The Delta State Ministry of Information on Tuesday held a formal transition ceremony marking the exit of its outgoing Functioning Permanent Secretary, Mr. Harold Ojji, and the assumption of office by the incoming Functioning Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Stella Macaulay.

At the event, the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Communication, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, reflected on his longstanding professional association with Mr. Ojji, which he said began at Government House.

He noted that Mr. Ojji’s background in the private sector and deep understanding of public service operations were instrumental in easing his own transition into government work, describing the outgoing Permanent Secretary as supportive, dependable and results-oriented.

Mr. Aniagwu praised Mr. Ojji for his commitment, work ethic and emphasis on capacity development, stressing that his steady growth in competence and effectiveness stood him out as an exemplary public servant.

He advised staff of the ministry to remain diligent, shun unnecessary delays in file processing and understand that dedication and competence ultimately define career progression.

The Commissioner also addressed concerns surrounding staff redeployments within the ministry, explaining that the ongoing realignments were not punitive but strategic, aimed at optimising performance and ensuring that both the ministry and its personnel derive maximum benefit.

He urged Mrs. Macaulay to build on existing achievements, raise performance standards and brace up for the demands of her new office.

In his remarks, Mr. Ojji commended the Commissioner for what he described as an unprecedented welfarist approach to staff welfare and his effective coordination of over 80 corps members, whose contributions, he said, had been impactful.

He, however, drew attention to key operational challenges confronting the ministry, including the absence of official operational and utility vehicles, inadequate equipment for staff, and the urgent need to modernise facilities in parastatals under the ministry such as Pointer Newspaper and the Delta Broadcasting Service in Asaba and Warri.

Responding, Mrs. Macaulay described the occasion as emotional, noting that she would miss working closely with Mr. Ojji, whom she praised as a highly experienced and competent administrator from whom she had learned extensively.

She also lauded the Commissioner, describing him as visionary and transformative in his leadership style.

Mrs. Macaulay pledged to prioritise the training and retraining of staff as a means of boosting efficiency and service delivery.

Goodwill messages were delivered by the Director of New Media, Mr. Salvation Ogono, and the Deputy Director and Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, Comrade Churchill Oyowe. Both speakers commended Mr. Ojji for his service and expressed confidence in Mrs. Macaulay’s capacity to sustain and advance the ministry’s mandate.

The ceremony climaxed with the formal signing of handover documents by Mr. Ojji and Mrs. Macaulay, officially sealing the leadership transition at the ministry.