GRACE ADAYILO: HONOUR TO A WOMAN OF VIRTUE AS SHE BECOMES FCT PS

by Lekan Adejuwon

For Mrs. Grace Adayilo popularly called ‘Mama Africa’ the immediate past Education Secretary, LEA Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, no amount of encomius is too much when her self-less life of service to humanity is evaluated objectively.

Focussed, diligence, unassuming, mentor, role model and first class administrator, Mrs Adayilo’s announcement as a Permanent Secretary in the FCT last week by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not come to many as a big surprise. It was indeed an honour well deserved.

Her tremendous achievements and visible accomplishments in all capacity have been assessed by all patriotic minds as an era of unprecedented revolutionary move. The hitherto dull and unproductive environment within the Local Education Authority of the Abuja Municipal Area Council came back to life as soon as Grace Adayilo emerged as its Education Secretary.

Her goodness and graciousness as evidenced in Gender Development Department, Social Development Secretariat under the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) as the Director. Gender Development Department is saddled with the responsibilities of handling Child Custody as gazetted in the Child Rights Act 2003, Family Dispute, Child Maltreatment and Molestation, Women Affairs and Gender Based Violence Response and other related matters.

She is eminently qualified for any future responsibility and office that maybe extended to her because she is well equipped to meet challenges promptly, positively, successfully and extremely satisfactorily. Added to all these sterling qualities are the fact that Mrs. Grace Adayilo is an open-minded woman who chosen justice, equity, accountability and fear of God as her guiding principles and philosophy of life

She has this to say in her very rich profile;
“My employment experiencvrted as a Class Teacher in Government Girls Science Secondary School, Kuje in 1990 to 1994. As Head of Unit, Curriculum Planning and Development in Local Education Authority, Kuje from 1994-1996. Also as Head of unit in Curriculum Planning and Development from 2002-2003, and in June-December 2004 as Head of Unit in Local Education Authority Abuja Municipal Area Council/planning, Research and Statistics, under the Education sector as an Executive Secretary of Education in Local Education Authority, Abuja Municipal Area Council FCT-Abuja from January 20005-2016. As the Education Secretary, it was a very impactful one, as I was able to impact positively in diverse ways to a very large number of schools of over 200 with 5000 staff, both teaching and non-teaching staff in Abuja Municipality.

“Furthermore, I was the Deputy Director, School Services in FCT Universal Basic Education Board(UBEB), Deputy Director, School Services in FCT Secondary Education Board (SEB) and Deputy Director II, Community Relations. Presently, I am the Director, Gender Development Department, Social Development Secretariat Under Federal Capital Territory Administration. My current position as the Director Gender has given me the great privilege and opportunity to do more for the orphans and vulnerable children, women, family services and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence response in the FCT.

3i. “I am a member of a professional body, duly registered with Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN)

ii. “I am registered with Ambassador of Millennium Development Goals by Teachers without Borders.
iii. I am duly registered with Ambassador for Peace

iv. “I am also registered with icon of Societal Transformation

  1. “I am the right candidate because of my vast and wealthy work experience as an Administrator in the Education Sector and as a Director in Social Development Secretariat, where all the social issues of life are handled. If given the opportunity, I will contribute towards the realization of corporate goal(s) with the zeal to attaining and achieving the organizational goal, while consistently adding value to the organization to serve

5.​”Due to the wealth of experience, and high sense of responsibility in discharging my duties, I will contribute rightly towards achieving the organization goal, mission and objective to be the best amongst others.

The followings are copied from the profile of this uncommon administrator;
.2001-2003:​​​Head of Units, Curriculum Development

ii.​2004:​​​​Head of Department, Planning and Research Statistics
in Local Education Authority

iii.2005-2016:​​​Educational Secretary, L.E.A AMAC, FCT-Abuja.

iv. Dec. 2020-June 2021:​Deputy School Services

v. July-September 2021:​Deputy Community Relations

vi. Sept. 2021 till Date:​Director, Gender Development Department (SDS)

  1. Executive Secretary Local Education Authority, AAbu

i.​2015:​​Best Mobilizer and Coordinator of President Mohammadu Buhari
Campaign Team, FCT Wing.

ii.​2016-2017:​Acting National Women Leader of Buhari Campaign Organization

iii.​2017-2019:​National Women Leader, Buhari Campaign Organization

iv. 2019-2020:​National Women Leader of Buhari/Osibanjo Campaign Team

10.​ AWARDS
From 2006 till Date, Mrs. Grace Adayilo has been conferred with the following awards. The Awards are underlisted below;

i. Meritorious Service Award by African Youth Society titled “Mama Africa” in 2006.

