By CrossRiverWatch admin
Just as Cross River State prepares to bury the remains of a former deputy governor of the State, Dr. Mathias Offoboche, CrossRiverWatch has also gathered reliably that another former Deputy Governor of the State, Dr. Walter Eneji is dead.
A family source who spoke to CrossRiverWatch said Dr. Walter has been ill for sometime and was taken to a hospital in London. He was said to have recuperated from his illness and was resting in his London home.
The source said Dr. Walter who was Deputy Governor to Donald Duke, died peacefully in his sleep in his London home on Wednesday night.
It is not immediately clear when and how his remains will be brought back home as no official statement has been released by his family.
Dr. Walter Patrick Eneji was born to Mr. Michael O. B. Eneji and Mrs. Florence Ahoji Eneji both of Abuochiche in Bekwarra Local Government Area of Cross River State, on the 14th of September, 1947.
He had his Primary Education from 1952 to 1959. He obtained the West African School certificate (Division two) in 1964 at Mary Knoll Secondary School, Okuku – Ogoja; Higher School Certificate in 1966 and B. A. (Hons) English Literature at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria in 1971 and later a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Administration at the University of Ife, Nigeria in 1978.
Dr. Eneji commenced his service as a Tutor under the Roman Catholic Mission, Ogoja in the year 1967. He transferred his service to the State Civil Service as an Administrative Officer in 1971; and was deployed partly also to lecture at the Civil Service Training Centre, Calabar.
In 1973 he was posted to the Public Service Commission as Assistant Secretary. He rose in that career serving in various administrative cadres in State School Board, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Works & Transport, Governor’s Office as Chief of Protocol; Secretary, Executive Council; Cross River State Housing Corporation as General Manager and as Director-General in Ministry of Finance from 15/1/92 to 22/9/92.
Dr. Eneji has, at various times, held the following political appointments in recognition of his sterling career contributions to the growth and development of Cross River State:
i. Commissioner and Member of the State Executive Council from 23rd September 1993 to 19th November 1993;
ii. First Commissioner in the Cross River State Civil Service Commission, from May 1997 t0 29th May, 1999;
iii. Secretary to the Cross River State Government on 29th May, 1999 – a position he held until February 18th, 2003;
iv. Deputy Governor of Cross River State on 19th February, 2003 under the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic party (PDP).
Directorship Positions Held
i. Director – Cooperative Development Bank Limited
ii. Director – Equity and Investment Company Limited
iii. Director – Bildahaus Mortgage Finance Limited
iv. Director – C. R. S. Property & Investments Limited
v. Director – Rescue Insurance Company Limited
vi. Director – Manilla Insurance Company Limited
vii. Director – First Aluminum Products
Professional / Honorary Awards
He has attended many management courses and holds the following positions:
i. Member – Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM)
ii. Member – The American Management Association/International (AMA International)
iii. Member – The Institute of Executive Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ESA)
iv. Member – The Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (IPM);
v. Fellow – Institute of Corporate Executives of Nigeria (FICEN)
vi. Fellow – International Institute of Administrative Management (FIIAM)
vii. Fellow – Institute of International Administration and Management
viii. Fellow – American Biographical Institute
ix. Fellow – Cambridge Biographical Institute
x. 21st Century Medal Award for Excellence – Cambridge Biographical Institute
xi. Honoured by the Carolina Christian university, Thomasville, USA with a PhD in Business Management and Doctor of Divinity (DD) Theology on the 9th of September, 2000.
xii. Second Place Winner of the John F. Kennedy Essay Memorial Contest (Schools Level) in 1966.
Elder (Dr.) Eneji has been conferred with the distinguished status of the Individual Professional Manager by the American Management Association (International).
He was deeply spiritual. A born-again Christian, spirit-filled and tongue-spoken. He was a teacher of the Word and Marriage Counsellor.
Until lately, he was also a prayer-warrior and runs an interdenominational pre-work service each Wednesday in his office.
His hobbies included listening to Christian music, debates, reading of religious books, public opinion monitoring and evangelical discourses.