BY ADAMS ABONU
While public service is often perceived as an opportunity to serve the purpose of government as it relates to providing essential services to those being governed, there are those within the space that find it a viable avenue to leave enduring examples.
A brief reflection on the history of public service in Nigeria is replete with individuals who brought on board raw character and distinguished themselves in the line of public duty.
The names of Chief Jerome Udoji, a renowned public servant of the ‘’Udoji Award’’ fame; Simeon Adebo; Alilu Akilu; Joseph Imoukkhuede and other sterling examples heralded a golden era for public service in Nigeria.
In recent times, some reputable public servants emerged within the public service space, who showed adequate commitment to institutional reforms viz-a-viz efficient service delivery. The likes of Ambassador Abu Obe, erstwhile Head of Service of the federation; Professor Tunji Olaopa, a retired permanent secretary and sound intellectual who left indelible footprints in calling national attention to reforms in the public sector; Dr. Sam Abah of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), all did their honest best in showing ideals to be emulated.
Enter Architect Sonny Echono. Suffice to say that the trajectory of the renowned public administrator is a testament to the convergence of personal character, administrative acumen and historical dynamics that makes Echono a doyen of public service in Nigeria.
Born on December 16, 1962, in Otukpo, present-day Benue State, Echono -was admitted into the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria to study Architecture and graduated in 1985.
Echono joined the Benue State Housing Agency upon completion of his National Youth Service in 1986 briefly before joining the federal civil service in 1987 where a sterling career spanning close to 35 years began in earnest. Within this period, Echono served in various capacities in the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing including as Secretary, Implementation Committee on National Housing Policy-1991 to 1995; Secretary, Special projects Task Force-1992-1995; Secretary, Committee on lands and Housing-1993-1995; Special Assistant to Permanent Secretary-1994-1999; head, Council Affairs and Parastatal -2003/04; Secretary, Ministerial Tenders Board-2004 to 2005.
When the idea of procurement reforms was revitalized within the public sector at the twilight of President Jonathan’s administration, Echono’s experience came handily as he was among the first civil servants assigned to the Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence Unit, popularly known as Due Process Office in February 2015.
Not one to rest on his oars in his quest for personal development, Echono went on to acquire a Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) from the University of Calabar in 2002; Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Benue State University in 2004; Master of Science, Procurement Management from University of Turin in Italy in 2011.
His sound knowledge of the procurement process earned him top spots as Director of Procurement in several federal ministries including Defence, Water Resources, Environment, Agriculture and Power.
His elevation to the position of permanent secretary in the federal civil service in October 2014 was in recognition of his shining performances in his earlier postings. Echono went on to serve in the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development (2014-2015); Communications (2015-2017) and Education (2017-2022). In these capacities, he distinguished himself in service to the fatherland.
Architect Echono also contributed to the development of Architecture in Nigeria. Beginning as secretary of the Admissions Committee in 1991, he rose through the professional ranks to be elected as president of the Nigerian Institute of Architects in November 2019, a position he judiciously manages till date.
This thoroughbred public servant attended several management courses at top-notch institutions across the globe including the Oxford and Cambridge universities in the UK; the Japan Institute of Development Studies and the reputable Harvard Business School in America.
Upon his retirement from civil service in January 2022, President Buhari, who obviously appreciates the Echono brand of distinction and integrity, picked him to be the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND). For a man who administered the behemoth called Federal Ministry of Education with various agencies and parastatals including TETFUND, he understandably is adept with the requirement of his new assignment.
At a time when tertiary education requires requisite professionalism to complement Nigeria’s development aspirations, the new helmsman of TETFUND is coming on board with a robust wealth of experience and sound professional know-how is really assuaging.
He hit the ground running upon his assumption of office by declaring that his dispensation would focus on curriculum delivery systems in schools, adding that this would make graduates from tertiary institutions more relevant not just in employability but in job creation. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) would also be accorded a right of place to improve curriculum development with a focus on human infrastructure at TETFUND in this new dispensation.
“We have done so well in physical infrastructure and we will continue to do so but we also must focus on those we entrusted with the evaluation of our students.
“We must focus on the type of curriculum that is being taught and the delivery system,’’ the new TETFUND boss had declared upon taking duties from his predecessor.
As a funding agency, the role of TETFUND in the quality of tertiary education in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized. How the intervention funds would be judiciously utilized to achieve desired objectives at the face of dwindling revenues would be another testimony to the strength of character and unblemished antecedents of the new executive secretary. There is no doubt that Architect Echono would justify the confidence reposed in him by President Buhari and the good people of Nigeria.
Abonu, a public affairs consultant wrote from Asokoro, Abuja via adamsabonu@gmail.com
CAVEAT: Views and opinions expressed here are those of the writers and are not in any way those of The Point Newspaper – Editor
