The Ekiti State Chief Judge, Attorney-General, Solicitor-General, and other dignitaries have paid glowing tributes to Mr. Ekanem Akpan, pioneer Executive Secretary of the Ekiti State Law Reform Commission, who retired from the State Civil Service during the week after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60.
Akpan was honoured at a retirement and farewell ceremony held in Ado-Ekiti, attended by members of the judiciary, the legal profession, the civil service, ethnic groups, family, and friends.
The Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, represented by Justice Adeniyi Familoni, described Akpan as a dedicated and committed legal practitioner who served the state diligently.
Ogunmoye, who had previously served as State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, recalled that Akpan distinguished himself when they worked together in the ministry about two decades ago.
The Chief Judge commended Akpan’s professionalism and prayed for his success in future endeavours.
In his remarks, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata, SAN, who said he had known Akpan since 2010, described the retiring Executive Secretary as one of the finest lawyers he had worked with, and urged younger lawyers to emulate his diligence and commitment to duty.
He commended successive Ekiti administrations for creating room for both indigenes and non-indigenes to contribute to the state’s development, and described Akpan’s appointment as pioneer Executive Secretary as fitting recognition of his competence.
The Chairman of the occasion and former Head of Service, Mr. Ayodeji Ajayi, likened Akpan’s career to the biblical story of Joseph, who prospered in a strange land, noting that his professional accomplishments had earned him the confidence of colleagues and superiors
Also speaking,the Chairman of the Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission, Justice C.I. Akintayo (rtd), who first met Akpan during his NYSC days and later sat on the panel that interviewed him for the civil service, described him as a brilliant, vibrant, and hardworking legal practitioner.
The Acting Permanent Secretary and Solicitor-General of the State , Mr. Gbemiga Adaramola, said Akpan would be remembered for his contributions as pioneer Executive Secretary, particularly his work in reviewing the second edition of the state’s laws, soon to be published.
He described Akpan as honest and knowledgeable, and urged the Akwa Ibom State Government to honour him for his role as an ambassador of the state in Ekiti.
The Director of Chieftaincy Affairs in the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Ilesanmi Adelusi, speaking on behalf of management and staff, described Akpan as always willing to assist younger and older lawyers alike.
Representatives of the Akwa Ibom community and other ethnic groups praised him as peaceful and diligent, noting his role as Secretary-General of non-indigenes in Ekiti and his contribution to peaceful coexistence among the state’s various groups.
They commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration for its attention to the welfare of non-indigenes.
Responding, Akpan thanked the Ekiti State Government for the opportunity to serve despite being from Akwa Ibom State.
He recalled arriving in the old Ondo State for his one year NYSC programme before the creation Ekiti State, working briefly in a private legal chamber in Ado-Ekiti, before joining the state civil service in 2000.
He thanked the Attorney-General, the Ministry of Justice, the Law Reform Commission, the Akwa Ibom community, and his family and friends, and urged residents to remain law-abiding.
Dignitaries at the event included senior members of the Bar and Bench, staff of the Ministry of Justice and the Law Reform Commission, and representatives of religious and ethnic associations.
