HOW DR.(MRS) OLUBUNMI ADEMOSU-WILLIAMS JUSTIFIED APPOINTMENT AS SPECIAL ADVISER ON PUBLIC AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
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HOW DR.(MRS) OLUBUNMI ADEMOSU-WILLIAMS JUSTIFIED APPOINTMENT AS SPECIAL ADVISER ON PUBLIC AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
It is the story of an Akure-born woman who had excelled in her chosen career in the private sector as an insurance expert and later found herself in the public service of Ondo State.
Dr. (Mrs) Olubunmi Ademosu-Williams was appointed by late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu(SAN) as Special Adviser on Public and International Relations.
Her job was to relate with other states, federal government as d well as international organisations willing to partner the state for both human and societal development.
It was a task that could be a bit difficult for someone who had not been in the public service but she navigated by taking the bull by the horns as she surrounded herself with astute administrators and committed civil servants whose target was service delivery.
One of her first assignments was to ensure that the youths in Ondo State were successfully mobilised for one of the National Social Investment Programmes, N-Power.
She had to attend to phone calls as well as text messages from close to 15,000 youths and ensure that they’re well carried along in terms of places of assignment and prompt payment of their entitlements.
When asked how she did it. Dr. Ademosu-Williams would reply “ise owo osu mi ni mo n se”, meaning I am doing the job for which I am paid.
She was readily available each time the components of the social investment programmes were to be examined and deployed.
The former Special Adviser created enabling environment for aides, public and civil servants working with her to operate and this was responsible for the various degrees of achievements recorded in the office.
The components of the N-Power which include N-Build, N-Teach, N-Tech, N-Agro and others were successfully carried out in the state and this was attested to by thousands of the beneficiaries and participants who appreciated the government of the day with a rally led by Dr. Bunmi Ademosu-Williams in Akure the state capital.
The Home-Grown School Feeding Programme had been in existence few years but children in Ondo State had never benefitted until the appointment of Ademosu-Williams who put in place the required structures that led to the take-off of the programme in Ondo State.
This led to engagement of over 1,500 cooks just as aggregators were involved to provide protein inputs for the programme which led to increase in enrollment in public schools across the state.
In terms of implementing the Conditional Cash Transfer component of the social investment programmes, Dr. Ademosu-Williams created enabling environment for the staff and other stakeholders in the local government areas to operate as zero tolerance was activated to prevent influence by the political class.
This reminds this writer how a state legislator was politely insulted when trying to cut corners as the state Focal Person corrected the public officer who eventually withdrew from the attempt.
Writing about the impact of the Office of the Sustainable Development Goals headed by Her Excellency , Princess Adejoke Oorelope -Adefulire would take one to the installation of solar-powered street lights at strategic locations across the state.
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Many market women and traders who hitherto traded at night with naked lights popularly known as ‘sakabula’ in Yoruba now ply their trade in a well lit environment.
This is evident in the various markets in the hinterland as well as the riverine areas.
I will end this piece by noting that the appointment of the woman described as a pride of Akure kingdom as Special Adviser to Governor on Public and Intergenerational Relations added a lot of values to service delivery as well as honest implementation of public policies..
This why all Focal Persons of National Social Investment Programmes in the country converged on Akure the Ondo State capital mainly to learn and compare notes on how and why implementation of the various programmes in Ondo state had been outstanding.
This was confirmed at the special peer review meeting held at Heritage Hotel in Akure with all Focal Persons in Nigeria in attendance.
I will also love to share this piece I stumbled on as written by an ex- Npower beneficiary, Adebola Fawehinmi from Ondo City.
“I extend my heartfelt appreciation for your dedicated service and exemplary contributions during your tenure as the Special Adviser to the Governor and N-SIP FOCAL PERSON in Ondo State.
Your unwavering commitment to the development of Ondo State and the growth of us the ‘npowerians’ has not gone unnoticed and your efforts have left a positive impact on us and Ondo State Government. Your resilience, passion, and strategic thinking have undoubtedly played pivotal roles in shaping us and the state’s political and urban landscape. As you transition to new chapters in your political journey, I wish you continued success, fulfillment, and prosperity. May your future endeavors be as bright and promising as the invaluable contributions you’ve made to us. God bless you ma.”
Above is one of the numerous testimonials by many of those who had benefitted from Dr.(Mrs) Olubunmi Ademosu-Williams’ administrative dexterity as a public servant in Ondo State.
Without any doubt, I am confident that most people who worked with this daughter of late High Chief Elemo of Akure kingdom, High Chief Bolanle Adedipe would want to have same opportunity again as many have compared working with Dr. (Mrs) Olubunmi Ademosu-Williams with taking a 3-unit course in Administration and Human Management.
Iyiola Adetola Writes from Ondo State.
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