Mrs Nkechi Owe, the outgoing Controller of Immigration, Abia Command, has urged staff of the organisation to attend courses and improve themselves if they wanted to grow in service.
Owe gave the counsel on Wednesday during her retirement ceremony and dedication of the Nigeria Immigration Christian Fellowship (NICF) Chapel in Umuahia, of which she instituted.
She said that self-improvement, through attending courses and getting relevant exposure, was key to moving up on the ladder rungs of career growth.
She further urged the staff to fear God, fellowship with Him and commit themselves to Him because He is the source of every man’s strength and future.
Owe explained how God visited her and gave her the ministry of overseeing the building of God’s house in some places she had served like Akure, Ondo; Lagos and Abia.
She praised God for sending her way, Dr Emmanuel Ukaoha, Rector of Kingdom Bible College, Ozuabam, who built the new Chapel for the Immigration Christian Fellowship in Umuahia.
Ukaoha, who was later presented with a life size photograph as a reminder of his faithfulness to God in giving NICF a chapel, thanked God for using him to accomplish the task.
He said that he could not have done anything without God who had also spoken to him about the project, to bring him into agreement with Owe’s vision for the chapel.
He prayed and dedicated the chapel to God for the use of Immigration officers posted to Umuahia.
In his sermon during the dedication of the chapel, Pastor Emmanuel Enyinna, who spoke on the topic : “Building a Memorial: An Expression of Thanksgiving to Come”, said a memorial was a legacy lasting a life time.
According to him, it takes a life dedicated to service for a man to build a memorial which can be for good or for evil.
He said that memorials like the NICF Chapel, could be built through monetary giving to God, praising God or/and praying to God.
Enyinna said that every man deserved to build a memorial which could only be done by dedicating one’s life to Jesus Christ as one’s Lord and Saviour.
In her goodwill message, Lady Gloria Abiakam, Chairman, Association of Heads of Federal Establishments (AHFE), described Owe as a woman of exceptional grace, courage, compassion and uncommon leadership.
She said Owe had served with distinction, led with wisdom, and touched lives with the milk of human kindness.
“Your office may remember the Comptroller, but those who encountered you will remember the mother, mentor, disciplinarian and woman of noble heart behind the uniform.
“As you bow out of service, may God who strengthened you throughout your distinguished career crown your years ahead with good health, peace, fulfilment and abundant blessings,” she prayed.