By Solomon OKPO
A senior secondary school teacher in Akwa Ibom State has risen beyond long-standing institutional barriers rooted in ethnic prejudice, marking a significant personal and symbolic victory against discrimination in the public service.
The promotion, recently approved by the Akwa Ibom State Government, capped decades of resilience for Mrs. Adiaha Ekpuk Uzoma, an indigene of Ikot Ekpene extraction, whose career progression was once deliberately stalled because she married an Igbo man.
Her husband, who shared the account in a statement of gratitude, recalled that the discrimination began in 1995 when Mrs. Uzoma appeared before an interview panel for employment as an Information Officer in the Akwa Ibom State Civil Service. Despite being qualified and an Akwa Ibom indigene by birth, she was reportedly denied the position after being questioned on why she married an Igbo man and still sought employment in the state.
Five years later, she was eventually employed as a teacher. However, she was advised by officials to retain her maiden name, Okono, if she hoped to progress beyond a certain level in service. She rejected the advice and chose to retain her married name, Uzoma, a decision that effectively stalled her advancement for years.
Against those odds, the latest promotion has seen her rise beyond the limits previously imposed on her, a development her family describes as divine vindication and institutional justice.
“We give all the glory to God. What was once said to be impossible has happened,” her husband said, quoting Psalm 75:6–7 to underscore his belief that promotion ultimately comes from God, not men.
He expressed appreciation to Pastor Umo Eno, the Commissioner for Education, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, and members of the Akwa Ibom State Secondary Education Board for what he described as a fair and courageous decision.
The family also reflected on their long years of service in the state since 1989, describing the promotion as proof that dedication and integrity can eventually overcome entrenched bias.
Observers say the development sends a strong signal that ethnic discrimination has no place in the Akwa Ibom public service and reinforces the need for merit-based advancement across all sectors.
With renewed motivation, the family says the promotion has strengthened their resolve to continue serving God and humanity wherever duty calls, describing the moment simply as one of deep gratitude.
The Evangelist News
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