AWKA, Nigeria — The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, presided over the official swearing-in ceremony for the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Chiamaka Nnake, and 13 other senior officials on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. The event took place at the Executive Council Chamber of the Government House, locally referred to as the Light House, in the capital city of Awka, located in the southeastern region of Nigeria.
The inauguration follows the governor’s recent commencement of his second term in office. During the proceedings, Governor Soludo urged the newly appointed leaders to prioritize excellence in their service to the residents of the state. The Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and her colleagues formally took their oaths at approximately 12:47 pm West African Time (GMT+1).
Prior to the main ceremony, the Head of Service, Mrs. Ngozi Iwouno, who previously served as the Solicitor-General, administered the oath to the new Attorney-General of the State, Tobechukwu Nweke. Subsequently, Mr. Nweke, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), oversaw the oath of allegiance for the remaining members of the executive team.
Okay News reports that the governor described the appointees as members of “Team Solution 2.0,” noting that each individual underwent a rigorous vetting process. He emphasized that these appointments represent the first phase of his new administration’s cabinet formation.
Addressing the appointees, Governor Soludo stated, “I welcome you all to the ‘Team Solution 2.0’. Each of you has been carefully vetted through a thorough process, and we were very intentional in selecting everyone on this team. The plane is on autopilot, and if you don’t get into the plane, you get into the cockpit.”
The governor also addressed the weight of public office, explaining that out of a population of approximately nine million people in Anambra State, the appointees have been uniquely selected for a “call to serve.” He warned that the roles would require significant personal sacrifice and should not be viewed as a means for personal enrichment.
“When people are call to serve, they see it as a means to “chop”, but here, I didn’t see any table, for me, I don’t actually see the benefit, yet you are called upon to serve,” Soludo remarked. He further encouraged the families of the officials to manage their expectations and avoid placing undue personal demands on the new appointees.
The newly sworn-in cabinet includes Dr. Ben Nwankwo as Chief of Staff, Joachim Anetoh as Principal Secretary, and Uzochukwu Okafor as Commissioner for Finance. Other key roles filled include Special Advisers for medicals, innovation, and community security.
