It was an emotional day for the National Universities Commission (NUC) last Wednesday when five of its staff were honoured, during a send forth ceremony, to mark their retirement from the services of the Commission.
Welcoming staff and the honourees among who were the former Deputy Executive Secretary (Administration), Mal. Ibrahim Iro Dan’Iya as well as three former Deputy Directors, Namely; Mal. Muhammed Y. Ndanusa, Dr. (Mrs) Modupeola Bosede Adeniran, Mr Alex Ewuruje, Mr Folorunso T. Olutosoye, to the event, the Executive Secretary, Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed mni, MFR, FNAL commended the retirees for their dedication and commitment over the years.
The Executive Secretary described the out-going Deputy Executive Secretary, who, until his exit, was the Commission’s longest serving officer, as a good man, a gentleman and NUC’s institutional memory. He commended him for dedicating 35 years of uninterrupted service and loyalty to the Commission.
Prof. Rasheed said that Mal. Dan’Iya was always available and loyal servant to support and stand-in for the Executive Secretary whenever the latter had a cause to be away. Among other attributes, the Deputy Executive Secretary was described, by many as soft-spoken, intellectually quick, pro-active, a stickler for procedure and the ”emotional furniture” of the Commission.
The Executive Secretary stated that the Commission was blessed with the contribution of the retirees. He urged staff of the Commission to emulate their virtues, mindful that retirement was a phase which everyone must experience, someday.
He pledged that the send-forth ceremony would, henceforth, be a bi-annual event to celebrate all retiring staff, regardless of cadre.
In a good will message, the Registrar, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board(JAMB) Professor Is-haq Oloyede, congratulated the retirees for their fruitful and prayed for God’s blessings on them and their next chosen endeavours. He urged staff to be commited to their tasks eschew any act capable of bringing disrepute to their family and community. Other good will messages were those from family members and well-wishers of Mal. Ibrahim Dan’Iya, such as Ambassador Aminu Nabegu and Usman Sarki who described him as a trusted and reliable friend.
Speaking about Mal. Muhammed Y. Ndanusa, the Deputy Director, Resource Planning, Alh. Lawal M. Faruk described as a sincere officer, who was committed to his duties. Mr John M. Ahmadu, Deputy Director, Corporate Services, depicted Mr Alex Ewuruje as a man of the system, who had contributed immensely to the services of the Commission. While Mr Folorunso Olutosoye was termed a “very honest and thorough Audit officer and a stickler for the tenets of his job by Deputy Director, Entrepreneurship and Development, Mr O. Osayande.
Other guests at the ceremony included former Director, Research and Innovation, Professor Valentine Ekechukwu, Ambassador Rabi’u Shehu, Rear Admiral Sa’idu Garba, Mal Nasiru Muhammed and families of the retirees as well as well-wishers.
The ceremony was well attended by NUC Directors, Management staff, and staff of the Commission.