Lagos hails retired official’s legacy in urban renewal drive

Officials of the Lagos State Government have hailed the contributions of a retired Permanent Secretary in the Office of Urban Development, Gbolahan Oki, for driving transformative changes in urban renewal across the state.

The officials made their remarks at a ceremony held on Friday at Whitestone Event Centre, Oregun, to mark his voluntary retirement after 26 years of service.

Speaking at the event, Lagos State Head of Service, Olabode Agoro, described Oki as a “legend” who served diligently across several ministries.

Agoro described Oki as a “brave and courageous public servant” who demonstrated a strong commitment to the development of Lagos State and mentored officers who would sustain his legacy.

“He traversed several ministries, and we thank him for his service to the Lagos State Government. He was feared because he did his job efficiently, and we wish him a peaceful rest in his retirement,” Agoro said.

The General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, Gbaye Florence, also described Oki as a “legend” and a father figure.

“He is a legend and a father figure. He didn’t see any impossibility in anything. He has had a positive impact in Lagos State and has shown resilience.

“He was diligent and ensured everyone worked efficiently as if they were in a private company.

The Lagos State civil service will miss his contributions,” she said.

The Senior Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Urban Development, Segun Williams, described Oki’s retirement as a significant milestone, noting that he served with diligence and integrity.

He said Oki was leaving behind “shoes that will not be easy to fill” after more than two decades in service.

The Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Samuel Egube, commended Oki’s “hard work, selflessness, and unwavering dedication” to the advancement of the state public service.

Egube added that Oki championed reforms, drove transformation, and had a profoundly positive impact on lives.

The General Manager of the Lagos State Transport Management Authority, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the retired permanent secretary as “firm, dependable, and fearless,” adding that “He was a pathfinder to his workers. He encouraged them to thrive and was a pillar of support. He is a disciplinarian and a good man.”

Responding, Oki described his years in service as “interesting” and urged civil servants to remain diligent.

“As a public servant, I was just trying to do what I know how to do best. I will urge others to keep doing the right thing and be diligent. You don’t judge a book by its cover because you don’t know what is inside it. The heart is what really matters,” he said.

Oki joined the Lagos civil service in March 2000 as an architect in the Ministry of Works and rose through the ranks, serving in key roles across ministries and agencies.

He became an Assistant Director at LASBCA in 2015, later serving at the Ministry of Waterfront and Infrastructure and the Lagos State Resilience Office, where he emerged as the first indigenous Chief Resilience Officer in 2019.

In 2021, he was appointed General Manager of LASBCA before his elevation to Permanent Secretary in the Office of Urban Development, a position he held until his retirement.