DR. NASIR OLAITAN RAJI-MUSTAPHA HONOURED FOR EXEMPLARY SERVICE TO NATIONAL PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE.
By Raymond Enoch.
In a heartwarming and dignified ceremony held at the National Productivity Centre (NPC) headquarters, Abuja, the immediate past Director-General, Dr. Nasir Olaitan Raji-Mustapha, was honoured for his outstanding service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to productivity and national development.
The sendforth event, convened by the current Director-General, Dr. Baffa Babba Dan’Agundi, served not only as a farewell, but as a grand celebration of legacy, excellence, and continuity within the Centre. The conference room brimmed with dignitaries, including a former Director-General, Dr. Kashim Yunusa Akor, management staff, special guests, and family members — all present to honour a man described as “a catalyst for transformational change.”
In a moving tribute, Dr. Dan’Agundi extolled the virtues of his predecessor, recalling the promise he made a year ago to give Dr. Raji-Mustapha a proper sendforth.
> “There is nothing more important to me in life than when you leave a place and you are told you have done well, and we are praying for you,” he said, adding, “I have built on the legacy transferred to me from you and Dr Akor.”
He credited much of the current advancements in staff welfare and productivity incentives to the groundwork laid by Dr. Raji-Mustapha, noting:
> “As long as I remain a Director-General, any retiring Head of Department will go home with a car as a parting gift.
In a rare show of continuity and camaraderie, former DG Dr. Kashim Yunusa Akor reflected on the seamless leadership transitions, noting that Dr. Raji-Mustapha had served under him for eight years “without blemish.”
> “Like every father would wish that his son will do better than him, I am happy that Dr. Raji improved on what I did, and the new DG is doing even better,” he said, underscoring the collaborative efforts that have kept NPC at the heart of national discourse.
Taking the stage, Dr. Raji-Mustapha delivered an impassioned address, emphasizing the connection between motivation and productivity.
> “There are two things that can improve productivity: Your willingness to do the work and the ability to do the work,” he stated.
He expressed pride in the achievements of the current administration and urged the leadership to finalise the Condition of Service and expand staff welfare packages, saying this was essential to sustaining the momentum of progress.
In a memorable highlight of the ceremony, Dr. Raji-Mustapha was presented with a car as a parting gift — a symbolic gesture underscoring appreciation for his years of dedicated service. Similar honours were extended to Mrs. Rosemary Omoyeme Esekhagbe, a recently retired Director/HOD, and Dr (Mrs) Titilola Oshati, who is set to retire soon.
Certificates of Service and Awards of Honour were also handed out to recent retirees as tokens of deep institutional service.
The event not only commemorated the contributions of Dr. Raji-Mustapha but also reinforced the values of continuity, mentorship, and merit-based recognition at NPC. As the Centre looks to the future, the ceremony stood as a powerful reminder that leadership rooted in integrity, motivation, and vision remains central to the nation’s productivity aspirations.
> “We celebrate you because you gave your best to Nigeria,” Dr. Dan’Agundi concluded.
