By Uche Kalu and Chizoba Njaka
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One of the newly sworn-in
permanent secretaries, Mr. Adebayo Ojeyinka, expressed his joy and described
Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo as a national leader who always lives by
example and never thinks of giving up on actualizing positive impacts. He has
shown that hard work pays off, irrespective of one's state of origin.
Mr. Ojeyinka, who hails from
Osun State, Nigeria, began his journey in Anambra State in 1994 during his
one-year National Youth Service. After orientation, he was posted to Government
House, Awka. In 1995, at the end of his service, he became one of the
beneficiaries of the state government merit award, earning him automatic
employment with the Anambra State Government, an honor many of his colleagues
longed for.
According to him, "I have
found a climate that is very conducive to express myself, and the people of
Anambra have shown me love. They have given me the chance to prove my mettle.
Governor Soludo is a leader who does not discriminate based on tribe. He has a
heart of gold and has broken the barrier of tribalism. He has given me the
opportunity to showcase what I can offer."
Meanwhile, Ojeyinka rose through the ranks to the post of Director of Administration in 2018 in the office of the state Head of Service. He served diligently in that position for six years until Monday, March 11th, 2024, when he received a new feather in his cap, being sworn in as permanent secretary. On Wednesday, March 12th, he was officially retained in the office of the Head of Service to oversee the PSMD.
Bayo, as he is fondly called by
friends, maintained that what propelled him to the top was his resolve to be
the best wherever he found himself. “I don’t envy those who could do better
than me, but I always think that if they can do it, I can do it too. I
therefore strive, keep learning, and benchmark some good people who have made
it in the profession. I want to be like them. My story has been one of
excellence, efficiency, and never associated with incompetence.”
He described working outside
his state of origin as no different, as far as Anambra State is concerned.
“It’s like doing what I love to do, what I want to do, irrespective of the
climate where I find myself, because it will bring out its own results. As I
have been given a higher position, it means that more is expected of me. It’s a
kind of hallway given to me, and I’m expected to maximize the opportunity and
create a lasting legacy. Working in Anambra State is conducive for me.”
Mr. Ojeyinka has lived in
Anambra for three decades, born and raised all his children in the state. “Ndi
Anambra are very accommodating. They gave me an enabling environment to thrive.
They regarded me as a son of the soil. Some even cajole me to take a second
wife from Igboland and also give me land for farming. Thus, if I go to my
place, I feel like a fish taken out of water, but when I come back to Anambra
State, I feel very comfortable."
Speaking on the challenges of
his new position, he explained that if one had not been given the capacity to
work, he/she would be operating under some kind of tight atmosphere, but the
reverse would be the case where there is capacity. “There were things in those
days I regretted that if I were in a position to make things different, I would
have used the position to make a difference when I saw wrong things going on in
the service. But because I was a junior staff, I could not do anything. But
when you are given more capacity, you will be able to use that opportunity to
do more."
He promised to ensure that the civil service would be more efficient, saying that as a trainer and mentor, he would use what he has to impact others. “Being a permanent secretary gives me the opportunity to train and mentor those under me to ensure improved civil service. I will ensure transparency, efficiency, and better productivity in the service."
He advised civil servants to
put all hands on deck, reminding them that recognition and compensation only
come with diligent service. He thanked Governor Soludo for finding him worthy
to serve. He also expressed gratitude to the Head of Service, Mrs. Theodora
Okwy Igwegbe, for her courage and resilience, describing her as a wonderful
woman, an achiever, and a mother.
Kalu and Njaka are of the
Ministry of Information, Anambra State.
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