Akwa Ibom state Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, has announced the appointment of the immediate-past Chief of Staff, Government House, Mr Etekamba Umoren, as the Secretary to State Government (SSG).

Ekerete Udoh, the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the governor announced this in Uyo, the capital today. Udoh also formally announced his own appointment. He will serve as the governor’s chief press secretary.

Governor Udom Emmanuel

Umoren, a retired Permanent Secretary in the state, is a graduate of the University of Benin and a Knight of the Methodist Church.

The Chief Press Secretary holds a Master of Arts Degree in Political Science from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, besides his first degree in Politics and Journalism.

He has spent over 28 years in journalism, during which he served as a columnist in Sunday Concord and ThisDay Newspapers, as well as an Editor of Hints Magazine.

The state Auditor-General for Local Government, Mr Bassey Umoh, was also announced as the new Permanent Secretary, Governor’s Office, the statement said.

Other appointees are: Mr Edmond Uffang as Protocol Chief, Pastor Daniel Akwatang as Special Assistant on Religious Affairs and Mr Aniekpeno Mkpanang as Permanent Secretary, Special Services Department.

The statement explained that the governor, who was a seasoned banker before venturing into politics on the platform of the PDP, is now chairman, of the state’s Finance and General Purposes Committee.