By Terdue Atondu, Makurdi
The Institute of Political Administration and Management (IPAM) has conferred its prestigious Fellowship awards on 12 public servants in Benue State, charging them to uphold professionalism, integrity and accountability in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The conferment ceremony, held on Saturday, October 3, 2026, in Makurdi, attracted academics, public administrators and members of the Institute’s Governing Council.
Among those honoured were the Director of Administration performing the duties of Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Administration, Office of the Head of Service, Mr James Ode Adikpe; former Director-General of Radio Benue, Dr Charles Iornumbe; and former Acting Director of The Voice Newspaper, Mr Orinya Abraham Ogenyi.
Others are Rhoda Terfa Abo, Terfa Ashon, Pauline Agere Kpindi, Abah Mary Ladi, Adaba Judith Doo, Ezekiel Oche Timothy, Adome Ehi and Ode Susan Seember.
Presenting the awards, IPAM Director-General, Dr Ochoho Paul Ameh, described the Institute as one of Nigeria’s major professional bodies established to promote professionalism in politics, administration and management.
Ameh said IPAM was certified in accordance with the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990, by the Federal Ministries of Education and Justice and empowered to regulate the teaching and practice of political administration and management.
He added that, beyond its professional membership programmes, the Institute is affiliated with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), where it runs undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes in the Faculties of Management and Social Sciences.
According to him, the conferment of professional membership and fellowship is part of the Institute’s efforts to professionalise executive officers in the public and private sectors who have demonstrated competence, experience and adherence to ethical standards.
Ameh said the 12 awardees met the requirements for the Fellowship grade, describing them as professionals with cognate experience, sound character, discipline and commitment to duty.
In his keynote address, Chairman of IPAM’s North-Central Zone and Director of Training and Membership, Prof. Nicodemus Ochani Agbulu, said the establishment of the Institute was aimed at restoring honour, dignity and accountability to politics and governance in Nigeria.
Agbulu argued that although politicians occupy a central position in the development process of democratic societies, they lack the professional structures and regulatory protection enjoyed by professionals such as accountants, lawyers and bankers.
He said the gap informed the establishment of IPAM as a platform for promoting professionalism and ethical standards in politics and governance.
The professor identified competence, discipline, honesty, respect and accountability as key attributes of true professionalism, urging the new Fellows to lead with vision, integrity and a strong sense of responsibility.
Responding on behalf of the awardees, Mrs Pauline Kpindi thanked IPAM for recognising their contributions and finding them worthy of the Fellowship.
She pledged that the awardees would abide by the Institute’s code of conduct and use their professional positions and experience to make meaningful contributions to society.
