WRITER : SAMUEL ATULUKU
INTRODUCTION
As the new Head of Service, Mrs Hannah Odiyo begins the journey as number one civil servant in Kogi State, Samuel Atuluku of our News and Current Affairs writes on the Head of service and the expectations.
The civil service in all democracies serves as engine room of any government.
An efficient, effective and verile Civil Service, no doubt is propelled by the quality of its leadership.
To this end therefore, Kogi State has produced several Heads of service, with Mrs Hannah Odiyo being the latest to be appointed by the present administration in the state under Governor Yahaya Bello on February Eleventh 2021 following the exit of the former, Deaconness Deborah Ogunmola.
For the avoidance of doubt, Mrs. Hannah Onyinoyi Odiyo was born on July 21, 1961, in Okengwe, Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State.
She had her Primary Education at the St. Paul’s Anglican Primary School, Okengwe in 1975 and proceeded to Lennon Memorial College, Ageva- Okene where she had her West African School Certificate in the year 1980.
She acquired Advanced Level Certificate from the School of Basic Studies, Kwara State College of Technology, Ilorin in 1982 and thereafter, proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology.
Mrs. Hannah Onyinoyi Odiyo began her working experience with the then Kwara State Education Management Board as Biology Teacher in 1986 and continued her service with the Kwara State Government till the year 1991 and was subsequently deployed to the newly created Kogi State.
Between August, 1995 to July, 1997 she was assigned on an international mission to the Ministry of Education in Lusaka, Zambia under the TECHNICAL AID CORP as Biology and Integrated Science Teacher, She later obtained a Masters Degree in Environmental Management from the Kogi State University Anyigba in the year 2013.
As an Environmentalist She worked with the Kogi State Environmental Protection Board, as the Acting Director and Head of Department, Environmental Monitoring, Enforcement and Inspection of Industries.
She also worked with the Kogi State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and was the Director of Environment in charge of Ecological problems. In addition, she was the Desk Officer, Kogi State Erosion and Watershed Management Project (Kogi NEWMAP).
Mrs. Odiyo had served in many several committees including the Committee for the Development of Important Documents for the State, specifically, Kogi State Policy on Environment, Kogi State Economic Empowerment and Development Document (KOSEED, ENVIRONMENT).
She served in several Federal Government Panels on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). These panels include the Obajana Cement Plc, Obajana Earth Dam Project, Quarry Project for Obajana Cement Complex, GSM Mast and Optic Fiber Cable Laying, RIVGAS Refinery/ Petro Chemical Complex, Porthacourt , NSP/Rivers State Government Refinery Project, 250 Km Gwagwalada-Lokoja- Ajaokuta 330KV Transmission Line and Associated 330/132KV Substation Facilities Project, Power Plant and Solid Minerals Mining.
Mrs. Hannah Onyinoyi Odiyo participated in the Development of Environmental Sanitation Policy and Action Plan Documents in the year 2004 as well as the Development of National Water Sanitation Policy Documents in the same year. She equally participated in the Development of Kogi State Environmental Protection Board Law.
She has attended several seminars and workshops within and outside Nigeria among which are The use of Environmental Laboratory Equipment by ELE, England (1998), Local Empowerment And Environmental Management Project (2005), ODS Phase out Programme (2006), Post Flood Disaster Risk Assessment by the World Bank (2012) and Urban Resilience International workshop in Barcelona-Spain (2005).
The new Head of Service had delivered Papers at workshops and seminars on Environmental Pollution in Kogi State (Problems, Constraints and Solutions) 2002 and Pollution control in a Steel Industry, Ajaokuta Steel Company 2005.
Mrs. Hannah Onyinoyi Odiyo was the Focal Officer, UN-Habitat Programmes between 2014 – 2016 and Desk Officer UNDP Environmental Project between 2014 – 2016 both in Kogi State.
She was involved in several World Bank Assisted Projects like Sustainable Land Management FADAMA III Projects, Staple Crop Processing Zone Support Project, and Public Sector Governance Reform and Development Project. She served as Permanent Secretary at the Ministries of Environment and Agriculture respectively before her appointment.
At this point, it is necessary to say that Mrs Hannah Odiyo already has an intimidating credentials, meaning that the appointment by Governor Yahaya Bello can be seen to be justified.
Which is why her appointment attracted positive comments by virtually all segments of the people, both from the high and low, top government functionaries, Associates, former subordinates and so on.
It is then imperative to stress that the civil service in the state has been confronted with several challenges which of course will demand the attention of the HOS.
For the avoidance of doubt, it is on record that the last screening exercise though has genuine purposes, raised some dusts which will further require some attention.
Also, general welfare of workers, conducive working environment, cash backing of promotions and incrementals are some of the nagging issues confronting the work force.
With the jubilation that greeted the pronouncement of Mrs Odiyo as new Head of service, all eyes are now on her to at least do justice to some of the challenges as part of efforts to reposition the service.
Happily, while assuming office as Head of Service, Mrs Odiyo promised to build on the legacies of her predecessors which is being demonstrated through her ongoing visits to Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs.
It is anticipated that the visit to MDAs will further avail her opportunities to get abreast with the peculiar challenges facing the MDAs for possible solutions.
No doubt, the life of Mrs Hannah Odiyo has been that of hard work, dedication to service, and perseverance with the fear of God and currently the President of Tabitha Vision Network (TVN), a faith-based NGO for young widows.
With all these experiences, it is expected that kogi state civil service will again witness a new look under Mrs Hannah Odiyo as she has always demonstrated.
Civil servants on their part should continue to give the new HOS the needed support in order to actualize her dreams for the workforce through prompt synergy with the Governor and other relevant stakeholders.
THAT COMMENTARY ON THE NEW HEAD OF SERVICE MRS HANNAH ODIYO AND THE EXPECTATIONS WAS WRITTEN BY SAMUEL ATULUKU OF OUR NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS AND READ FROM OUR STUDIOS.