Sir Geoffrey Tochukwu Nnebedum Tabansi has just retired from the civil service as Director Acquisition and Compensation/Housing Development in the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development. He bowed out after serving the country for thirty two years (32yrs) at the attainment of the mandatory retirement age of 60years.
Sir GTN Tabansi was born th the family of late Victor Ifoegbunam and Ezinne Catherine Nwagboronkpa Tabansi at Oturkpo, Benue State on 5th June, 1955. The parents hail from Owerre-awuchi Village and Umuomaka Village respectively, both in Ubaha Autonomous Community of Awlaw Town, Oji River LGA of Enugu State.
Sir Tabansi got his first job as Typist Grade 111 in the East Central State Ministry of Establishment with his RSA Stage 1, on 17th Dec. 1974. As soon as he got the job, he enrolled for correspondence course for GCE O/L examination with the Pacific Correspondence College Aba. He sat for Nov./Dec. GCE in 1975 and passed all the papers he registered at credit level and above. He also sat for higher stages of RSA with success and that gave him rapid promotion from Typist Grade 111 to Stenographer in 1975. He was promoted again to Confidential Secretary 111 in 1976. In the same 1976 he was qualified to be promoted to Confidential Secretary 11, but no vacancy was declared for the cadre in the service.
He got admission to study Estate Management at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus in 1978. The Board granted him study leave without pay and the opportunity for vacation job with the Library on the same salary throughout his school years.
He passed out in 1981/82 session with 2nd Class Upper Division as the best graduating student and grabbed all three prizes in the department. He Obtained MSc in Project Management from the University of Technology Owerri, Imo State in 1999.
Sir Tabansi was posted to the defunct Bendel State for NYSC, where he started his practice of Estate Surveying and Valuation during the primary assignment at the firm of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Messrs Ochonogor & Company at Mission Road, Benin. In the course of the year, the Federal Civil Service Commission conducted job interview nationwide. Sir Tabansi attended the one in Benin and was one of the three land surveyors appointed. This was the beginning of his career in the Civil Service effective from 23rd August, 1983. He rose to the height of his career as the director of Lands.
In the course of his service, he traveled to Malaysia, Canada, Netherland, South Korea, Hong-Kong, Singapore, UK, USA, Iran, Tanzania and Ethiopia for property evaluation, housing policy/delivery study tour, due diligence on investors and conferences.
He is a Fellow of Nigerian Institution of Surveyors and Estate Valuers. He served the Institution in different capacities including National Secretary, Assistant National Secretary, Member of National Council, Member of Membership Committee etc. He is also a Fellow of Corporate Administrators of Nigeria and Grand Patron of Justice and Harmony Transformation Support Initiative.
Sir GTN Tabansi developed deep interest in the service of his community in 1976/77 when he Secretary of the Enugu Branch Awlaw Development Union. He was elected the President of Awlaw Development Union in 1999, a position he held until 2009. IT was during his tenure that Awlaw was blessed with Electricity from the Federal Government. He also attracted two water boreholes and a Town Hall from the Federal Government MDG.
A devout Christian, Sir Tabansi has been the President of Emmanuel Church Men’s Association (EMCA), Awlaw ssince 1993 to date. He was the Vicar’s Warden for five years and a member of the Parish Church Council for more than a decade in All Saints Anglican Church, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja. He is a Knight of St. John in the Anglican Diocese of Oji River in Enugu State Ecclesiastical Province.
He got married on 9th May, 1987 to his dear wife, Lady Uju Christie Tabansi (Nee Anaekwe) from Eziowelle in Idemmili North of Anambra State. They met at the Anambra State Library Board where they worked together. The marriage is blessed with four children – Chinonyelum, Oluchi, Somtochukwu and Chukwuebuka; a son in-law – Onyeka and a wonderful grandson – Ebubechukwu.
During the reception for successful disengagement from service and celebration of his 60th birthday, Sir GTN told newsmen that he took his duties in the service as worship of God. He also submitted that it made him reach the peak of the service. He is against monetization because it reduces the attraction of the service. He believes that the government should provide housing for civil servants and also help them to build houses where they will retire at the end of their career.
urbanpaparazzionline.com 