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FCTA: 40 Months of Torrents of Service

Published

3 years ago

January 28, 2024

When the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt, they wandered 40 years in the wilderness. This was seen as a time of purification and preparation for their entry into the promised land.

As it was then, so it is now, as Olusade Adesola retires on January 29 after 40 months in the saddle as Permanent Secretary, FCT Administration (FCTA), thus successfully completing his 35 years of service to his fatherland.

For Olusade Adesola, the purification and preparation into another promised land began at the weekend when a surprise send-forth was organized by staff of the FCTA where torrents of tributes poured in from Directors, other staff, friends and well-wishers.

Mr. Adesola remains the unapologetic civil service reformist in FCTA and may likely be the last since the adoption of a Commission is imminent under the administration of the FCT Minister, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesome Wike.

This means the exit of Mr. Adesola from office will mark the end of a long era where one Permanent Secretary used to oversee the entire FCTA bureaucracy. This is because hopes are very high over the commencement of a Commission that is expected to usher in an entirely new era where new Permanent Secretaries may emerge and civil servants of all levels can rise to the peak of their careers as Permanent Secretaries.

Mr. Olusade assumed office in the FCTA where he last served as a Federal Permanent Secretary upon redeployment from the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.

He started work on September 2, 2020 at the peak of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic, a time the whole of FCT and the country at large was locked down as a last measure to prevent the further spread which was wrecking havoc across the land.

His critical assignment with then Minister, Mal. Muhammad Musa Bello and Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijani Aliyu, was to put on their thinking caps to rid the FCT of the rampaging diseases.

And as usual with doers of good, he faced backlash from his traducers and critics who wrongly received the message of his civil service reforms and went wild launching calculated campaigns of character assassination to impugn his image.
He was also criticized for cutting down training funds for staff, a move, the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) bitterly complained on behalf of staff.

To list some of his numerous achievements, Mr. Adesola served in the Think-tank Committee that coordinated the handing over of former President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR to incumbent President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

He deployed Citizens Engagement Application (www.myfctagov.ng) through the Department of Reforms Coordination and Service Improvement (RC&SI) which is promoting inclusiveness in governance today.

The outgoing Perm. Sec. also chaired the review of the Public Service Rules (PSR) and Financial Regulations for the Civil Service and introduced a number of novel provisions in accordance with the vision of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation which includes the incorporation of Performance Management System for Annual Performance Review and the introduction of paternity leave and other sundry developments.

He introduced and sustained Quarterly Revenue Review meetings in FCTA with revenue generating agencies up to Wednesday January 24, 2024 and the effects can be seen in the marginal revenue increase in the Internally Generated Revenue of FCTA which peaked at over N230 billion at the end of December 31. 2023 when compared to N150b in 2022, N124b in 2021 and N102b in 2020.
He also harmonized revenue collection from the six area councils into the FCT-Inland Revenue Service.

When FCTA staff were grumbling about cutting down their regular training which was being done through the ugly old practice of man-knows-man bases, he organized trainings for over 3000 staff of FCTA on basic digital skills to meet the digitalization efforts of the administration by 2025 when the dealings of government files are expected to be fully digitalized and computerized.

Adesola also harmonized revenue collection from the six Area Councils into the FCT-Inland Revenue Service which succeeded in eliminating the need for consultants thus saving taxpayers’ resources.

He mandated the digitalization of the operations of the Department of Roads Traffic Services (DRTS) just as the new Park and Pay Policy is smoothly running in an effort to boost FCTA’s IGR.

The promotion of staff as at and when due with payment of their promotion benefits has now become the norm in FCTA against a practice where staff were owed years of promotion sometime in the past.

Within his 40 months as Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr. Olusade Adesola is credited with wide and far reaching reforms that earned him the fond name of the ‘Gentle Giant’ from his admirers.

It is little wonder then that at his valedictory meetings with the FCT Council of Traditional Chiefs and JUAC, HRH, Alh. Adamu Baba Yunusa, who is the Onah of Abaji and Chairman of FCT Council of Chiefs, agreed with the JUAC President, Comrade Oluwakorede Matilokure, that Mr. Olusade Adesola is the first Permanent Secretary to ever announce his departure from FCTA.

In his tribute, Dr. Samuel U. Atang who spoke on behalf of all Senior Management Staff said Mr. Adesola impacted positively on him and other staff in the course of his time as Permanent Secretary.

Born on March 18, 1964 to late Pa Rueben B. Adesola in present Akoko North-East Local Government Area of Ondo State, South-West Nigeria, Adesola Olusade, who is happily married and blessed with four children, is a proud recipient of the national honour of Member of the Order of the Niger, OON.

The hand over process to an Acting Permanent Secretary is expected to be completed January 29, 2024 at exactly 12:00 pm prompt just as he will pack his bags and return back to his house as a Volunteer Ambassador for Peace in his quiet and private life.

Emmanuel Tortiv, is the Principal Press Secretary to the Permanent Secretary, FCTA.

