YOSEMA job prepared me for SSG task — Goje

The newly appointed Secretary to the Yobe State Government, Dr Mohammed Goje, has disclosed that his years of service at the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency shaped him into a better civil servant and prepared him for the responsibilities of his new office.

Goje stated this during an exclusive interview with Arewa PUNCH, saying his experience at the agency exposed him to different challenges in public administration, humanitarian response and community engagement, which, according to him, strengthened his capacity to serve the people.

He said hard work had remained his guiding philosophy throughout his years in public service, stressing that every assignment must be approached with commitment, dedication and a strong sense of responsibility.

“Spending years in YOSEMA has moulded me to become a better servant. Under my watch, YOSEMA witnessed unprecedented success,” he said.

The SSG further admitted that his years at YOSEMA provided him with notable experience in managing emergencies and responding to the needs of communities affected by various crises, describing the period as an important phase of his career.

He added that the experience also exposed him to the importance of teamwork and collaboration among government agencies, traditional institutions, local authorities, development partners and members of the various communities.

According to Goje, whose appointment as SSG was recently confirmed by the Yobe State Government, the challenges encountered while managing the agency helped him develop the patience, resilience and administrative skills required to function effectively in government.

“YOSEMA gave me the opportunity to serve the people directly. We encountered different challenges, and each challenge came with its own lesson. Those experiences have shaped the way I look at public service today,” he said.

The SSG, however, clarified that the achievements recorded by the agency during his tenure were not the result of individual efforts but were made possible by the commitment of members of staff and the support of the state government and other stakeholders.

He pointed out that the agency was able to respond to emergencies and provide assistance to affected communities because of the collective efforts of its workforce and partners.

“Whatever success we recorded at YOSEMA was a collective effort. I had a team that worked tirelessly, and we had the support of the government and other stakeholders. I cannot take all the credit for what we achieved,” he said.

Goje said his experience at YOSEMA also gave him a better understanding of the expectations of citizens from government, particularly people facing difficult circumstances, explaining further that emergency management required government officials to respond quickly to the needs of affected communities.

“Such experiences taught me that public service must always be centred on the people,” he declared.

He continued, “When people are in distress, they do not want excuses. They want government to respond. That is one of the most important lessons I learnt at YOSEMA, and it is a lesson I will continue to carry with me,” he vowed.

Speaking on his transition from YOSEMA to the position of Secretary to the State Government, Goje described the new responsibility as a “Herculean” task, saying the office required him to coordinate a wide range of government activities and work with different ministries, departments and agencies.

He said although his previous experience had prepared him for leadership role, the new assignment came with greater responsibilities and expectations.

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“I find the transition very Herculean because this responsibility demands a lot from me. As SSG, you are dealing with virtually every aspect of government business. You have to coordinate, advise, facilitate and ensure that the machinery of government continues to function effectively,” he said.

Goje highlighted that his new position also requires him to deploy the experience he acquired over the years while remaining focused on the development agenda of the state.

Meanwhile, he said he regarded the appointment as a call to greater service rather than merely a career advancement, adding that the confidence reposed in him by the state government had placed a greater responsibility on him to deliver.

“This appointment is not about me. It is about service. It is about the people of Yobe State and the confidence that has been reposed in me by the government,” he said.

The newly confirmed SSG assured that he would bring the same commitment and dedication that characterised his years at YOSEMA to his new assignment, stressing that effective governance required all public officials to work together in the interest of the people.

Speaking more, the ex-YOSEMA boss said his experience in emergency management had prepared him to work with different stakeholders, adding that coordination and cooperation would remain central to his responsibilities as SSG.

“At YOSEMA, I learnt that you cannot do much without collaboration. You have to work with government agencies, communities, traditional institutions, security agencies and development partners. That experience will also be useful to me in this new responsibility,” he said.

Goje explained that his philosophy of hard work remained unchanged despite the transition to a new office, noting that public servants must always be prepared to make sacrifices in order to achieve the objectives of government.

He said his years in the civil service played an important role in translating government policies into programmes that directly affected the lives of citizens, as such, “Hard work has always been my philosophy while serving the public. Whenever you are given an assignment, you must give it your best. Public service is about sacrifice, responsibility and making a difference in the lives of the people,” he said.

The SSG also acknowledged the contributions of his colleagues and other stakeholders who worked with him during his years at YOSEMA, saying their support contributed significantly to the successes recorded by the agency.

He maintained that the experience strengthened his belief that government could achieve more when public institutions and their officials worked towards a common objective.

Goje further said he would continue to uphold professionalism, accountability and transparency in the discharge of his duties, adding that the ultimate objective of his new assignment was to contribute to the development of Yobe State.

“The lessons I learnt at YOSEMA will continue to guide me. The people we served there taught me that government must always remain close to the people,” he said.

He affirmed that the new responsibility would require continuous consultation and engagement with relevant stakeholders, assuring that he would remain open to ideas and constructive contributions that could improve the performance of government.

According to him, the people of Yobe State expected government officials to deliver on their responsibilities, stressing that public office should be seen as an opportunity to serve rather than a privilege.

“Every position in government is an opportunity to serve. We must always remember the people who are the reason government exists. If we keep that at the back of our minds, we will perform our duties better,” he noted.