Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, has retired from the public service at the age of 59, three months to his 60th birthday on April 5.
A sendforth party was organised by the Ministry in his honour at the iconic International Conference Centre in Abuja on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, marking his final exit from service.
Amid pomp and circumstance on the occasion attended by the two ministers in the ministry, to wit: Senator Abubakar Kyari [Minister] and Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi [Minister of State], Umakhihe declared that the event was not a sendforth in the real sense of it but a celebration of sorts.
He said that apart from the fact that all the places he had served during his civil service voyage were well represented, he felt very strong and inspired to continue to serve the nation.
Read him: “I am still very strong, and I will continue to serve the nation. I am a phone call away. Reach out to me, and I will make myself available for national service.”
He stated the “Our top priority at the Ministry is food security and these (referring to the two ministers) are the right men to achieve it.
“This time, next year, the price of a bag of rice will come down to about N32,000 from about N60,000 in December 2023.”
He said that as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, it was like he was working with senators all through [referring to both ministers who were once senators], adding that President Bola Tinubu was also a Senator.
According to him, “when they asked where I was aspiring to, I responded why won’t I be like them?”
He said he remained grateful for the encomiums poured on him as well as the deluge of prayers and prayed that their prayers over his life would be answered by the Almighty God.
Umakhihe, in company with his wife, Florence, took the centre stage in celebratory dance as associates and other family members joined in the dance.
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