Thousands of Civil Servants from various Ministries, extra-ministerial Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and other dignitaries, converged on the Boardwalk Event Centre, beside Zankli Hospital, Utako, Abuja, on Wednesday, 11 November, 2026, to celebrate the retirement of Mr. Adeladan Rafiu Olarinre, FCIPSN, former Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works.
Speaking on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE, the Honourable Minister of State for Works, Rt. Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Esq., said he was speaking from a position of double familiarity, having worked closely with Mr. Adeladan both at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and subsequently at the Federal Ministry of Works, where he served as Minister of State.
He described the former Permanent Secretary as a man of integrity, dedication, hard work and sincerity, whose conduct in public service reflected honesty, discipline and a commitment to duty.
Goronyo further described Mr. Adeladan as a God-fearing individual who remained steadfast in his religious obligations and observed his prayers consistently, irrespective of the demands of his official responsibilities.
According to the Minister of State, Mr. Adeladan was so committed to his duties that he practically lived in the office, ensuring that the numerous responsibilities of the Federal Ministry of Works were properly coordinated and effectively articulated. This commitment, he observed, was particularly significant given the Ministry’s strategic mandate of delivering President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda through infrastructural development across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
He acknowledged Mr. Adeladan’s invaluable contributions behind the scenes, describing him as one of the administrative pillars and driving forces behind the Ministry’s achievements, including the flag-off of numerous road projects and the implementation of the four (4) Renewed Hope Legacy Road Projects.
“We are behind you, wherever you are. He is a man of his word, a quiet and silent achiever,” the Minister of State concluded.
In his Welcome Address, the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary (DOOPS), Alhaji Muhammed Aminu Ahmed, FCNA, apologised for the delay in organising the retirement ceremony, explaining that it was originally scheduled to be held in August but had to be postponed until the former Permanent Secretary was eventually persuaded to accept the honour.
He described Mr. Adeladan as an accessible and accommodating leader whose open-door policy gave staff guidance, direction, and a clear pathway to professional development. He wished him a fulfilling and successful retirement.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the Director, Highways, Construction and Rehabilitation, Engr. David Yiltong Dechi, and the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Mrs. Emily Osunde. Both speakers commended the leadership qualities, administrative initiatives and professional contributions of the former Permanent Secretary, describing him as a calm, hardworking and dependable administrator whose leadership left a positive imprint on the Ministry.
In his remarks, Engr. Yiltong aptly captured the occasion with the Hausa expression, “Yabon gwani ya zama dole,” meaning that the achievements of an accomplished professional deserve recognition and praise.
Similarly, Alhaji Yusuf Argungu, a retired Director of Public Procurement (DPP), in his tribute, described Mr. Adeladan as a versatile administrator, a master of many disciplines and a committed peacemaker. He further characterised him as a result-oriented individual with an admirable record of achievements worthy of emulation.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdulkareem Ozi, observed that life and public service have their beginnings and inevitable endings. He stressed the importance of preparing for retirement from the very beginning of one’s career, noting that 35 years of meritorious service must eventually come to an end.
He further remarked that the quality and calibre of people who gather to honour an individual at retirement speak volumes about the person’s character, professional accomplishments and relationships built over the years. In the case of Mr. Adeladan, he said, the impressive turnout of dignitaries and colleagues was a clear testament to the legacy he had established through years of dedicated service.
In his response, the retired Permanent Secretary, Mr. Adeladan, expressed profound gratitude to Almighty God for granting him a successful and fulfilling career in the public service. He also thanked his parents for their love, care, upbringing, and invaluable contributions to who he had become.
Highlights of the ceremony included the presentation of gifts on behalf of the Honourable Ministers and other Management staff, presented by the DOOPS, Alhaji Ahmed, as well as the ceremonial cutting of the retirement cake, led by the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Mrs. Osunde.
The occasion attracted Permanent Secretaries and other senior government officials, including Alhaji Danjuma Sanusi of the Federal Ministry of Finance and Alhaji Ibrahim Abdul Kareem of the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, and Fatimah Sugra Mahmoud of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
The ceremony was further enlivened by colourful cultural performances and the presentation of Mr. Adeladan’s citation by the Director of Library Services, and a documentary highlighting his journey, accomplishments and contributions to the Nigerian public service.
Indeed, the retirement of Mr. Adeladan represents not merely the conclusion of 35 years of public service, but also the celebration of a distinguished career defined by discipline, humility, institutional loyalty and purposeful leadership. His legacy will remain a source of inspiration to Civil Servants, who believe that true leadership is measured not only by the office one occupies, but by the positive impact one leaves behind.
Mohammed A. Ahmed
Director, Information and Public Relations
