Lagos NUJ Chairman, Dr Qasim Akinreti pays tribute to Mr Fola Adeyemi who recently retired from the Lagos State Civil service.
Effectively Monday, September 2, 2019, the curtains are drawn and files closed on a memorable and remarkable 35 years of public service at the Ministry of Information and Strategy for ‘Uncle Fola Adeyemi”.
He came, he saw and conquered. Rising to the pinnacle of his media career as the Permanent Secretary, an equivalent of a Director-General on grade level in the public service, except by the nomenclature of the political appointment.
To accentuate his remarkable feats in the public service of Lagos state, Uncle Fola Adeyemi was moved to the Ministry of Tourism along with Steve Ayorinde. He came back to finish the race at the Ministry of Information and Strategy, combining effectively with Kehinde Bamigbetan and bowing out with a brief stint with Gbenga Omotoso.
In the biblical hymns “ what else can I say!!!!! Thank you Lord “ . That is the song for Fola today.
In the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Fola Adeyemi warmly came to the reckoning. He served the union in various capacities at the chapel and state level. He was a key member of the New Trend Group Of Late Ladi Lawal.
He kept firmly with Lanre Arogundade and fired salvos in the trenches when it mattered most. His greatest achievement for the NUJ Lagos stands tall. It is recorded that as the Permanent Secretary Ministry Of Information and Strategy he worked assiduously with the Former Commissioner Kehinde Bamigbetan to get a whopping N25 million for the Remodeling Of Ladi Lawal Press centre.
This is historic. The highest funds ever released and donated to NUJ state council in Nigeria till date. With Mrs Toro Oladapo, he ensured that an inter-ministerial committee was set up to ensure the take-off of the project. To all doubting Thomases, the Remodeling project is at the advanced stages. Seeing is believing walk down to 9A Iyalla street Alausa Ikeja.
During the election of the NUJ Lagos council in 2017, Adeyemi delivered the votes strategically. He gave me his assurances in the presence of habeeb ( Egbe ni e fame) the Former Chief Press Secretary. “You will win this election “ end of quote.
He drove personally to the venue of the election at Radiolagos hall with Habeeb Haruna. His numerous supports for my administration is noteworthy. I really appreciate you my dearest brother, Comrade and Senior. I wish you sound health and wisdom throughout the rest of your life.
Enjoy your retirement.!!!!!!
The elder statesman Cheers 🍻
Qasim Akinreti,PhD
Chairman NUJ Lagos State Council
BRIEF PROFILE
Adeyemi holds a Bsc Degree in Social Science from the University of Lagos and was a journalist with the Radio Nigeria and the defunct Daily Times before joining the Lagos State Civil Service.
