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EX-NOA DIRECTOR BODE FAMOSE CELEBRATES MICHAEL ABIODUN ONI AS HE BOWS OUT OF PUBLIC SERVICE
“…Your Life Is A Living Testimony Of Uncommon Grace of God…”
He joined the public service 35 years ago as an Office Assistant in the Directorate for Social Mobilization aka MAMSER immediately after he completed his Senior Secondary School academic program. A typical youth with strength and agility, he was attached to my office when I was an Admin Officer II as my office assistant.
He would with enthusiasm, run errands for his superior officers not only in my office but for as many as would send him on errands in other departments.
The organization – MAMSER at inception paraded the highest number of fresh university graduates who think positively. Biodun was loved by these officers who offered free advice and guidance to him. He was encouraged to go for further studies while in service.
Today, he holds a Masters degree, still pressing forward.
At a time in the days of MAMSER, he nearly lost his job as he was implicated in the course of performing his duties but by sheer grace of God he was vindicated on an issue that would have impacted negatively on his career.
He became seasoned enough to head the local government arm of the organization at a period when MAMSER metamorphosed into National Orientation Agency and became a scheduled organization of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He headed many local government areas across the three senatorial districts of Ondo State. Some were Irele, Akoko South East and Akure South local government areas.
He was once attached to the press unit of the Governor’s Office to gather reports on the reactions of the people to Ondo State government programs and activities which were transmitted to the Presidency through the Ondo State NOA Director and the Office of the Director General of the Agency in Abuja.
As an organization with its focus on positive attitudinal change amongst Nigerians, a typical NOA officer who consciously applies himself or herself to his or her job would have good working and even personal relationships with government officials not only in the three arms of government but also in the three tiers of government including the private sector cland gatekeepers at the grassroots.
As the Director of the National Orientation Agency during this period, I observed that he applied himself well to his job and became versatile in the art of behavior change communication.
At a period that I also occupied the position of the President of Akure Division Federal Workers Association I noted his keen interest in the progress of Akure Kingdom. With his background as a good social mobilizer, he succeeded me as the president and recorded notable achievements after I handed over the Presidency of the Association to him.
Ile labo simi oko.
Abiodun Oni is a full fledged indigene of Akure Oyemekun.
In an attempt to enhance his continued contributions to his community in the social space of communication for development, he encouraged the establishment of a non governmental organization – Akure Progressives Global Initiative – as a special purpose vehicle to continue to make meaningful positive impact in Akure kingdom after retirement.
In contemporary times, the fear of a retiring public officer is how to face the harsh economic situation of the nation. This he overcame by sheer grace of God with partial relocation to Europe on study leave.
Biodun, I felicitate with you on your formal disengagement from the public service without blemish.
Your today is obviously better than your yesterday. May your tomorrow be better than your today in Jesus name.
Congratulations!
Bode Famose,
Former Ondo State NOA Director
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