A former Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service, Chief Grace Enang Inok Archibong, will be buried on February 28, 2025
A graduate of the University of Ibadan (UI), the late Chief Archibong had a remarkable career and achievements
She died on January 31.
She retired on July 19, 2006.
A statement by the family, signed by her sister Hajiya Ayando Bakari and brother Pastor Frank Inok, said there will be a night of tribute/service of songs on Thursday, February 20, 2025.
It will be held at AIB Events Centre, City Park, 138 Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja from 6.30 to 7.30pm.
On February 25, 2025, there will be an opening of the mourning house at her residence, off Parliamentary Village Road, Calabar, the Cross River State capital, from 7 am to 8 am.
She served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian High Commission, London.
She was Chairman of the Calabar Municipal Council (the first woman in the Southsouth/Southeast to achieve the feat), and served as Permanent Secretary in the Cross River State Ministry of Works and Transport, before returning to the federal civil service.
She traversed the federal ministries of Finance, Commerce and Tourism, Information and Police Affairs, and served as Permanent Secretary to the then Public Service Office, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation
On June 17, 1972, she began her career as a civil servant when she was appointed as an External Affairs Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, serving at the Nigerian High Commission, London and in the European Affairs Department, among others.
She rose to the position of counsellor in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before she was transferred to the Cross River State Civil Service in 1979 following her marriage
Night of tributes/service of songs will be held on February 27 at Calabar International Conference Centre from 6pm to 7pm.
Funeral and Thanksgiving service will follow on February 28, 2025, at Duke Town Presbyterian Church at 11 am.
The late Mrs Archibong was born on July 19, 1946 in Lagos.
She obtained her Higher School Certificate from Queens College, Yaba, Lagos, after which she proceeded to UI in 1968, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in French in 1972
She served with distinction as Chairman of the Calabar Municipal Council from September 1986 before being appointed in September 1987 as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works and Transport, a role she also held with dedication until June 1988.
As of 1986, she was the first woman to serve as Chairman of any Local Government Council in the whole of Southsouth/Eastern Nigeria.
In line with the nationwide re-organisation of the Civil Service in Nigeria in 1988, Chief Archibong was later made a Director-General in the State Civil Service.
In this capacity, she served in the General Services and Administration Office under the Office of the State Governor from March 1990 to December 1991 and in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports from January 1992 to August 1995.
By a remarkable turn of destiny, Chief Archibong made a triumphant return to the Federal Civil Service in August 1995, bringing her wealth of experience back to the institution where she had begun her career as a young Foreign Affairs Officer.
She subsequently served as Director of Finance and Supplies in the Federal Ministry of Finance from August 1995 to February 1999; and as Director, Planning, Research and Statistics of the same Ministry from February 1999 to May 1999
In recognition of her exceptional dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment to excellence, this distinguished Nigerian was appointed to the prestigious position of Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service of Nigeria in May 1999.
At the time, she was among the few trailblazing women in the country to attain such a highly esteemed rank.
As a Federal Permanent Secretary, Mrs Archibong traversed several critical Ministries and Offices: Federal Ministry of Commerce and Tourism – May 1999 to June 1999; Federal Ministry of Information – June 1999 to February 2000; Ministry of Police Affairs, February 2000 – 2005; and Permanent Secretary to the then Public Service Office, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, which was acknowledged as the very heartbeat of the Federal Civil Service.
She retired meritoriously on July 19, 2006, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60.
Her exceptional service and dedication to the nation were fittingly recognised during Nigeria’s 41st Independence Anniversary when the Federal Government bestowed upon her the prestigious National Award of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
In the Cross River State Civil Service, Mrs. Archibong served in various sensitive capacities in ministries and departments.
She was a Principal Assistant Secretary to the Secretary to the State Government and the Head of Service in the Governor’s Office between 1979 and 1987.
She was Under Secretary (Projects), State Schools Management Board, 1982 to 1983; Principal Secretary, Lands Department, Governor’s Office (Heading Administration and Finance Department), 1983 to 1985; Principal Secretary to the Secretary, Cross River State Tenders’ Board Secretariat, Ministry of Works and Transport, 1985 to 1986 and Secretary for Administration and Finance in 1986
She was married to Chief (Dr.) Eyo Archibong, an Orthopedic Surgeon and Medical Practitioner of blessed memory and the union was blessed with children.
On that same historic day, October 1, 2001, she was also inducted into the Cross River State Honour Roll, an esteemed recognition approved by the Executive Governor of Cross River State.
Her reputation for outstanding contributions continued to garner widespread acclaim, as Rotary International joining a distinguished list of reputable individuals, communities, organisations, and institutions honoured her with the Paul Harris Fellowship on March 8, 2003, the highest distinction awarded by the Rotary Club to exemplary achievers.
Demonstrating her unwavering commitment to societal advancement, Chief Archibong established The Grace and Gold primary and secondary schools, reflecting her dedication to providing high-quality education akin to what she had the privilege of receiving.
Her benevolence was widely recognised, as she generously awarded numerous scholarships to both deserving students and those from underprivileged backgrounds.
She was honoured with many traditional titles
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