As I clock 10 years in the Nigerian Foreign Service today, I am presented with a great point to reflect and return praise to God for continually making my geese swans (I recall using this expression in my undergraduate project which I completed in 2006 at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma). It has been an opportunity for growth and impact to be in this noble career in the eminent Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the foremost African country, Nigeria.
I recall I clinched this position upon concluding academic work for my Master’s Degree in History and Diplomatic Studies at the University of Port Harcourt, it was an opportunity that could not have come at a better time. I remember my professor’s elation knowing that 2 participants of the diplomacy study programme had scaled through the applications that saw over 100,000 successful applicants, who proceeded to aptitude tests and interviews and were eventually successful in securing the job.
Drawn from all parts of the country, I from Port Harcourt in Rivers state, my soon-to-be colleagues and I made our way to Abuja, for the final interview and a month later we found our names on national dailies, one hundred and nine (three each from the 36 states of the Federation and one from the Federal Capital Territory).
During our induction course, it was clear that this was a different ball game. Yes, we brought in a lot of experience from the private sector, non-government sectors, media and some of us also switched from other government agencies to the Foreign Service. But this was a novelty.
It was a struggle. We had to work for several-six or more- months before completing the processes to start receiving salaries. Let me not even mention Corrigendum before some colleagues chide me for that. Ask me bilaterally if interested.
During these ten years. It has been a privilege and a great pleasure, through the Foreign Ministry, to have served in the highest office of the land, the Presidency, to have served as Special Assistant to several principal officers in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the Permanent Secretary, the Under Secretary for Regions and International Organisation, the Under Secretary for Administration and Finance as well as the Director Africa Multilateral Affairs Department and the Director of Protocol to the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I have been a member of Nigeria’s delegation to the United Nations General Assembly at the 70th and 77th Sessions. I have been privileged as well to be Chargé d’Affaires at diplomatic Missions a couple of times, including currently ( I need to check, I may be the youngest CDA in the Foreign Ministry’s history), I have also been the Head of Chancery and currently I am the Head of the Consular Section at my current post. Furthermore, I have been privileged to serve at three diplomatic Missions of my country.
--Principal Assistant Registrar
1yCongratulations. More grace for accomplishments