Kwara State empowers civil servants for life after retirement

The Kwara State Government reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare of its workforce during the inaugural Kwara SDGs Convention held on Thursday in Ilorin. The convention, which aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), seeks to provide civil servants with the tools and strategies needed to lead productive lives even after retirement.

Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi, while speaking at the event, emphasised the administration’s focus on ensuring that civil servants are not left without support after their service years. He highlighted that part of the government’s commitment to the SDGs is centred around promoting decent work and economic growth for all.

“The era where Kwara civil servants retire and have nothing to do has passed. This administration is focused on ensuring that after retirement, workers have something to fall back on,” Alabi remarked through his representative, Commissioner for Communication, Bola Olukoju.

The Kwara SDGs Convention, organised by Hon. Mariam Nnafatima Imam, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on SDGs, was attended by government officials, permanent secretaries, and top civil servants on Grade Levels 15 to 17. Among the attendees were notable figures such as Dr Hauwa Nuru, Commissioner for Finance; Hon. Damilola Yusuf-Adelodun, Commissioner for Business Innovation and Technology; and a range of speakers, including experts in digital innovation, agriculture, and entrepreneurship.

Nnafatima Imam stressed the importance of equipping participants with the knowledge and strategies necessary to seize opportunities in fields such as agriculture, entrepreneurship, and ICT. “Our goal is to explore vital topics that will not only help us navigate the present but also ensure a prosperous and secure future for everyone, especially those approaching retirement in the Civil Service,” she said. The programme, she noted, aligns with SDG goals 8, 9, 11, and 12, which focus on decent work, industry innovation, sustainable cities, and responsible consumption.

One of the key concerns highlighted by the event’s organisers was the anxiety that often accompanies retirement among civil servants. Imam revealed that surveys conducted by her office showed many civil servants experience a “retirement syndrome,” manifesting in fears about life after government service. The convention, she explained, aims to address these concerns by providing civil servants with a roadmap for continued success post-retirement.

The event’s various lectures and panel discussions covered topics such as digital innovation and sustainable agricultural practices. Ishola Kayode, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital Innovation, emphasised how digital tools can help diversify the economy and empower retirees. “The digital world offers vast opportunities that retirees can leverage to network their businesses and meet their economic needs,” Ishola said. He also stressed the importance of digital innovation in advancing the SDGs in Kwara State.

Rukayat Yahaya, founder of Tamirah Entrepreneurship Center, and Gegele Yahya Olushola, a serial entrepreneur, offered further insights into entrepreneurship and agriculture. Gegele’s lecture, titled “Agriculture: Sustainable Practices and Opportunities for Retirees,” focused on how retirees can turn organic waste into wealth. He illustrated how waste materials like sawdust and rice husks can be used to produce mushrooms and manure, transforming local resources into economic opportunities.

In concluding remarks, Nnafatima Imam announced that the training would be a continuous exercise, with plans to provide access to loans, international grants, and other resources to help civil servants transition smoothly into their post-retirement lives.

As the state continues to champion the SDGs, Kwara’s civil servants can look forward to a future where retirement is not an end, but the beginning of a new chapter filled with opportunity and growth.