By Sola Lebile
It was double joy for Adetiloye Ayodeli Gabriel on Wednesday, November 10, 2020 as he disengaged from the service of Ondo State unblemished and also marked his 60th birthday with strings of resounding achievements. It is what the Americans would call double whammy. (Don’t Americanize me).
The double- fold event held at the headquarters of Ondo State Universal Basic Education, SUBEB, where he, like a ship that sailed ashore on a stormy sea and finally returned to the same harbor safety, having started and closed his active service without a stain. This is a rare occurrence, for it is not easy to be among the centrally deployed officers.
A thorough bred technocrat and public re-conciliator, he is fondly called Olori-ebi, a sobriety-he earned for his exceptional leadership and unique way of dousing burning and explosive issues, which could have otherwise caused devastating effects, and he has continued to be an inspiration to many – both within and outside the service.
Giving the first shot of his impactful leadership, the Master of Ceremony who is the press officer of the Board, Miss Bisi Lawani, remarked delightfully: “He is a father to all of us here in SUBEB; he has tutored (mentored) many. He made work easy for us, always removing burden off one’ s shoulders.”
Also, the Permanent Secretary of the Directorate of Community Development, Mr. Adenola, said that Adetiloye impacted positively on those who crossed his path, especially in the service. Aladenola, who came into the service in 1999 along with him, said” he was older than than many of us but, he is seen as an intra- generational force for his unifying role.
He said with Adetiloye’ s footprints in the service, he won’t be surprised seeing him cross over to the other side (politics) and stage a come back through political post as experienced by some senior citizens. Another member of the G- 99, Mr. Akingbasote described Adetiloye as a stabilizing force who displayed positive work ethics.
Amplifying the sterling qualities of the celebrant, the Special Adviser to Mr. Governor on Transport, Barr. Tobi Ogunleye, described him as a man full of intelligence, wisdom and highly resourceful. He said he contributed in no small measure in the Transport Agency which they met in a sorry state, but which had been transformed.significantly.
Highlights of the event were the pens down process which symbolically brought to a close the official duty of the celebrant in the service, cutting of the birthday cake and the scintillating performance by the SUBEB Cultural Troupe.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Board, Mr. Kayode Ogundele remarked that Adetiloye’ s sourjorn in the service was unique having started and ended at SUBEB, urging people to strive to leave a good legacy for posterity.
The Permanent Secretary who is having his second stint with SUBEB also admonished workers to always give their best, remain committed to quality service as outlined in the reform initiative being piloted by the Head of Service, Mr Dare Aragbaiye. Also, some other speakers urged the celebrant to devote more time for his Creator now that he has left public service.
Radiating with joy, Adetiloye, flanked by his wife, thanked the Management and entire staff of SUBEB and other guests for their support and deeming it fit to honour him.
The man, Adetiloye, was born 60 years ago to the famous Odopetu family of Ikare by Papa Joseph Adetiloye and Mrs. Esther Adetiloye, both deceased. He first worked as a clerical officer with the then National Provident Fund, NPF, in Osogbo. He jettisoned the lucrative job to pursue his education and thus enrolled at Oyemukun Grammar School, Akure in 1979 from where he passed out with flying colors.
In 1982, he gained admission to the famous citadel of knowledge, the University of Lagos, UNILAG, where he obtained a B.A. degree in History and International Relations. He also had a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Relations at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, NIJ, Ogba, Lagos, and Masters degree in Public Administration respectively in 1990 and 1999.
That year, he served as a Senior Press Officer/ PRO with the State Universal Primary Education, SPEB.
He crossed over to the Administrative Cadre and got posted to several MDAs, including TESCOM, Civil Service Commission, ODIEC, Ministry of Youth & Sports, Transport Agency and SUBEB among others. And in all these, Adetiloye had a record of sterling performance, running his schedules in the most effective way to the delight of all.
He belongs to several organizations including Ijare Community Development Union where he served as secretary for many years, Institute of Personnel Management (IPAN) where he is the incumbent State chairman. He has received several awards for his numerous contributions to the growth and development of humanity.
His kith and kin from Ijare Community specially expressed joy that their son is a shining light both at home and in the public space and gladly awaited his home coming after retirement from active service.
Lebile, who works in the Ondo State Civil Service, writes from Akure.
