By Ifeanyichukwu Ibe
The Imo State Head of Service, Barrister Raymond Ucheoma, has emphasized the importance of integrity and compliance to standards in the discharge of ones professional duties, adding that these are necessary conditions for the society to attain its developmental objectives for the good of all the citizens. This was as he described Governor Hope Uzodimma as a champion of merit and quality service delivery.
Barrister Ucheoma, who is also a town planner, was addressing participants during the 2nd Annual General Meeting of the Eastern Surveyors Forum (ESF)/Surv. S. G. Wokemba Memorial Lecture; an event that took place at the NIS Imo State Secretariat off Port-Harcourt Road, Owerri, recently. The gathering which attracted the Imo State Deputy Governor, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru who declared the event open, also had in attendance the President, Nigeria Institution of Surveyors, NIS, Surv. Dr. Matthew Ibitoye among others.
The HoS, appreciated Surveyors for contributing towards national development and for rising to contribute towards the fight against insecurity in the South-East through practices and technologies of the surveying profession. He added that it pays to maintain integrity and discipline while providing leadership, and for those who are being trained to follow the right paths laid by their leaders for the good of the society, expressing joy that South-East Surveyors are following the legacies of Late Surveyors Wokemba; the 6th President of NIS.
“I congratulate you members of this noble and ancient profession. I congratulate you because you have risen to the challenge following the footsteps of a noble man, Late Wokemba. I am happy that you have attained great heights because you followed the path he laid and also listened to the gatekeepers. It is important in professionalism to acknowledge that standards must be set, standards must be identified and standards must be respected,” he said, adding that Imo State under Governor Hope Uzodimma, strives to ensure that decency, integrity and the highest standard of professionalism are observed.
On his role concerning the Owerri Master Plan, Barrister Ucheoma declared: “We can raise our hands high to say that the Owerri Master Plan you see today of which you can drive through New Owerri with sense of dignity and decorum; for the preserved right of ways, for the beatification, for the decency and for the control is because some of us stood our grounds, following the examples of Late Surv. S. G. Wokemba.
“I am also happy to say that as the Head of Service, we have a governor who champions merit and that is why you can look at the Owerri Master Plan to tell us that it must be preserved. It is this preservation that Surveyors have helped us to achieve. So, it is a good thing that we are alive and healthy in 2024 to appreciate our efforts.”
Making reference to the theme of the event: “The Role of Surveying in Fighting Insecurity in South Eastern Region of Nigeria,” the HoS, lauded Surveyors for taking up the challenge, urging them to leverage their instruments and systems while collaborating with other stakeholders in fighting insecurity which he described as common enemy to a standstill.
He assured them of the state government’s support, adding that Governor Hope Uzodimma has done well to secure the state, hence the Imo people re-elected him overwhelmingly for him to accomplish his good work, he noted, emphasizing the need for security, peace and organisation for the society to make progress.
