The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has extol the exemplary qualities of late Okon Bassey, a Deputy Director, Public Relations and Protocol in his ministry.
Mohammed spoke during the funeral of Bassey at his country home, Ifa Ikot Okpon, in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom on Saturday.
The minister, who was represented by Mrs Victoria Agba-Attah, Deputy Director, Public Relations and Protocol, said that Bassey’s humility and hard work endeared him to his colleagues.
According to him, Bassey who worked in about 12 ministries was a dutiful and intelligent officer, who had an impressive outing in his chosen career in the Federal Civil Service.
“In fact, he was very humble. This you can see why he was able to serve so many ministers during his career in the Federal Civil Service.
“His death is a very painful loss not only to his immediate family but the ministry as well,” he said.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Mrs Edima Okon Bassey, wife to the deceased said that her husband was faithful and caring.
She described her late husband as being a ”very humble and upright man, whose legacy would be remembered by his family and those who came in contact with him.
“My husband was a very humble man, caring father to his two beautiful angels (daughters). He lived his lives for others and for us, his immediate family.
“It has pleased God to call him to glory. We will live with his legacy, his love. We that he has left behind will continue with his legacy,” she said.
Also speaking to NAN, Mr Tommy Okon, President of Akwa Ibom Community in Abuja, described late Bassey as a man of many parts.
Okon said that the deceased “abandoned himself to serve other people’s need during his life time.’’
In his sermon, Pastor Victor Greatman, charged the living to live a life worthy of emulation while on earth.
Greatman of Living Faith Church, said that Bassey impacted positively on many people in his community.