ii. Distinguished professional contributions to Educational Administration by Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria.

iii. Meritorious Service Award for Exemplary Leadership(MSAEL, 2008) by BEEMA Communications.

iv. African Women Leaders Merit Award by Africa International Media Organization.

v. Excellent Africa Rural Education Achiever Award by African International Youth Council.

vi. Exemplary Leadership Merit Award by the Child’s Dream in 2008.

vii. Most fascinating Nigerian for the year 2008 Award by press Merit Services, Enugu.

viii. Ambassador of Christ Leadership Gold Award by International Christian Promotion.

ix. The Pillars Award of Excellence by University of Jos Alumni Association.

x. Distinguished Nation Builders Achievers Award by News Toast, Lagos.

xi. Youth Ambassadorial Award by National Youth Council of Nigeria.

xii. Outstanding Leadership Qualities for Sustainable Development Award by Daily Africa.

xiii. African Noble Award for Outstanding Leadership Qualities by Lead Times African Magazine.

xiv. Grass root Ambassador by National Association for Women Opinion Leaders (NAWOL).

xv. Most Diligent Educational Scribe of FCT, 2009 by African Forum Magazine.

xvi. Ambassador of Millennium Development Goals by Teachers without Border.

xvii. International Ambassador of Peace Award by National Unity Foundation (Nigeria) in conjunction with African Youth Society(Kenya).

xviii. Role Model Award by De-Light Concept, Abuja.

xix. Role Model Award for exemplary life and contributions to the growth and development of our Nation by De-Light Concept Initiative.

xx. Education Development Award for most outstanding Education Secretary on Education Development in FCT by Anti-Corruption Youth Movement Nigeria and Vintage African Magazine in 2009.

xxi. Pan African Foot Prints Prize by Afriworld Magazine.
xxii. “Who is who in Gbagyi Nation” by Greater Gbagyi Development Initiative.

xxiii. First Category Award: “Best Education Secretary Award in FCT” in 2009 in Wuse Zone II, FCT-Abuja.

xxiv. Second Category Award: “Best Education Secretary Award in Nigeria” in 2011 in Katsina State.

xxv. Third Category Award: “Best Education Secretary in Northern Nigeria’’ by National Pedagogical University in Kiev, Ukraine in 2013.

xxvi. Save Africa Integrity Legacy Network International
Title-Integrity Legacy of True Leadership National Award 19th July, 2014.

