Imo State Gov Hope Uzodimma announced a cabinet restructure on Tuesday, with the creation of a new ministry of Homeland Security and Vigilante Affairs led by Dr. Ugorji Ugorji.

The governor swore in 18 new commissioners, mostly technocrats from varied professional backgrounds, to reassemble a cabinet he had cut down a few months before.

The establishment of the Ministry of Homeland Security and Vigilante Affairs is crucial because it reflects the administration’s willingness to respond proactively and creatively to the state’s escalating insecurity.

Dr. Ugorji, the innovative ministry’s leader, is a security analyst and global affairs academic with experience in human capital development and homeland security.

He had four university degrees by the time he was 29 — two bachelor’s degrees, one master’s degree, and a doctorate degree. Rutgers University in New Jersey awarded him a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Administration.

He also graduated from George Washington University in Washington, DC, with a second Master’s degree in Homeland Security. He has worked in public administration for almost 35 years at the municipal, state, national, and international levels.

Gov Uzodimma named Dr. Ugorji as the state’s first-ever Special Adviser on Homeland Security and Intelligence in January 2021.

“First, I have no words that are adequate to express my gratitude to Governor Uzodimma. No matter how skilled or talented one is, it would amount to very little if one does not get opportunities to use or demonstrate them,” Dr. Ugorji stated of his elevation and appointment as the pioneer commissioner of the ministry of Homeland Security and Vigilante Affairs.

“The governor has given me a chance not just to serve in his Shared Prosperity Government, but also to make a difference in the lives of the citizenry of Imo State. I shall not fail him or my beloved people of Imo State.”

Governor Uzodimma’s determination to pursue the recovery of Imo State’s taken properties as part of his 3R agenda, he said, distinguishes him as a man of integrity, and his accomplishments in this area will establish a refreshing, reassuring landscape of patriotic conduct for all government officials moving forward.

He said, “Further, there can be no greater appraisal of my team’s performance in the last 12 months than the creation of the ministry. We now have the historic and exciting task of building a new ministry at the direction of Governor Uzodimma. A ministry we hope will streamline security efforts in the state and become a model for the rest of the country.”

The freshly sworn-in commissioner expressed gratitude to his family, friends, supporters, and the many people who offered prayers and congratulations in a variety of languages in various places of worship.

He said, “I say thank you, I stand on the shoulders of those who came before me. My commitment is to help many others stand as well.”