By Banji Ayoola
A Thanksgiving Service to mark the retirement of a former Permanent Secretary, Mr. Adedeji Oladipupo Akinwalere, from the Ondo State Civil Service, will hold on Saturday July 13 at the OSDPC Hall, Ijapo Housing Estate, Akure.
The event is being organised by his friends.
Akinwalere served in various ministries, departments and agencies before he bowed out meritoriously.
He is a seasoned Trade Unionist and former National President of one of Nigeria’s largest trade unions, the National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, who has made remarkable contribution to trade unionism in the country.
For instance, as a trade unionist, he led the battle against the infamous Zero Allocation to the nation’s 776 local governments by the Federal Government. The union won the historic battle which dovetailed into the struggle for local government autonomy or local self governance in Nigeria.
Remarkably too, issues which are fundamental to anchoring Nigeria on the path of justice, good governance and welfare of the masses who look up to government full of hope for the satisfaction of their basic needs, are what he zealously pursued as a union leader.
Thus, grassroots democracy, credible elections at the local government level, state police, local government or municipal police, accountability at the local government level have been of great interest and concern to him over the years. To him, it is fulfilling that some of these issues are being addressed today in Nigeria.
Akinwalere is one of the few scholars who have passed through the Ondo State Civil Service. His continual forays into the academics in various disciplines including Education, Business Administration, Political Science, Local Government, Public Administration and Law scaled up his knowledge, versatility, competence and confidence as a public servant thereby enhancing his passion to carry out more researches in the art of governance as a scholar-practitioner.
He has obtained strings of university degrees in various disciplines, including three post graduate degrees in Political Science, Business Administration and Local Government Studies, and he is still thirsting for more, even in retirement.
Born in Ilutitun Osooro in Okitipupa local government area of Ondo State on December 14, 1960, he holds the following chains of degrees, diplomas and certificates: 2018 Masters of Science degree in Political Science from Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji Arakeji, Osun State; and 2017 Bachelor of Law from the National Open University of Nigeria.
Others are: 1999 Master of Business Administration from the Federal University of Technology, Akure; 1997 Diploma in Journalism, International Institute of Journalism; 1989 Postgraduate Diploma in Local Government Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State; Bachelor of Arts (Education) in History from the same Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife; and 1978 Grade II Teachers’ Certificate from the Divisional Teachers’ College, Ode Aye.
He belongs several professional bodies including Fellow, Institute of Personnel Administration of Nigeria (IPAN); Member, Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM); Associate Member, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and Affiliate Member, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM).
Aside from being a former President, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) between 2001 and 2005, Akinwalere was a Member of the National Executive Council and Central Working Committee, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) between 2001 and 2005 and a National Trustee, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) between 1997 and 2001.
He has also worked in various administrative capacities in the Local Government arm of the State. These include: Administrative officer (1987 – 1993), Sole Administrator, Idanre Local Government (1993 – 1994), Executive Secretary, Local Government Staff Pension Board (1996 – 1999), Director, Personnel Management (2000 – 2005); and Director, Training and Manpower Development (2005 – 2006).
He was appointed a Permanent Secretary in 2007. Whilst in the Ondo State Civil Service, he served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs (2006 – 2009), Service Matters Department (2009 – 2011), Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development (2011 – 2014), Direct Labour Agency ( 2013 – 2014), Ondo State Public Service Training Institute (2014 – 2017), Ministry of Information and Orientation (2017 – 2019) and later again at the Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs (2019) before his retirement.
Akinwalere is a proven leader, a skilled researcher, an effective communicator, a committed team player, strategic thinker, chartered resource manager, public relations and crises management expert, while teaching, mentoring, research, music, travelling and golfing have been his core hobbies.
Married to Roseline Imisioluwa, who alone gave him four children including three gentlemen and a lady, Akinwalere is a Golfer, a Christian who believes in Providence. In his words: “The mercy of God has taken me through the bar and bows of life to the height I attained today. I see my strength in my humility and reverence to humanity rather than creed or clan.”
