- We wish you well, says MCO Director-General
- As Dr Salau tasks Civil Servants on Continuous Professional Development
The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc Olamilekan Adegbite on Tuesday, described the retiring Director of Registry, Mining Cadastre Office (MCO), Dr Mrs Sidikat Lami Salau as an asset of immense value to the sector and the country, adding that she earned the honor of being celebrated by ‘her own peers.’ In the same vein, the Minister of State, Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah highlighted her commitment to the development of the country’s mining sector.
The Ministers, who made the remarks during a well-attended send-forth ceremony for Dr Salau who clocked 60 years on Tuesday, joined Directors General of MCO, Engr Obadiah Nkom and his counterpart at the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), Dr Garba Abdulrazaq and other dignitaries who converged at the MCO to celebrate Dr Salau’s meritorious service that has led to her glorious exit from the Federal Civil Service.
Engr Nkom, who congratulated Dr Salau on her 60th birthday, noted that she has put in the best in service, he wished her long life and continuous prosperity.
The Director General congratulated the Honorable Minister and Honorable Minister of State on their One Year in Office, adding that their hallowed presence at the MCO was well appreciated.
Presenting MCO souvenirs to the Ministers in commemoration of the anniversary, the Director-General said, “May God continue to give you the wisdom to progressively pilot the affairs of the ministry and the mining sector, and we wish you many more fruitful years in office, amen.”
“We are privileged to have the Honorable Ministers in our midst, despite their tight schedules,” he said, adding that “the MCO celebrates the successful One-Year in office of the ministers as well as Dr Salau’s 60th birthday and retirement.”
While describing the Minister of State as a leader who believes in team-work, the Director General extolled the working relationship between of the ministry and agencies, adding that it is has led to mandate success of the ministry and its agencies.
Engr Nkom congratulated Dr Sdikat Salau on her glorious retirement from service.
The Honorable Minister who thanked the MCO for the goodwill, described the day as a “day of joy.”
Discussing the significance of the ceremony for Dr S. L. Salau, the minister said: “It is beautiful to be celebrated, especially by your own peers.” Adegbite explained that “people out there may not know you well enough to celebrate you, but your peers do. However, your peers may fail to celebrate you because there is usually serious familiarity especially because they see you every day. So, it wonderful when peers effortfully decide to celebrate one of their own.”
“I am happy for Mrs Salau because she is being celebrated by her own team, her own people – which is the best honor that can be bestowed,” he said. While he remarked that Dr Salau is blessed with strength even at the point of retirement, he wished her fruitful years in retirement.
“By the grace of God, Dr Salau’s retirement will be another phase of prosperity for her,” he prayed, and wished her success in her intentions.
On behalf of the Mining Cadastre Office, the Director General presented gifts to the Honorable Ministers and Dr S. L. Salau while dignitaries assisted Dr Salau in cutting her Birthday and Retirement Cake, provided by staff of the MCO.
In her response, Dr Salau who was visibly elated thanked the Ministers, Directors General of Agencies, Directors of the Ministry and the MCO, and all staff who gathered to honor her.
While thanking God for divine grace by which she overcame challenges, she thanked God for her sister, Dr Wusilatu Shittu Titilola whom she said, played very vital roles in her life.
Addressing Engr Nkom, Dr Salau said: “Thank you my Director General, Engr O. S. Nkom, we have come a long way since 1977,” adding that “God made me what I am today through the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.”
“As a result of the passion I have for the industry, I have encouraged staff to acquire more knowledge, civil servants should not necessarily wait for seminars and courses before they acquire knowledge, they must learn to improve themselves on their own,” she said.
She advised Civil Servants to take best advantage of opportunities by making wise use of time and resources.
She commended the Ministers for their commitment to the formalization of artisanal miners, stating that their efforts will yield desired results.
“During my service of thirty-three years in the ministry, I did not work alone, I worked with several people and I say ‘thank you’ to every one of them,” she added.
