As a public servant she distinguished herself and delivered her assignments prudently, an effort which reverberated the words of Margaret Thatcher of blessed memory, former British Prime Minister who said, "if you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman". As Honorable Commissioner for Women Affairs, it is no more news that Hon. Thomas rejuvenated the strategies for mobilization and involvement of women in the governance process through the Uyai Iban Akwa Ibom platform, and till date, no where in the country has women been given such a pride of place in the corridors of government has it has been done in Akwa Ibom State. Again, most government key positions are occupied by women, an effort analysts have argued is far more than the agitated 35% affirmative action, but then, it is little known that, no matter how plausible the policy has been, it may not had seen the light of the day but not for the conviction and commitment of this amazon who just clocked 41 on Sunday, April 5, 2015. Little wonder Akwa Ibom women have continued to celebrate her overwhelming achievements while at the helm of affairs in the Women Affairs Ministry. Today in this State the number of women occupying public offices is simply overwhelming and thought provoking. A random sample can point to Her Honor, the Deputy Governor, the State Chief Judge, Head of Service, State Solicitor General, ample members of the State House of Assembly, many Vice Chairperson of Local Government Areas, and of course the Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service along with the legal Secretary of the FCT Administration just to mention a few. Now let me place this on record that the initiative to integrate women into the core of government decision making/policy formulation positions was ideated, conceived, midwifed, nurtured and caused for implementation by this wonderful woman of excellence, Eunice Thomas. Corroborating this point, Vivian Ekong of Gender Action Network, an Abuja based NGO said, " Madam Eunice is the brain behind the upsurge in women political participation in Akwa Ibom State. There is no doubt she knew what she wanted right from day one, and I think as women we owe her a serious debt of gratitude".
As Honorable Commissioner for Education, the dexterity and ease with which she delivered the mandates of that all important Ministry though going into history as the first non academic to run the Ministry still baffles both the political class and education stakeholders till date. Aside from giving more life to the globally acknowledged free, compulsory and qualitative education policy of the State Government, she stepped up monitoring and inspection of schools, intervened to get quality teachers to the classrooms and most importantly, resolved the perennial issues of conflict amongst student leaders in the State, an effort that proved rather difficult before her 'missionary' journey to the Education Ministry. Despite the shortness of her stay in the Education Ministry, student leaders including yours truly who was privileged to serve as State Chairman of NANS Joint Campus Committee have been Unanimous in their assertion that Madam Eunice is the Commissioner for Education in the State since creation. Echoing the position of the student leadership, Ututofon Udom, emeritus President of Annang Students Union Worldwide/ Akuku Nto Ufok Nwed Annang VI in an interview granted Scholaris Education Magazine in December of 2014 had this to say, "Mummy Eunice is a rare breed and was specially gifted to Akwa Ibom as a model of superb service and hope for the younger generation. No public official in the State has affected and developed young people as she done, we are proud and hold her in the highest esteem".
Outside public service, she has inaugurated the Success Squad Organisation as a mentoring platform to raise a new breed of leaders in business, the professions, banking and finance, agriculture, fashion and design, event/entertainment, and a host of other emerging sectors. Success Squad Organisation seeks to reorient the thinking of young people away from evil machination and escalation of violent crimes to that of talent development, industry and volunteerism for community development, Eunice Thomas said while addressing a general meeting of the Organisation penultimate month. Yet, though surprisingly, many young people have already realized their destinies via this platform. Youths who hitherto had no future in mind has today, courtesy of the Success Squad Organisation become masters of their different vocations, and quite frankly, masters in the real sense of the word.
Still from the private sector, Madam Eunice Thomas as Director of Queenus Nigeria Limited was recently elected as the Chairperson, Board of Trustees of Corporate Akwa Ibom Community membered by distinguished business men, entrepreneurs and industrialists who have sustained employees and investments in the State, true to her proactive type, she didn't waste time to convene the flagbearers of various political parties to interface with the private sector over dinner, a move well applauded by by critical economic stakeholders as the new frontier to boost the much anticipated Public Private Partnerships required as the emerging model for funding of interventionist measures. Today, the Corporate Akwa Ibom Community is the fastest growing assemblage of business men and entrepreneurs any where in the world.
Thus, as this amazing woman of excellence, quality service delivery and passion for development commemorates the 41st Anniversary of her birth, we join millions of her friends, loved ones, associates, relatives and well wishers across the world to fervently pray that the joy of her birthday envelop the whole of humanity, and fasten the processes of both international/national reconciliation, build global peace, brotherhood and solidarity and above all, lay a platform for sustainable development of our societies, the very virtues Mrs. Thomas stands for even at 41. Happy birthday woman of virtue and amazon of excellence...
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