BREAKING: Buhari appoints Dr Anthonia Ekpa Permanent Secretary

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Dr. Anthonia Ekpa PhD, as Permanent Secretary. Prior to her appointment, she served as Director, Road Transport and Mass Transit Administration at the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Abuja. A native of Duke Town in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State. Dr. Ekpa was inaugurated today during the Federal Executive Council Meeting (FEC) at Presidential villa council chamber by the President Muhammadu Buhari.

Dr. Ekpa is a brilliant Nigerian with an excellent academic record in the Arts and Social sciences. She obtained her  PhD in English Language at the University of  Ibadan, Master of Sciences Governance and Development Management from University of Birmingham, England, Masters  in English Language, with PhD grade (distinction) at the University  of Ibadan and Bachelor in English and Literary Studies, with second class upper from the University of Calabar. 

She is also an awardee of the prestigious British Chevening Scholarship and an Alumni of several professional courses organised by the Commonwealth, World Bank, Department for international development and Asian Institute of Management.

Dr Ekpa’s versatility goes beyond her educational qualifications to her career which began in the Academia, as a Lecturer of English Language and Communication, Department of English and Literary Studies University of Calabar, Nigeria (1989-1998). She joined the Administrative Cadre of the Public Service as Chief Administrative Officer, on GL14 in 1998 at the Federal Character Commission, and rose to Grade level 16 in 2006 before transferring her service to the Civil service, where she served in different capacities, and has played pivotal roles  in prime Federal Government Committees on the implementation of Government reform programmes in various sectors. She has served on the Directorate Level as Deputy Director/Head Communications, Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), the Presidency (2006-2010); Deputy Director, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), Federal Ministry of Water Resources (2010-2011); Director, Planning Research and Statistics /M & E, Federal Ministry of Water Resources (2011-2013); Director, Planning Research and Statistics, Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, (2013-2014); Director, Special Duties, Federal Ministry of Power ( 2014-2015 ) and Director, Road Transport and Mass Transit Administration, Federal Ministry of Transportation, (2015-2020).

Dr. Ekpa has served Nigeria in various capacities starting from the University as an academic and also in  the Public and Civil Services respectively. She has been a Director for eight (8) years with much noted achievements in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies she has served. She is one of the very few Directors today in the Civil Service with an outstanding academic record: PhD, MSc, MA (with distinction) and BA (with second class upper).

She was recruited into the Administrative cadre from the University to improve the quality of the productivity and efficiency of Service and she has done very well , with several awards to her credit. Dr. Ekpa is an intelligent writer and speaker who has  always gained the confidence of her Bosses and respect of her Colleagues as well as those of  International and National Stakeholders, Organizations and Communities, while representing  the Country in several capacities.

She is among other roles, Focal Person, Chair, Member and Representative of the country on some Committees of the United Nations, World Bank, ECOWAS, and COMCEC etc.

Dr. Ekpa has several publications, and has co-authored over ten (10) books, author of more than two books and over 16 articles and Journals. A former chief Editor at the Public Service Reform, she is a Member of major International and Professional bodies/ organizations. 

She is a dedicated Staff with the best of qualities and virtues of a Civil servant–discipline, dedication and passion for work, honesty, integrity, professionalism, intelligence, innovativeness, respectfulness and sincerity among others.

The new permanent Secretaries include Mr. Akinlade Oluwatoyin from Kogi State,  Malam Alkali Nura from Kano State, Mr. Anyanwutaku Ifeoma from Anambra, Mr. Ardo Kumo from Gombe State and  Mr. Belgore Lamido from Kwara.

Others were-Malam Hussaini Babangida form Jigawa State, Malam Mahmuda Mamman form Yobe State,  Mr. Meribole Kwukuemeka from Abia State,  Malam Mohammed Ganda from Sokoto State, Mr. Tarfa Peter from Adamawa State and Udoh Omokunmi from Oyo State.