Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on Nigeria’s public servants to prioritise selflessness and strength of character to build legacies that outlive their time in office.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, at a high-level colloquium marking the 50th birthday of Hajiya Usman, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, he warned that meaningful governance requires a “willingness to pay the price of service.”
Eulogising the celebrant, Shettima described Usman as a “mirror for the nation,” particularly for young women in Northern Nigeria seeking proof that high-level ambition is attainable.
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“Usman’s place in our public service history is secure because it was not built on spectacle, nor did it rely on applause,” Shettima said.
“What she has become was a product of decisions taken quietly, responsibilities carried fully, and institutions strengthened with care.”
The colloquium attracted a who’s who of the President Bola Tinubu administration, with senior government officials reflecting on Usman’s transformative impact across her various roles.
The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, credited her with bringing clarity to institutional priorities and enforcing difficult but necessary reforms during her tenure at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, described her life and career as a shining example of discipline, noting that she remains a strong pillar of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, highlighted her supportive role in programmes and initiatives aimed at empowering Nigerian youths.
In his address, Joe Abah observed that in the era of fake news, leaders must increasingly speak for their work in order to safeguard their legacies.
Abah addressed the theme “Leadership Delivery and the Courage to Serve”, reminding the audience that senior-level service is a rare privilege that must result in a positive impact on the citizenry.
He observed that while leading people remains a difficult task, the true impact of a leader’s actions is often only fully realised after they leave the “corridors of power.”
Clearly moved by the tributes, Usman expressed deep humility, thanking Tinubu and Shettima for their mentorship.
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Recalling her journey from election planning in 2015 to her current role heading the Central Delivery Coordination Unit, she recommitted herself to the President’s mission of a better Nigeria.
“I am generally one of those who don’t enjoy talking about themselves,” she noted, echoing Shettima’s sentiment that her work should continue to speak for itself.
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