A sendoff event was conducted to honor Dr. Nasir Olaitan Raji-Mustapha, the National Productivity Centre’s (NPC) most recent Director-General, for his hard work for the Center and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The event was a celebration of all the ways he helped the country grow and become more productive while he was in office.
Dr. Baffa Babba Dan’Agundi, the Director-General of the Centre, hosted the ceremony in the NPC headquarters’ conference room. Key players, such as Dr. Kashim Yunusa Akor, a former Director-General of NPC, management staff, other special visitors, and relatives and friends of the celebrant, were there. People were thankful and respectful, which showed how much they thought of Dr. Raji-Mustapha.
Speakers talked on Dr. Raji-Mustapha’s visionary leadership, dedication to quality, and hard work that made a big difference in the Centre’s purpose. His role as a change agent in the organization was especially stressed.
Dr. Dan’Agundi thanked God in his speech for the chance to keep the promise he made approximately a year ago when he took over from Dr. Raji Mustapha. He had vowed to invite him to a proper Sendforth ceremony.
“Allah has made it possible for me to be here with you and other visitors to celebrate you today. I really appreciate that you took the time to accept this invitation.
The Director-General said, “There is nothing more important to me in life than when you leave a place and are told you did well and we are praying for you.”
“I have built on the legacy you and Dr. Akor left me.” “You gave me all the praise for caring about the staff,” Dr. Dan’Agundi said.
Dan’Agundi thanked Dr. Kashim Akor by saying, “There is no day I talk to him that he doesn’t tell me how to move the Center forward.”
Dr. Dan’Agundi told the press that not having the right reward systems makes people less productive.
“Not having the right reward systems kills productivity. That’s why we’ve added a lot of rewards to get staff to do better.
The Director-General added, “As long as I stay the Director-General in the Centre, any Head of Department who leaves will get a car as a gift.”
Dr. Kashim Yunusa Akor, who had passed the baton to Dr. Raji-Mustapha, noted in his speech that they had worked together for eight years without any problems.
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“I never had a reason to doubt his honesty during eight years of working for me.
Like every father hopes his son would do better than him, I’m glad that Dr. Raji accomplished better than I did, and the next Director-General is doing even better.
Dr. Akor said, “What we’ve been able to do to make the National Productivity Center a hot topic in national conversation has been a group effort.”
He thanked the Director-General for honoring the last Director-General and prayed that God would do the same for him. He promised to keep helping the Center grow and told Dr. Dan’Agundi to do more for the staff so that he would be remembered when he goes.
Dr. Raji-Mustapha thanked everyone from the bottom of his heart and promised to keep working for Nigeria’s productivity and growth even after he leaves office.
Dr. Raji-Mustapha said to the Director-General, “I’m proud of what you’re doing in the Center.” I’m glad you’re building on what your predecessors have done. We are productivity consultants, and we know that you can’t be productive if you aren’t motivated.
“Motivation is what makes people productive.
He said, “There are two things that can make you more productive: your desire to do the work and your ability to do it.”
He asked the Director-General to make sure that the Condition of Service is finished and approved, and to look into what else may be done to improve the welfare of NPC staff.
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Dr. Dan’Agundi, the Director-General, gave Dr. Raji-Mustapha an automobile as a farewell gift, which was the best part of the celebration. Mrs. Rosemary Omoyeme Esekhagbe, who just retired as a Director/HOD, and Dr. (Mrs.) Titilola Oshati, who will soon retire as a Director/HOD, both got cars. Recent retirees also got Certificates of Service and Awards of Honour as a way for the Centre to say thank you and show how much they appreciated their work.
The send-off event was a suitable way to honor Dr. Nasir Olaitan Raji-Mustapha’s great service and leadership. It inspired NPC personnel and stakeholders to keep working hard to reach the country’s productivity goals.
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