The matching order which the immediate past Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, gave to the Governing Board of Projects Development Institute (PRODA), Enugu, in January to appoint a substantive Director General/Chief Executive Officer for the agency came to fruition four months after with the inauguration of the CEO during the weekend.

The search came to an end with the inauguration of Engr. (Dr.) Peter Okwudilichukwu Ogbobe, erstwhile Director, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Abuja, whose appointment was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari two weeks earlier.

The formal exchange of baton between the immediate past Overseeing Director General of PRODA, Dr. (Mrs.) Arit Beka Etukudoh, and the newly appointed Chief Executive, Dr. Ogbobe, took place in in the Board Room of the agency as part of the inauguration of the incoming CEO by the Chairman of the Governing Board, Chief Emma Eneukwu.

Introducing the new Chief Executive to the Management team of PRODA, Chief Eneukwu, who is the National Deputy Chairman (South) of All Progressives Congress (APC), said the Board followed due process to the letter in its search for the substantive DG.

He told the members of Management that, according to the Conditions of Service for Federal Research and Development Agencies, Institutes and Colleges (COS 2019), the Board restricted its search to Research and Development Institutes sector.

Chief Eneukwu said in line with COS 2019, three candidates that emerged tops after the qualifying tests were recommended to the President in order of merit.

“From these,” he said, “Mr. President approved the appointment of Dr. Peter Okwudilichukwu Ogbobe and we (the Governing Board) have no reason under the sun to disagree.”

He said Ogbobe was bringing to the table a track record of achievement as a researcher, a mentor and a good manager of men, money and materials.

He therefore told the new Chief Executive to roll up his sleeves, that there was so much work to do at PRODA. He counselled him not to operate as a lone ranger but to inspire his team and carry everyone along.

Chief Eneukwu commended the former ODG, Dr. (Mrs.) Etukudoh, who took over the mantle of leadership late last January for restoring peace to PRODA within four months.

“We must give it to Madam ODG that all the altercations that gave PRODA negative media spotlight were buried under her watch,” he said.

He also thanked his colleagues on the Board and the Management team, asking them to join hands with the new helmsman in the task of restoring PRODA to its original status of a Research Institute.

Handing over in a sportsmanlike manner, the former ODG said she was so happy and delighted to do so, thanking the Board Chairman, other Board members, as well as the various Heads of Department for cooperating with her during the four-month period.

Urging everyone to give her successor maximum cooperation, she told Dr. Ogbobe to count on her support, cooperation and loyalty, even as the whole house applauded her.

The Chairman of the Projects Development Committee of the PRODA Governing Board, Hon. Victor Ebong, said although the outgoing ODG and members of the Board disagreed a couple of times, the disagreement never lasted beyond such moments, adding that it was always in the interest of PRODA.

While commending Mrs. Etukudoh for her grip that ensured peace at PRODA, he advised her successor to see the Board as partner in progress.

Board Chairman Chief Emma Eneukwu (left) hands over a written brief to new DG, Dr. Peter OgbobeAlso speaking at the ceremony, the Chairman of the Establishment Committee of the Governing Board, Comrade Toye Fawole, noted that for over three months, the staff of NBTI, Dr. Ogbobe’s former place of work, had embarked on prayers across religious lines for the Federal Government to appoint him as substantive DG for NBTI.

He said that staff of NBTI’s Technology Incubation Centre (TIC), Enugu, which Ogbobe headed before in the course of pursuing his career, laid siege at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, with drums and trumpets to usher him into the city on Friday, adding that no fewer than 40 of them were on ground in the premises of PRODA in solidarity while the inauguration was in progress.

According to Fawole, Dr. Ogbobe is a good brand and teams man who could be relied on to turn things around at PRODA.

With so much enthusiasm, workers, led by the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI) PRODA Branch, Comrade (Engr.) Onyedikachi Ihedioha, and his Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Allied Institutions (NASU) counterpart, Comrade Amos Okeke, were also on ground as their new Chief Executive was being inaugurated.

Comrade Ihedioha told R&D Watch that from his antecedents, there is no doubt that Dr. Ogbobe would deliver on the mandates of PRODA.

The China-trained engineer and compulsive mentor inherits a management team that boasts of four former Overseeing Directors General: Dr. Edwin Oriaku, Mr. Nathan Abia-Bassey, Dr. Fabian Okonkwo and Dr. (Mrs.) Arit Beka Etukudoh.