xxvii. Ambassador for Peace Merit Award 2015

xxviii. Icon of Societal Transformation Merit Award in 2015

ACHIEVEMENTS

  1. The indefatigable Education Secretary of LEA/AMAC a Christian by faith, Mrs. Grace Adayilo started by building and furnishing a mosque for the Muslims after which she proceeded to build a Christian Chapel. This is to mark the staff to be God fearing and tireless in the service to God and humanity. To her, the fear of God is fundamental and foundation of every wisdom. This principle is an antidote to corruption and unity between the two faiths.
  2. Before her emergence as the Education Secretary, LEA Abuja Municipal Area Council in 2005, there were no office accommodation; it was such a terrible story. However, her entry into the position made Mrs. Grace Adayilo to prove himself as a woman of sharp intelligence and indomitable courage who combines the gifts of a trained teacher and a born administrator. Clear-minded, transparent and just, she has proved herself a great asset to the entire administrator set up of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC. Indeed, to come in close contact with Grace Adayilo to behold the personification of efficiency and integrity.
  3. Under her ebullient vision at LEA/AMAC, she embarked on rehabilitation and construction of the dilapidated annex office by creating spacious additional offices to the then existing six (6) to make it ten offices which are attached with toilet closets.
  4. In the face of the perennial and constant power and energy dislocations experienced minute-by-minute basis, Mrs. Grace Adayilo influenced the erection of a power generating plant within the premises of the Area Council. This is the first of its kind in the history of AMAC whose infrastructural facilities had been able to accomplish despite the fact that there has been no sufficient running cos in the recent time. Indeed, only the deep can call to the deep.
  5. Local Education Authority (AMAC) under the leadership of Mrs. Grace Adayilo was the first LEA to computerize the staff salaries to meet up with the challenges of the day.
  6. She started by furnishing and rehabilitation of the LEA Secretariat offices by equipping each office with an air conditioner, a refrigerator, a television set, and she has gone further by creating and furnishing the staff recreation or green area of relaxation.
  7. To solve the problems of office accommodation and bring to comparable and appreciable standard, the former Education Secretary, Mrs. Grace Adayilo embarked on the renovation and creation of additional offices at Wuse 2, Zone 3 Area Office, Karshi Area Office and Apo Area Office for Inspections. Each of the office is equipped with a split air conditioner, refrigerator, television set, curtains and a set of staff chair and table.
  8. Through her influence and insistence, a Computer Centre was built at the Secretariat by AMAC Chairman. On her own part, she augmented the furnishing of the Centre with Chairs, split air conditioners, rug, carpets, curtains and programming the computer sets. Both teachers and the Secretariat staff will learn to be computer literate to meet the requirements of the Millennium Development Goal.
  9. Suffice it to sat that on assumption, Mrs. Grace Adayilo, immediately plunged herself into the revitalization of the already rotten Education policies and system of the Local Government Council by halting the rural and urban drift of both the teachers and the natives. To achieve these, she recommended and got the express approval of the desired authorities in FCT UBEB to elevate the experienced and qualified teachers to the status of head teachers while the existing head teachers were appropriately promoted to school inspectors as a mark of consistency in her policy, she decongested the city schools by affecting the transfer of the over populated city teachers to the rural schools. This was a herculean task that must be done but was left because no teacher wants to work in rural areas.
  10. Not done with that, Mrs. Grace Adayilo initiated dialogue with the AMAC Chairman and encouraged giving loans to teachers to purchase motorbikes; the move was well digested and it is today a resounding success. Those teachers who were long overdue for promotions for several years were expressly accorded the status commensurate with the arrears paid to them. In her quest to know something about the 2001-2004 promotion and its attendant arrears, she discovered that there was an oversight of 92 no. of staff that were omitted. She swung into action and those staff were paid in August 2008. This has clearly demonstrated her fear of God, sincerity and compassion for others.
  11. Grace is a woman who is never known for procrastination. She took the bull by the horn by sending the redundant administrative staff with relevant teaching qualifications to schools where their services were mostly required.
  12. Discipline in the departments of the Secretariat has been renewed, awakened with a sense of alertness among the staff. At the Abuja Municipal Area Council has been graded and renewed at a time in AMAC and staff could walk into their offices at any given period and close for the day before 1pm. Such arrant indiscipline has stopped forthwith in the council. Now, it is an established phenomenon that officers, staff and workers must resume office by 8am and stay at their duty post till 4pm. The positive result of this renewed disciplinary culture has become evident as Mrs. Grace Adayilo promised not to leave any stone unturned in this respect.
  13. No doubt, Mrs. Grace Adayilo has now come to being regarded as an emerging phenomenon and a pride to womanhood. Although, she indeed possesses all the feminine charm and grace in abundance, yet one cannot help feeling, after assessing her so closely, that she is one of the nature’s mistakes. It is believed that nature intended her for man. Grace Adayilo is masculine in intellect, masculine in will and in physical endurance, she has pointedly established her place in the Local Education Authority of AMAC by sheer force of character and intellect, and has been held in the highest esteem and regard.
