KWARA RAAMP GETS NEW PROJECT COORDINATOR AS AKOREDE BOWS OUT OF SERVICE.

Life is indeed about memories! It is the only thing we are left with when we departs in one way or the other as life demands, and we can do no more than remember the life and deeds of friends and acquaintance through times and memories shared, especially their deeds during their stints at helm of affairs or when together.

It turned out to be moment of sober reflection for the officials of the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) of the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) in Kwara as the Project Coordinator Engr, Akorede Abdulwahab Agboola took his bow not only from the civil service of Kwara State, but as the pioneer Project Coordinator for RAAMP in Kwara.

Retirement as it believed, is the withdrawal from one's position, occupation or from one's active working life. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours or workload, though many people choose to retire when they are elderly or incapable of doing their job due to other reasons. People may also retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits or as a result of legislation concerning their positions.

Retirement, or the practice of leaving one's job or ceasing to work after reaching a certain age, has been around for decades. It is a period that might coincide with important life changes. A retired worker might move to a new location, for example a retirement community, thereby having less frequent contact with their previous social context and adopting a new lifestyle. 

That endeavor has proved challenging, perhaps even difficult. To imagine the exit from service of a man who put in his best to make things work out well. It is as though a light has gone out of the system or a guiding star has fallen from the firmament and no doubt, Akorede's memory summons our profound respect, love, and admiration. One of the most energetic of his generation who doesn't look his real age, he used his splendid mastery of his ideas to inspire many.

He had an admirable mix of brilliance and intelligence that is both rare and unique. One is therefore not in doubt that there will be another successor of his in person of Engr. Ibrahim Abiodun Habibat, the pioneer acting female Project Coordinator in Kwara RAAMP and second of such in the whole of Nigeria, herself a competent Engineer, to possess his wits, acumen, and sagacity. The light may have gone out, but Akorede's legacy still illuminates our minds and point us to that which is pure and transcendent. Indeed, history and posterity will surely rank him as a committed leader who has zero tolerance for errors.

Akorede is especially gifted in making complex problems appear simple and easy. He remained till his exit from the civil service at 60 indefatigably committed to the search for productive results. Little wonder, a great leader they say lives after his legacies in his engagements, to be sure, but as much and sometimes even more, in the lives he has touched, the values he has imparted and the examples he has set.

Intellectually restless, a curious and prodigiously inquiring mind, Akorede is the type that examine and address issues with penetrating acuity and reached conclusions very few, if any, could question. His systematic enquiring of issues combined powerfully with his capacity for finely balanced judgment to make his decision which though, doesn't go down well with some of us in most cases, but we do understand him better at times and at the end.

A paradigm of simplicity and clarity, Oga, as we always call him, is the type that tackled complex issues with conversational ease and fascinating thoroughness. He had the rare capacity to offer greater insights into official issues which made it easy to appreciate the job for which we always walked away at times, from his presence, saying to ourselves: what a man! What a soul! We even add, what a genius! The brain is there. You can't outsmart him. Oga is not ever tired of writing reports as and when due. Akorede can write report for Africa. 

In retrospect, the Owode Ofaro in Ifelodunlocal government born Civil Engineer, brought his fine brilliance, professional experience,  commitments and dignity to bear on complex issues that helped situate the project until it formally became effective on 16th March 2021. With that alone, we posits that he is a leader in his own right, not only for the brilliance of his ideas but for his intellectual acumen and implacable distaste for laziness. He is a man of dignity powered from within by a heart of a man in which the meaning of his life, at least to some of us who served under him, is not so much his brilliance and attitude as both are, but rather his character, and capacity to inspire and motivate others. 

Our interactions with him were frequent, at least, and whenever he is occupied with some assignments in his office, he tells you "I am busy, I am busy as you can see. Please come back". You get annoyed at times. However, it's varied, uplifting, and most importantly fun. We imitate him and laugh it over. Of course behind his back.

At the primitive stages of the RAAMP project in the state, he challenged and inspired us by demonstrating enthusiasm for the project giving us a sense of what a truly determined mind can achieve. We were inspired and stood firm, focused and determined by his words of wisdom. We learned from him what it means and what it takes to work hard and get results.

No matter those moments of disagreements, he will be surely missed. After all we disagree to agree in life and the irony of it is when you don't give chance for reconciliation. The most lasting legacies of Engr Akorede for me, is not at any location. It is in the hearts and minds of all those whose lives and careers have been enriched consciously or unconsciously by his legacy. He remained a wonderful man. 

He provided leadership that can appropriately be described as a strong template. Emotional as his retirement may be, one believe there should be no tears for a man who tried his best to a remarkable extent, filled with service to humanity. The time for a lengthy farewell is very little.

No one who is loved or disliked is ever forgotten. We appreciate Engr Akorede  for his light and ideas that countered laziness and ignorance and unleashed resourcefulness and creativity in we his team. Did he make any mistake? Yes! I think. At what point and why? He is a immortal who we believe is subject to the vagaries of committing one error or the other as long as memory lives. But he can still look himself in the mirror and make necessary amends. Nobody is infallible or immune as such, I believe is life. 

In his parting but rather emotional remarks, Akorede expressed his profound gratitude to God Almighty and to the government of Kwara State for giving him the countless opportunities he got in the service. His appreciation was also extended to members of the Kwara State Implementation Unit (SPIU) of RAAMP for their supports, cooperation and understanding which he appealed that such should also be extended to his successor, adding that members should keep the flag of unity and oneness flying for the successful implementation of RAAMP project in the state.

That we can say of Akorede today, means he operates his style of leadership in such a way that puts no one in doubt that whatever have a beginning will surely come to an end someday.

He staked and gave so much to make the RAAMP project better in Kwara. Now loaded with honor and enshrined in public esteem, Engr. Akorede returns to the warm embrace of the other senior citizens and we wish him not only well but a happy retirement life. Congratulations Sir.

Ishola Gbenga Emmanuel

Development Communication Officer (DCO)

Kwara State RAAMP.

24 November 2022.