By Engr Ben Cephas
Dr. G.O.C Ajah, mni, (born 24 July, 1962) is a Nigerian Educationist, Technocrat and an Administrator per excellence. He was appointed Secretary to the Enugu State Government (SSG) on 15th June, 2015 by His Excellency RT. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; a position he held until the end of His Excellency’s 1st tenure on 29th May, 2019.
Dr. Gabriel Ogbuife Chukwubuikem Ajah was born on 24 July 1962 at Umuika, Enuogu Nkerefi in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State; He attended St. Patrick’s School Amofu and later Community Primary School Enuogu Nkerefi, where he bagged his First School Leaving Certificate in 1973. He then proceeded to the prestigious Colliery Comprehensive School Ngwo, Enugu; where he obtained the West African Senior School Certificate in 1979. He was admitted to the College of Education Ekiadolor, Benin City in 1980, graduating with a NCE certificate in English in 1983. In 1984, he proceeded to the University of Benin and obtained a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) in English in 1986 and subsequently bagging a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree from the University of Benin in 1990.
In 1995, Dr. Ajah was again admitted to the prestigious University of Nigeria to study law and graduated with Bachelor of Law (LLB Hons.) in 2002. He then proceeded to the Enugu State University of Science and Technology for his doctorate program and bagged Ph.D in Education Management in 2016. It is worthy of note that he was in the nation’s most prestigious Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru as a member of the Senior Executive Course 24 in 2002. He is therefore privileged to be one of the few and less than 3000 Nigerians who have been admitted into the membership of National Institute (MNI) since its inception in 1979.
Dr. G.O.C Ajah, mni, has put in over 34 years of meritorious, exemplary and selfless service to Enugu State, transversing every facets of the State. His service to the people of Enugu began in 1988 when he was appointed as the Special Assistant to the then Secretary to Enugu State Government; He was later appointed Chairman of Nkanu East Local Education Authority. He served as a Senior Lecturer at the Federal College of Education Eha-Amufu, where he rose to the position of Acting Head of Department (HoD) General Studies. He was also a Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Ecumenical Education Thinkers Corner Enugu; and a Part-Time Lecturer at the Abia State University Uturu, Osisatech Polytechnics and College of Education Technical Enugu.
Having distinguished himself in all his endeavors and services to the State, he was appointed a Permanent Secretary in year 2001 at the age of 39, thus making him the youngest Permanent Secretary in Nigeria. As a young, vibrant and transparent Permanent Secretary, he was always assigned to strategic Ministries and Parastatals. His first stint was in the Ministry of Environment (2001 – 2002), then Office of Head of Service (2002 – 2003), before he was moved to SSG’s Office (2003 -2004), with a brief stint at the Ministry of Education (2004) before returning back to SSG’s Office. He also served at ENSUBEB (2005 – 2007) as Permanent Secretary and Acting Chairman before been assigned to the Ministry of Agriculture (2008 – 2010). In 2011, he was made the permanent Secretary/Chief Admin. Officer to the Governor, Governors Office; where he served until his appointment on 15th June 2015 as the Secretary to Enugu State Government (SSG). He served as the SSG Enugu State until the end of His Excellency’s 1st tenure on 29th May 2019. On 30th October 2019, he was again appointed the Executive Chairman Enugu State Science, Technical and Vocational Schools Management Board (STVSMB); a position he held until his resignation on 4th April, 2022 to contest the governorship nomination on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Having served as Permanent Secretary from 2001 to June 2015 (14 years) and Secretary to Enugu State Government (SSG) from 15th June 2015 to 29th May 2019 (4 years), criss-crossing the key Ministries and Sectors of governance in Enugu State, he has deep insight into the needs of the citizens of Enugu State and tremendous experience on how to address them. He has served as a member of several committees and judicial panel of enquiries setup by Enugu State government at various times to address peculiar issues in the State; prominent among which are: The Judicial Commission of Inquiry to the Enugu Ngwo Civil Disturbances, Panel of Inquiry on the Reported cases of negligence of duty in the Enugu State Local Government System, Administrative Panel of Inquiry into Boarded Vehicles in Ministry of Finance and Enugu State Local Government Asset Sharing Committee.
Dr. G.O.C Ajah is known for his Simplicity, Honesty, Transparency and due Diligence in all the Ministries and Parastatal he has served, his track records are there for all to see and those in doubt are free to go on verification exercise. It is in recognition of his exemplary, selfless service to the people of Enugu State that the good people of Umuawalagu Autonomous Community Nara (Nkanu East Local Govt. Area) conferred on him the “Ezechichilu I of Umuawalagu” (The King that God Himself has crowned) Chieftaincy title; the Ebe Community in Udi Local Govt. Area also conferred on him the “Akajiugo I of Ebe” (The hand holding the Eagle – Eagle is the king of all birds, it sours beyond all limits) Chieftaincy title. He has also been so honoured by various groups and associations within and outside Enugu State due to his exemplary service to humanity.
As a devoted Christian, he was ordained a Deacon by the Assemblies of God Church, Nigeria due to his service to the Christian community.
At a time like this when our nation Nigeria is experiencing dwindling financial inflow with the scorching effect of high dollar to naira rate, the people of Enugu needs a man with proven track record of Resource Management, someone who understands the needs of Ndi Enugu, Someone who understands the nitty-gritty of governance and how to effectively and efficiently reposition the ministries and departments, someone who will continue to ensure that workers salary are paid as at when due. We need a God-fearing and peaceful man that will sustain the peace that has been enshrined in Enugu State by the current administration. We need a man that even though been Honest and Transparent makes him vulnerable, he has chosen the path of Honesty and Transparency in all his years of service to the State; he believes strongly in Trent Shelton’s word “Your transparency will lead to other peoples transformation”.
Dr. G.O.C Ajah is seeking for an opportunity to transform and move Enugu State forward through Good Stewardship, Transparency, Honesty and Efficient Resource Management.
Let’ Support Dr. G.O.C Ajah, mni, to make Enugu State Great!