  14. It is true that one rowed hour of glorious life is worth an age without a name. In relations to Mrs. Grace Adayilo, she has remained a very interesting character, sincere administrator, with decent demeanor and unparalleled passion for the less privileged. She has proved to be a symbol of goodwill, hard work, open handedness and resourceful humanist who has acquired relevant experience in public administration while embarking on human resources management policy design and implementation, strategic planning and control, materials/resources management, financial control, projects supervision and negotiation skills in the Education Department of the Abuja Municipal Area Council.
  15. She is the first Education Secretary in FCT to train and retrain the non-teaching staff through sponsoring them for workshops and seminars. This was commended by FCT UBEB Chairman who called on other Education Secretaries in FCT to follow suit.
  16. She established the fear of God and harmonious co-existence and working relationship amongst both teachers and the non-teaching staff at the Secretariat and between Muslims and Christians.
  17. Her frequent surprise but routine visits to school almost on daily basis have made teachers to sit up and measure up to her expectations.
  18. As a mark of her compassion to the less privileged in different communities, she gave personal scholarship to those whose parents are dead or impoverished.
  19. She calls on general meeting of all the guidance and counselors in LEA/AMAC schools for an interactive forum and challenged them that the corruption and other social ills that have been bedeviled the nation today is because they as teachers failed to do their job at the basic level. Corrupt head-teachers are not spared from her dagger.
  20. To improve her disdain for corruption in public places, Mrs. Grace Adayilo in her own style and without a rifle, wages war against corruption at the grassroots basic level. This is her basic principles as evidence in her frequent meetings with principles and head teachers.
  21. Having realized that her people, especially the Gbagyi women are educationally backward, the former Education Secretary, Mrs. Grace Adayilo took advantage of her position to embark on massive orientation and sensitization of the Gbagyi youths towards educational projects and programmes as witnessed in the mass turn out of their youths from all crannies and corners of Abuja Municipal Area Council and beyond in a sensitization and awareness, rally she had with them on 4th April, 2007.
  22. In her quest to know how the physically challenged and children with learning needs are faring in the midst of the able-bodied ones, Mrs. Grace Adayilo had an interactive seminar with all the Special Education operative full classes for those classes of children: * Radio/Tape Recorder * Drum Sets * Rubber Mats * Hand Towels * Books * Charts and other Instructional materials.
  23. In her effort to sensitize the public of education industry, she organized an interactive seminar with the stakeholders on 16th September, 2008. This was well attended by the FCT graded chiefs, district and village heads of municipal community leaders, PTA executives at various levels, NUT Education Secretariat Representatives, UBEB and Head Teachers.
  24. Goes further to liaise with the FCT Administration under UBEB, to reposition the school for the blind which was established in Gwagwalada Area Council to her domain (Jabi District, AMAC) for effective welfare and wellbeing. Presently, this is the only boarding primary school in FCT. Mrs. Grace Adayilo has furnishes the school with basic foodstuffs as well as adequate manpower to run the school.
  25. In her effort to sensitize the public on education industry, she organized an interactive seminar with the stakeholders on 16th September, 2008. This was well attended by FCT graded chiefs, districts head and village heads of Municipal Community Leaders, PTA Executives at various levels, NUT Education Secretariat Representatives, UBEB and Head Teachers.
  26. She gives financial assistance to schools during inter-house sports competition and donates trophies to schools to compete in football and athletics.
  27. Expansion of palm trees plantation aimed at generating internal revenue to the Secretariat as a contribution to national development. It is wonderful to inform the public that all the palm trees are producing in her eyes as God has in graced. Moreso, one is delighted to inform the public that instead of selling the palm fruits or even the processed oil, it is being shared to all the staff and bonafide members of the organization and this sharing had taken place for over three years.
  28. In spite of all these attributes of this lady of all seasons, no one has ever heard the amiable Mrs. Grace Adayilo boast of the special gift of the art of administrative mathematics or the marvelous result of her present official and leadership behavior pattern. She is a devout Christian who is free from the weakness to which most human beings usually fall prey; this of course is the weakness of over-ambition and aimless power display.
  29. And so, with her managerial expertise, the gift of unsurpassed efficiency coupled with a quit and modest air entirely devoid of weakness of over ambition and greed, Mrs. Grace Adayilo, together with other efficient and forward looking officials in the Nigerian Education Sector, have displayed an admirable team-spirit, working together in the true spirit of comradeship to promote the greatness of the educational advancement and political stability of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
  30. She is an exemplary figure worthy of emulation to civil servants through her style of administration or leadership that is an embodiment of selfless services, detribalized servant-leadership or stewardship, full of respect for due process and accountability. These qualities are being copied by the serious staff
  31. She is nationally known as a philanthropist, a godly generous giver out of her personal purse, sponsors the provisions of livelihood through vast acres of farmland providing food to the widows, the aged ones & the less privileged in the society, thus making many productive citizens in the society.
  32. NIL

