It was not only his birthday, but also the day he retired from service. Mr Olatunde Idowu Agoro clocked 60 on the day he retired as Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Rural Development after 35 years of service, reports NNEKA NWANERI.
Source/Credit: The Nation | Nigeria
By Nneka Nwaneri | August 15, 2014
For Mr Olatunde Idowu Agoro, former Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Rural Development, it was time for stock-taking penultimate Thursday. He celebrated his retirement with praise and thanksgiving.
A special thanksgiving and prayer session was held at the Lagos Secretariat Mosque, Alausa, Ikeja, followed by a party to welcome him into the retirees club.
Prayers were led by Imam Lukman Asunramu of the Ahmadiyya Movement of Nigeria, a group the celebrator is a member.
The birthday boy looked different in his native wear. He was always in suit while in service but, this time, he wore a blue agbada with a cap to match. His wife sat beside him in the same attire. Members of the staff of the ministry in attendance were also in attractive attires.
Many, who were privileged to have worked with him at various levels in the civil service, attested to his dedication to work. Many spoke and eulogised him, showering him with prayers.
The first to speak was the Commissioner for Rural Development, Hon Cornelius Ojelabi, who led all in praise songs for Agoro.
He said every word said about the celebrator was true. He asked from those in service: “How humble are you?
“His humility made him to transverse to where he is today. Let us learn from him and his humanity and how he gave back to the society that made him by training the young staff the way they should go. We enjoy working with him, so let us learn from how he discharged his duties,” Ojelabi said.
His counterpart in Agric and Cooperative Ministry, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, recalled when Agoro was a director in his ministry and how meticulous he was and the enduring legacies he bequeathed, which the ministry still enjoys have remained a reference point.
“He did a lot while with us by initiating a lot of schemes we adopted and still use till date. We wouldn’t mind giving him a small parcel of land to farm on and practise all the theories he gave us,” Lawal said.
Lagos State House of Assembly Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, Cooperative and Rural Development, Ibrahim Layode, described Agoro as a brother and friend from whom he gained great experience.
“Since 2007 when I became chairman, I have worked with three Permanent Secretaries, I dare say he is the best,” Layode said.
Thereafter, Agoro was presented with certificate of service. All, except the ‘birthday boy’ stood to sing “For he’s a Jolly good fellow”.
Mr Tajudeen Atiko-Balogun, who represented the Lagos State Head of Service, said the gathering should be used for self assessment.
Those on the high table moved to the floor to join the celebrator to cut two colourful cakes. Gigantic greeting cards were around the cake stand and those with gifts brought them forward.
In response, Agoro thanked Allah for being gracious to him. He also described his journey in the civil service as a very long one, which he began in 1979 as an Agric Planning Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture.
“Excellence is the hallmark that I and my family stand for and that is why I like to leave a mark wherever I go. I want you all to know that there is always good reward for hard work.
“All my life, I served this state in various capacities and I thank God for the diligent service rendered to my state,” he said.
One of the younger brothers of the celebrator, Hon Taju Agoro, who was asked to give the vote of thanks, began with a long oriki which mesmerised the gathering. He ended the wordings with Alhamdulahi.
Read original post here: Nigeria: An Ahmadi Muslim retiree’s story
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