The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has described the outgoing Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, as an exceptional public servant committed to excellence.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim made the remarks in Abuja at the presentation of two books authored by Walson-Jack: I Planted: A Memoir of Purposeful Service and Beyond the Mandate: A Memoir on Leadership, Legacy & Labour of Public Service.
The books were presented as part of activities marking Walson-Jack’s retirement after more than three decades in public service.
They chronicle her experiences, reflections and lessons from her years of service.
The Minister said Walson-Jack’s non-partisan disposition and efforts to foster unity had strengthened relationships within the Federal Civil Service.
“The NSA said to know her is to respect her, but I’ll add that to know her is to not only respect her but to love the person that she is,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim said.
She said Walson-Jack also fostered stronger working relationships between ministers and permanent secretaries, creating a greater sense of shared responsibility within government.
“She drove excellence in the federal civil service. She is nonbiased; she brought together the ministers and the permanent secretaries. So we had no choice but to see ourselves as one,” she said.
On Walson-Jack’s future, the minister said Bayelsa State could support a woman whose record of public service demonstrated leadership, competence and capacity.
She suggested that Walson-Jack could potentially break the jinx and become the first female governor of Bayelsa State.
“But I think that Bayelsa State is a state of HeForShe. So my ask is maybe, who knows, that great thing that our mother, Her Excellency Ajoke Mohammed, was actually talking about. Maybe she will break the jinx and break the ceiling, and maybe 30 years into our democracy, she will be the first female governor of Bayelsa State, and Bayelsa will make the right call. Who knows?” she said.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim said Walson-Jack’s accomplishments had made her an inspiration to women, adding that her leadership had encouraged women aspiring to positions of responsibility.
“Thank you for making it so comforting to be a woman because of you; many women will rise,” she said.
The event provided an opportunity to reflect on Walson-Jack’s career, leadership and contributions to the Federal Civil Service.
Dignitaries at the event included former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan; Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; and wife of the late Nigerian leader, Mrs Ajoke Mohammed, among others.
