before going back to school for my Higher National Diploma at IMT Enugu with a study leave without pay approval for two years.
Career:-
I was reinstated in September, 1988 after completing my Higher National Diploma in Mass Communication and undergoing the mandatory National Youth Service Corps programme in Oyo State, South West Nigeria.
My reinstatement saw me posted to College of the Immaculate Conception (CIC) Enugu to teach English Language courtesy of my Uncle Mr. Augustine Mgbemena who was also accommodating me for second time. May God bless his beautiful soul. My not wanting to be a teacher took me away from CIC in January, 1989 and got posted to the Headquarter of the Anambra State Education Commission Enugu as an Information Officer II. I was posted to the SEC Zonal Office, Awka as a Public Relations Officer and later to SEC Abakaliki Zonal Office after spending 6months at Awka and finally to the State Education Commission Headquarters Enugu in January, 1990 where I have remained till date. I spent total of 30years at the Headquarters having being inherited by the Enugu State Government after the creation of Enugu State because of marriage.
With the creation of Enugu State and my being inherited by the State my career progression in Public Relations started. I was converted to Information Officer Cadre and with each promotion I kept climbing the Information Officers ladder.
Information I:
Senior Information Officer
Assistant Chief Information Officer
Chief Information Officer
Deputy Director Information
Director Information, a rank I attained since 2011. I was appointed the Head of Public Relations in November, 2001 while on Salary Grade Level 12 to take over from the Director of the Unit who was appointed a Permanent Secretary. To the glory of God, I was able to hold the Unit together. This development and God’s favour gave me the record breaking feat of the “LONGEST SERVING” Head of any department in PPSMB having spent a total of 18years as Head of Department/Unit and 30years in the Board’s headquarters. God shielded me from all dangers by His Grace. (No queries, disengagement, withholding of salaries or leave allowance).
Marriage:-
My listening to and obeying my Uncle Mr. Augustine Mgbemena gave me the opportunity of meeting my husband. Unknown to me, my husband Barr. Paul Okey Amalu saw me on 22nd January, 1985 the first day I went to report for duty and missed the Principal Mr. Donatus Ofordu and made up his mind that he was going to marry me. Funny, but true he lived up to that dream and today I can say that God took me to that school to give me a husband who was an English language teacher in the school, but a lawyer of great standing today. This near 30year old marriage is blessed with two wonderful children Jachike, a Medical Doctor and Fuchi a Nurse.
EDUCATION:
Recall that I was employed in 1985 with Ordinary National Diploma and reinstated with Higher National Diploma in 1988. One of the abounding opportunities mentioned by my Uncle included education. Working in the education system instead of a transport corporation that was my first attraction gave me the opportunity of going back to school. As I am bowing out of service, I am armed with a Post-Graduate Diploma in Mass Communication from Enugu State University of Science and Technology, a Masters Degree in Public Relations from University of Nigeria Nsukka, a Professional Diploma in Education from Enugu State College of Education (Technical), and a licensed teacher of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria and a Public Relations Doctor-in-view student Unviersity of Nigeria Nsukka.
I owe the progress made in this area of my life to both my Uncle and the Post-Primary Schools Management Board Enugu.
APPRECIATION
I will be doing myself a great disservice if I do not appreciate the roles of a number of individuals in my career journey during these incredible 35years of service-
BARR. RICKY AGU- MD/CEO ENSEPA -1996-1999
For encouraging me to take up a career in Public Relations.
BARR. M.F.O. Eze – CHAIRMAN PPSMB 2000-2003
For discovering my skills, fighting for me and giving me the opportunity to be the Head of Public Relations when I was on Grade Level 12. May your kind soul continue to rest in peace; sir.
CHIEF F.O.P. ODENIGWE-Chairman PPSMB 2003-2005
for elevating Public Relations in PPSMB and approving my attendance to National Conferences of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, ANCOPSS and Sports competitions.
PRINCE M.A. AKPA-CHAIRMAN PPSMB 2005-2007.
A perfect gentleman with an amazing personality! Thank you for making my job easy and sending me for trainings, conferences. The provision of video, still cameras and expansion of the Unit started with you.
DR. MRS. KATE EGO EZE Permanent Secretary and Chief Executive PPSMB 2007-2009
It was an awesome experience working under you Ma. I cannot forget you in a hurry! The conferences and workshops at Ado-Ekiti, Bauchi among others are still fresh in my mind. Provision of modern computer with accessories, television etc, and full equipment and furnishing of the Public Relations Unit.
PRINCESS STELLA NGWU CHAIRMAN PPSMB 2009-2011
Thank you for introducing the ranking of principals in PPSMB.
DR. GAB OKAFOR (OCHIAGHA) CHAIRMAN PPSMB 2011-2014
Like your title implies, you fought so many wars for PPSMB and won all of them. I cannot forget your achievements in a hurry. The WTC incident is still fresh in our minds. May your soul continue to rest in perfect peace.
BARR. NESTOR EZEME CHAIRMAN PPSMB 2015-Date
Our Digital and God sent Chairman! Champion of all Champions! PPSMB will forever remember you for your excellent leadership qualities immersed in unprecedented humility. You are so full of the milk of human kindness. God bless you Sir.
I keep saying and make bold to say here that you were made the Chairman of PPSMB at the time you came for the hopeless like me!
Thank you for allowing God to use you to deliver me in particular and others in general. It shall forever be well with you and your household in Jesus name, Amen. God bless you mightily.
MR. AUGUSTINE EKENEME MGBEMENA-Thank you Uncle for being a beacon of light to the entire Mgbemena family of Umuchu, Aguata, Anambra State and me your beloved brother’s daughter. My father told me of how you came and carried us from Ibagwa-Nkwo at the outbreak of the Nigeria Civil War to make sure we were not killed during the war. May your sweet soul continue to rest in peace.
Thank you All
NGOZI-OKEY AMALU
RTD DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION
PPSMB, ENUGU.
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