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Eight Athletes, 11 Medals: Applauding Asagba’s Sports Leadership At DELSU

Published

2 weeks ago

October 14, 2026

The Gleamer

By Godspower Odedede

Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, has recorded an impressive outing at the 15th West Africa University Games (WAUG) 2026, winning 11 medals with just eight athletes who represented the university in only three sporting events.

The university won seven gold, two silver and two bronze medals to occupy seventh position on the medal table, an achievement that underscores the potential of its athletes and the importance of purposeful investment in university sports.

DELSU participated in the men’s 100-metre sprint with two athletes, women’s judo with two athletes, and swimming with four male athletes. Despite the limited number of athletes and sporting events, the university’s medal haul was a commendable performance and a source of pride for the institution.

The achievement deserves particular recognition given the restricted scope of DELSU’s participation. With representation in only three sports, the university demonstrated that focused preparation, adequate support and the effective deployment of available talent can produce encouraging results at major university competitions.

A major highlight of DELSU’s preparation for WAUG 2026 was the approval by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Samuel Ogheneovo Asagba, for a quality two-week training programme for the university’s athletes in Asaba.

The camp provided the athletes with an opportunity to prepare using the excellent and up-to-date training facilities available in the state capital.

The initiative is particularly noteworthy as it represents a significant commitment to structured preparation for university sports. Rather than relying solely on athletes’ natural abilities, the training programme recognised the importance of preparation, access to appropriate facilities and institutional investment in performance.

Professor Asagba deserves commendation for this intervention and for demonstrating a willingness to provide practical support for sports development at DELSU. The university’s WAUG performance offers an encouraging indication of what can be achieved when athletes receive purposeful preparation and administrative backing.

The Vice-Chancellor’s broader vision for sports infrastructure is also encouraging. Plans are understood to be underway for the construction of an ultra-modern sports complex for the university in the near future. If delivered as anticipated, the facility could significantly strengthen DELSU’s capacity for athlete development, training, competitions and sports science activities.

Such infrastructure would also support the university’s ambitions to improve its performance at national and international university games. A modern sports complex could provide a foundation for more systematic talent identification, performance monitoring, coaching development and the preparation of athletes across a wider range of sporting events.

Special recognition must also go to Mrs Epebi-Ebi Noah, the swimming coach, who was physically present at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, with the DELSU swimming team during the competition. Her presence and involvement underline the importance of coaching support, technical guidance and close supervision of athletes during major sporting events.

The performance also calls for commendation of the Chairman of the University Sports Committee, Professor Ochuko Nabofa, whose leadership has brought renewed attention and energy to sports development at DELSU. His role in supporting the university’s sports administration and helping to strengthen the sporting environment deserves recognition.

Similarly, the Acting Director of Sports, Peter Omojuwa, deserves commendation for his administrative responsibilities and contribution to the university’s sporting programme. The Chief Coach, Lucky Ajaino, should also be recognised for his role in the technical preparation and development of DELSU athletes.

The combined efforts of the university management, sports committee, sports administrators and coaches are essential to sustaining progress. While medals provide a visible measure of success, the systems established to prepare athletes and support their development are equally important to the long-term growth of university sports.

DELSU’s WAUG achievement follows another notable outing at the last Nigeria University Games Association (NUGA) Games, where the university finished fourth. That result was regarded as one of the finest performances in the institution’s sporting history and strengthened expectations that DELSU could become an even more formidable force in university sports.

The latest WAUG performance provides another reason for optimism. However, the university’s participation in only three events also reveals an opportunity for further growth. Expanding participation across more sports, identifying talented students and improving access to specialised training could help DELSU compete for a higher position on future medal tables.

The proposed sports complex, if realised, could play a central role in this expansion. It should ideally be supported by sustained funding, modern equipment, qualified coaches, athlete welfare programmes and collaboration with relevant sports science professionals. These measures would help ensure that infrastructure investment translates into measurable improvements in performance.

The university could also consider strengthening performance analysis, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, talent identification and systematic monitoring of athletes’ progress. Such an approach would help transform individual successes into a sustainable university-wide sports development programme.

DELSU’s performance at WAUG 2026 is worthy of celebration. Eight athletes competed in just three sporting events and returned with 11 medals, including seven gold. The result reflects the potential within the university and provides a strong basis for building a more ambitious sports programme.

Professor Asagba’s approval of the two-week training camp and the prospect of an ultra-modern sports complex offer reasons to look forward to the next phase of DELSU sports development. The challenge now is to sustain the momentum, broaden participation and ensure that the university’s sporting ambitions are matched by consistent investment and effective implementation.

With continued support from the Vice-Chancellor, the University Sports Committee, the Directorate of Sports, coaches and other stakeholders, DELSU can build on its recent achievements and strengthen its position among Nigeria’s leading sporting universities.

The message from WAUG 2026 is clear: DELSU has demonstrated what a small but well-supported contingent can achieve. With broader participation, sustained preparation and modern sporting infrastructure, the university has the potential to accomplish even greater things.

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