WHO IS GRACE ADAYILO?

Mrs. Grace Adayilo who is currently working on a 282-page seminar book and special publication titled: Nigerian’s Democracy Sojourn: The Travails and Triumphs, scheduled for publication in due course. She is a woman with sound intelligence, excellent moral rectitude and a fellow of the Institute of Development Administration of Nigeria, was born on the 24th December, 1968 at Dutse-Alhaji presently Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. She hails from the Abuja Municipal Area Council. Her Primary School Education took place between 1973 and 1979 at the LEA Primary School, Dutse-Alhaji, in the modern day Bwari Area Council.

She later proceeded to the famous Women Teacher’s College Gulu, Niger State in 1979 for a five-year educational training leading to the award of teacher’s grade II certificate, which she successfully completed in 1984. Mrs. Grace Adayilo’s thirst for a sound education knew no bounds, which therefore spurred her to attend the well-established College of Education, Minna, Niger State between 1985 and 1987 before capping it all with a bachelor degree in Administration and Planning in the University of Jos in 2001.

Throughout her education career and training, Mrs. Grace Adayilo was adjudged as an extremely high grade.

A student whose study was among the very best in the institutions, out of school, Mrs. Grace Adayilo has equally portrayed herself in similar lines as an intelligent woman and educationist who could be very logical and express herself effectively in speech as well as on paper.

Her working experiences among others include: teaching at a Primary School and Government Girls Secondary Schools, Kuje, Head of Department, Curriculum Development Officer at the Local Education Authority, Kuje and in the same position at the Bwari Area Council, all between 2001 and 2004. Her appointment as the Head of Department, planning, Research and Statistics, LEA/AMAC in 2004 is another pointer to the fact Mrs. Grace Adayilo is a woman who, by nature, is a buoyant and charming personality, endowed with a quick intellect and vivacious disposition. She is fitted and adorned the post as though she has been born into it.

In her former post as the Education Secretary of the Local Education Authority, Abuja Municipal Area Council(AMAC), Federal Capital Territory, Mrs. Grace Adayilo has been able to achieve so much based on her attributes as an officer and administrator who is clear-minded and of keen vision. She has demonstrated to every great observer that she is a sworn foe of conventionality and procrastination in all forms. She possesses an uncompromisingly logical mind and goes straight to the root of any matter before her.

Happily married and blessed with children, Mrs. Grace Adayilo, who is a dedicated woman and disciplined mother coupled with a very robust HEART, possesses exceptional abilities to sympathize and emphasize with the cause of all manners of mankind. At her social level, Mrs. Grace Adayilo belongs to and held the following post in these social organizations.

  1. The Mother of Africans (Mama Africa) by African Youth Society.
  2. Continental Life Matron, African Youth Society (RC:CAC 22617)
  3. National Grand Matron, Nigeria Youth Organization (RC:CAC 5257).
  4. Associate member, Institute of Corporate Administration, FCAI.
  5. National Matron: Integrity and Transparency Promotion Initiative.
  6. President, The Federation of Gbagyi Women popularly called YEYEDU.
  7. Member, As Peace Messenger/Justice for Peace by the registered trustees and Advisory Council of the Federation of UNESCO, 30th September, 2010-till date.
  8. Member as Ambassador of Peace by National Unity Foundation Federal Republic of Nigeria, in conjunction with Africa Youth Society World Headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya 18th October, 2011 till date.
  9. National Matron, Gbagyi Reform and Youth Empowerment, 2012 till date
  10. The Coordinator, National Association of Women Opinion Leaders, FCT Chapter.
  11. Great Commander, Succor of the Elderly by International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse.
  12. Member, 2nd International Summit on Democracy in Africa, by the Royal International Magazine, Ghana.
  13. Matron, Gbagyi Reform and Youth Empowerment, FCT.
  14. Stakeholder, Abuja Indigenes Consultative Assembly, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
  15. Fellow for Education Sector, Institute of Development Administration of Nigeria.
  16. Deputy Chairman, National Association of Local Government Education Secretaries of Nigeria (NAESN)
  17. Yeyedu Cares Poverty Alleviation Foundation
  18. Arise & Shine Global Impact Association
  19. Widows Farmers Association FCT
  20. MOTHER OF GBAGYI IN FCT, from 2015 till date.

In spite of all these attributes of this lady of all seasons, no one has ever heard the amiable Mrs. Grace Adayilo boast of the special gift of the art of administrative mathematics or the marvelous result of her present official and leadership behavior pattern. She is a devout Christian who is free from the weakness to which most human beings usually fall prey; this of course is the weakness of over-ambition and aimless power display.

And so, with her managerial expertise, the gift of unsurpassed efficiency coupled with a quit and modest air entirely devoid of weakness of over ambition and greed, Mrs. Grace Adayilo, together with other efficient and forward-looking officials in the Nigerian Education Sector, have displayed an admirable team-spirit, working together in the true spirit of comradeship to promote the greatness of the educational advancement and political stability of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

She is eminently qualified for any future responsibility and office that maybe extended to her because she is well equipped to meet challenges promptly, positively, successfully and extremely satisfactorily. Added to all these sterling qualities are the fact that Mrs. Grace Adayilo is a woman of openness who has chosen justice, equity, accountability and fear of God as her guiding principles and philosophy of life.

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