The Chairman of Ado North Local Council Development Area, Mrs Tokunbo Gbadamosi, has called on government and stakeholders not to allow the experience, intellect and leadership qualities of retired Permanent Secretary, Mrs Titilayo Toba Ojo, to fade away with her formal exit from the civil service, insisting that the state still needs her depth and wisdom for sustained development.
Gbadamosi made the appeal in Ado Ekiti during the retirement and 60th birthday ceremony organised in honour of Toba Ojo, where she described the celebrant as an exceptional administrator whose contributions to grassroots governance must not be confined to history books.
According to the council boss, the society cannot afford to lose the wealth of institutional memory and administrative competence that Toba-Ojo represents, adding that her kind of leadership should be consciously harnessed to groom a new generation of female leaders in Ekiti State.
She particularly urged emerging women in politics and public service to study, emulate and seek mentorship from the retired Permanent Secretary, stressing that true leadership is built on discipline, balance and service driven commitment rather than noise and self-promotion.
Gbadamosi noted that Governor Biodun Oyebanji demonstrated foresight in identifying and deploying what she described as Toba-Ojo’s uncommon brain in advancing rural development efforts, saying such eggheads remain indispensable catalysts for inclusive growth.
She maintained that the present administration’s strong rural focus has benefitted immensely from experienced hands within the system, pointing out that communities are no longer treated as afterthoughts but as central pillars of governance.
The chairman observed that several communities can now boast of improved road networks that have opened up local economies to commerce and investment, as well as solar powered boreholes and upgraded healthcare facilities serving residents across political, religious and ethnic lines.
While acknowledging the governor’s development agenda, Gbadamosi returned attention to the celebrant, describing Toba-Ojo as a balanced leader who seamlessly blends political awareness with professional discipline, a rare combination that commands respect across divides.
She recalled that throughout her years in the civil service, the retiring Permanent Secretary maintained a steady passion for community development and public administration, refusing to allow bureaucracy dampen her sense of service.
Offering personal testimony, Gbadamosi stated that requests brought before Toba-Ojo were treated with urgency and fairness, noting that the celebrant’s open door policy and humane disposition made her accessible to leaders at various levels.
She said such administrative responsiveness is increasingly scarce in public institutions, adding that it is precisely these qualities that younger female professionals must internalise if they are to build credible and enduring careers.
The council chairman explained that her decision to attend the ceremony despite other official and political engagements was a deliberate acknowledgement of Toba-Ojo’s far reaching influence, pointing out that the impressive turnout of dignitaries on a working day demonstrated the respect she commands.
Beyond celebration, Gbadamosi described the milestone as a moment of reflection for the state, urging policymakers to create formal mentorship and advisory roles that would enable seasoned administrators like Mrs Toba-Ojo continue contributing to governance outside the constraints of office.