Senior officials of the Delta State Directorate of Transport have described retiring Director of Finance and Administration, Dr Festus Osakwe, as a key figure in the ministry’s administration, praising his professionalism, financial expertise and role in resolving conflicts among colleagues.
The officials, including the Commissioner for Transport, Onoriode Agofure, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Ngozi Mogbolu, spoke at a retirement ceremony held in honour of Osakwe after his years of service to the state.
Agofure said Osakwe was a hardworking, thorough and honest officer who contributed significantly to the smooth running of the ministry.
“He is someone who holds the administration together,” the commissioner said, adding that the ministry would miss his wealth of experience.
Mogbolu described Osakwe as a brother, friend and “one of a rare kind”, saying he was known for bringing people together whenever disagreements arose.
“He is a peacemaker wherever he is. If two people are having conflicts, or there is a situation that is likely to lead to conflict, Dr Osakwe can bring the parties together,” she said.
She also recalled how Osakwe encouraged her to pursue the position of Permanent Secretary when she was still a director.
According to her, Osakwe repeatedly encouraged her to seek the position even when she was reluctant to do so, and she later became a Permanent Secretary.
Mogbolu said she still remembered Osakwe whenever she spoke about her appointment, adding that his support had made a lasting impression on her.
The Acting Permanent Secretary of the Directorate of Transport, Engr Victor Omoniyi, described Osakwe as a man of experience and professionalism whose advice contributed to the effective management of the ministry.
Omoniyi commended his contributions to financial management and administration and prayed that he would live long enough to enjoy the fruits of his labour.
The Director of Marine Transport, Engr Ufuoma Edu, described Osakwe as gentle, friendly and easy to work with, while the Director of Planning and Statistics, Benedict Nwokolo, said his wisdom and dedication would be greatly missed.
Nwokolo said Osakwe remained a valuable source of experience and expressed hope that he would continue to offer advice whenever the ministry needed his assistance.
The Director of Vehicle Inspection, Engr Vincent Ehiwario, described the retiree as a brother, dependable colleague and valuable resource.
Ehiwario said Osakwe had often provided him with advice and personal support whenever he faced difficulties at work.
“He was like a father to me. I always had this confidence in him. Whenever I brought my problems to him, about 90 per cent of them were solved,” he said.
Another staff member, Blessing, said Osakwe treated members of staff fairly, carried everyone along and did not discriminate.
She described him as an educator who was always willing to share his knowledge and advise colleagues who approached him with problems.
Speaking on his retirement, Osakwe expressed surprise at the ceremony and thanked the management and staff for honouring him.
“I never expected this at all. I am really surprised, and I want to thank you very much. I truly appreciate you,” he said.
Osakwe recalled that his career began when he joined the civil service as a clerical officer shortly after the creation of Delta State.
He said he initially planned to work for only a few months before travelling abroad, noting that many of his colleagues employed around 1991 eventually left the service.
However, he remained in the civil service and continued his education and professional development, eventually obtaining a PhD in Banking.
Osakwe said he was grateful for the opportunity to serve the state and for the relationships he built during his career.
He particularly appreciated colleagues he had worked closely with since 2023, saying they often discussed the implications of decisions before implementing them.
“Sometimes, the commissioner and I would sit down together and discuss the implications of what we intended to do,” he said.
Osakwe thanked the management and staff of the ministry for their support throughout his career and for making his retirement memorable.
