Bethany Bille Ziwari (1952-2018)

He was a quintessential Civil Servant (Permanent Secretary) who enormously contributed to the development of Bayelsa state public service

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Administrator, Clergy

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Philippians 3:20-21

Bethany Bille Ziwari was a quintessential Civil Servant (Permanent Secretary) who enormously contributed to the development of public service sector. He was best known for his godly dispositions as an Anglican Priest in the Niger delta.

Synopsis

Born on 1956 thereabout in Opokuma town of Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa state. He was a pioneer Chief Scientific Officer of the Bayelsa State from 1996, and later appointed Permanent Secretary in 2012. Bethany Bille Ziwari was a product of University of Strathclyde, Glasgow United Kingdom. Self-effacing and kind to a fault was Bethany Bille Ziwari. He embraced the Anglican faith firmly in 1993 and was later ordained Reverend Canon in 2008. Rev. Canon Bethany Bille Ziwari died in 2018 at the age of 66.

Parents and Birth

His father was late Chief Jonathan Bille Ziwari of Kalama compound and his mother was late Madam Bessy Fiebai of Oyobu II in Opokuma clan, all in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa state. Bethany Bille Ziwari was born in 1956. He was from a well to do family background.

Education

Bethany Bille Ziwari sat and obtained his General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Level in 1971 and he got his WAEC certificate at Gaskiya College, Cardoso, Ijora village. Lagos state in 1972.

afterwards, he proceeded to the University of Lagos in 1973 and graduated from the faculty of Sciences with a Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) degree with a Second Class Honors in 1977. He did the mandatory National Service in old Gongola state (now Adamawa state) from August 1977 to August 1978.

From 1983, he proceeded to the United Kingdom for further studies at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow and got a Masters in Pharmaceutical Analysis. He further had a Diploma in Ophthalmic Optics in 1985.

Work experiences

Bethany Bille Ziwari was a Chemistry teacher at Government Secondary school, Takun in the then Gongola state (now Adamawa state) from 1977 to 1978.

On the 24 of July, 1980 the old Rivers state civil service employed Bethany Bille Ziwari as a Scientific Officer at the Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Port Harcourt. he grew through the ranks in the civil service of the old Rivers state and then transferred his services to the newly created Bayelsa state in 1996.

He was the pioneer Chief Scientific Officer of the Ministry of Health, Bayelsa state as at 1 November, 1996. Again, he grew in the Bayelsa state civil service and was appointed Permanent Secretary on Friday, 20 July 2012 and served as Permanent Secretary at the office of the Secretary of the State Government. He retired meritoriously on 16 August, 2013.

Christian life

Mr. Bethany Bille Ziwari declined worldliness and unrighteousness and embraced Christ Jesus wholeheartedly in 1993 thereabout. He served as the Evangelism officer New covenant Anglican Church, Nizimiro, Ogbunabali, Port Harcourt. Thereafter, he was attached to some outreach areas Eagle Island, Rumu-odogo in Emohua and others.

He succeeded for the pioneering contribution to the development of Bethesda church in Eagle Island, Port Harcourt.

In 2004 the then Bishop of Niger Delta West Rt, Rev. Adolphus Amabebe ordained him a Priest. Subsequently, in 2008 he was installed as Reverend Canon. He worshiped at the St. Mark’s Anglican Church, Biogbolo town, Bayelsa state till his demise.

He went through a training with the Board of Governing Council and the Chaplain Fellowship of Nigeria in 2007 and was ranked as Chaplain state commandant, he was appointed Chaplain King of Glory Chapel, Government House, Bayelsa state which he served from 2007 to 2011.

Family

He was married to Mrs. Ikalaghain Ziwari (nee Arugu), a retired Civil Servant of Bayelsa State in 1980 and they went on to have three (3) dutiful children together.

His death

In the month of May 2018 thereabout, Reverend Canon Bethany Bille Ziwari too ill and died afterwards on 26 July, 2018 at the Cedar Crest Hospital (FCT) Abuja. He was 66 years.

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Abalijay
"Timeless Persons" is a personal blog project created by me with the aim of sharing biographies of remarkable individuals from the Niger Delta region and beyond. The blog serves as a platform to captivate and stimulate your thoughts, encouraging reflection on the past, fostering a positive mindset in the present, and inspiring hope for a better future. Through the stories of great minds featured on the blog, readers are invited to delve into the lives and achievements of extraordinary individuals, drawing inspiration and insights that can be applied to their own lives. "Timeless Persons" strives to create an engaging and thought-provoking space for readers to appreciate the legacies and contributions of notable individuals, ultimately encouraging personal growth and a brighter outlook on life.