The 84th birthday celebration of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, a former governor of Edo State, has drawn tributes from political figures and leaders from across Nigeria, with Mr. Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, leading the tributes.
Mr. Obi conveyed his warm wishes through a tweet on his official Twitter handle, expressing admiration for Chief Odigie-Oyegun’s contributions to the nation while also commending the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, for establishing the John Odigie-Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA) in honour of the former governor.
In his tweet, Obi said, “My family and I join other Nigerians to celebrate a most distinguished Nigerian, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, on his 84th birthday. We equally thank the Governor of Edo State, His Excellency Mr. Godwin Obaseki, for honouring Chief Oyegun with the establishment of the John Odigie-Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA) being commissioned today. Chief Oyegun is a committed and patriotic Nigerian.”
According to Peter Obi, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, whose illustrious career includes serving as the Federal Permanent Secretary at the age of 36, has dedicated his life to public service, adding that his steadfast commitment to a better Nigeria has left an indelible mark on the nation’s governance landscape.
“With an Economics degree in 1963 and joining the Federal Civil Service, he devoted his life and career to a better Nigeria, rising to the position of Federal Permanent Secretary in 1975 at the age of 36. He served in the Cabinet Office, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Ministry of Commerce and Industry,” Obi said.
While commending Governor Obaseki, Obi said the establishment and commissioning of the John Odigie-Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA) on this special occasion holds significant meaning and naming the academy after Chief Odigie-Oyegun is a fitting tribute to his selfless contributions to the nation’s progress.
“In assessing Nigeria’s poor performance in key governance indicators such as rule of law, regulatory quality, government effectiveness, voice, and accountability, the establishment and commissioning of JOOPSA today is most auspicious, and naming it after Chief Oyegun is most deserving,” Obi noted.
He commended the Edo State Government for its foresight, noting that with Chief Odigie-Oyegun as a role model, the academy’s mission to cultivate selfless and accountable leadership among civil servants aligns perfectly with the vision of a New Nigeria. He added that the socio-economic growth and development of the country hinge on effective policy formulation and execution, and the training provided by JOOPSA will undoubtedly contribute to this endeavour.
“With the socio-economic growth and development of a society determined largely by the effective formulation and execution of government policies, providing the required training to our civil servants with selfless and accountable leaders like Chief Oyegun as a role model is most commendable and in line with our demand for a New Nigeria that we see as possible,” Obi said.
