Public sector leaders, family members and associates on Tuesday gathered in Abuja to commemorate the first anniversary of the death of Grace Adayilo, the late indigenous female Head of Service of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The event also featured the official launch of the Grace Adayilo Legacy Initiative for Grassroots Development (GALI), established to sustain her contributions to public service and community development.
The initiative is expected to focus on grassroots development, women’s empowerment and improvements in public sector administration across the FCT.
Speaking at the event, the FCT Head of Civil Service, Mrs Nancy Nathan, commended the initiative and pledged the continued support of the FCT Administration.
Mrs Nathan urged young public servants to emulate Adayilo’s commitment to service while advising the initiative’s organisers to uphold transparency, integrity and accountability.
Also speaking, the Director of the FCT Department of Reforms Coordination and Service Improvement, Dr Jumai Ahmadu, said GALI would place strong emphasis on supporting local communities.
She identified the Yeyedu Women Association, a network of women mentored by Adayilo, as one of the groups expected to benefit from the initiative.
Ahmadu said the initiative brings together Adayilo’s family, mentees, friends and associates to preserve her legacy of public service leadership through practical grassroots development programmes.
Adayilo, who was widely remembered by those she mentored as “Mama Africa”, died in 2025.
