The Ekiti State Local Government Service Commission Secretariat in Ado Ekiti on Thursday witnessed usual crowd who all came to celebrate the first female Permanent Secretary in the commission, Mrs Titilayo Toba-Ojo.
It was indeed a payback time as workers, friends and well wishers rolled out the drums to welcome the retiring Permanent Secretary, Mrs Toba-Ojo on alighting from her vehicle at the entrance of the secretariat.
The atmosphere was charged with emotion as guests took turn to shower encomium on the celebrant, and described as a rare gem.
The commissioner for information, Chief Taiwo Olatunbosun, his counterpart from Local government, Mr Folorunso Olabode and the state head of service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi said the contribution of Mrs Toba-Ojo to the growth of the commission could not be forgotten in a hurry.
They described her as energetic, responsive and dedicated woman whom would carried out her duty with fear or favour.
Similarly the chairman of the commission, Mr Samuel Abejide said the commission would miss Mrs Toba-Ojo who is an administrator per excellence.
He congratulated her on achieving the peak of her career while also praying for her success after retirement.
The commissioners in the commission, Hon Wole Olujobi, Hon. Cecila Dada, Hon. febisola Adewale, Hon Olawole Adedipe, Hon Segun Onaade and Hon Suyi Aladesanmi stressed that Mrs Toba Ojo’s performance in office reflected discipline, empathy and a firm grasp of institutional processes.
In her valedictory address, Mrs Toba-Ojo expressed appreciation to the Ekiti State Governor Mr Biodun Oyebanji for his non-intrusive governance style, which allowed professionalism to thrive.
“I feel happy! I don’t even know how to describe it,” she exclaimed. “I thank the Governor for allowing us to serve without interference. The Chairman of the Commission and the board members made the job very easy for me; we worked like a father and daughter.”
Impressed by the massive turnout, she admitted she had not fully grasped her impact until that moment. “People said I touched their lives in a different way. I didn’t think much of it, but seeing them drop everything to be here shows that God has been faithful.”
She charged civil servants to ensure transparency and loyalty: “Let transparency be your watchword, just as Governor Oyebanji has demonstrated, which is why we are seeing even development across the state.”
Her husband, Mr. Toba Ojo, described her as a “rare gem,” adding that her impact always leaves astonishing footprints.
The valedictory mood later shifted to an event centre in Ado Ekiti where Mrs Toba-Ojo had her 60th birthday and book presentation.
The reviewer of her book “The Grassroot Engine,” the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Peju Babafemi, described the 233-page masterpiece as a vital blueprint for rescuing Nigeria’s local government system from institutional amnesia.
Babafemi who presented the book before dignitaries including all local government chairmen, NULGE leadership, and traditional rulers, noted that the work rebrands the local government as the “operational engine of democracy.”
According to the former head of service, page 74, where the author delves into the spiritual dimension of leadership, was exceptional.
She commended Toba-Ojo for reminding public servants that governance is a divine calling, citing her initiative to institute prayer sessions across local government secretariats.
In separate remarks, the State ALGON Chairman, Hon Ojo Samuel, as well as traditional rulers including the Onisan, Oba Ayodele Adejuwon, and the Olufaki, Oba Adegbenro Falore, praised the retiree as a skilled policy communicator and dedicated custodian of local government administration, wishing her success in the next phase of her life.
Dignitaries at the event included all local government chairmen; leadership of NULGE; permanent secretaries; traditional rulers including the Onisan, Oba Ayodele Adejuwon, and the Olufaki, Oba Adegbenro Falore; and Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Peju Babafemi, who delivered the book review.
The cutting of the birthday cake culminated the event.
