Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on public servants to imbibe selflessness, discipline, and excellence, stressing that enduring legacies are built through consistent dedication, resilience, and hard work.
Shettima made the remarks on Tuesday in Abuja during a colloquium held to commemorate the 50th birthday of Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination and Head of the Central Delivery Coordination Unit.
“If we are to raise more generations of Nigerians ready to lead with purpose, to deliver with excellence, and to serve with courage, we must remember this truth: intention without the willingness to pay the price of service remains wishful thinking,” Shettima said.
Eulogising Bala Usman’s career, the Vice President described her as “a mirror not only for the northern Nigerian girl, but for the nation itself,” noting that her influence was earned through grace, grit, courage, vision, and a steadfast commitment to building functional institutions.
“There is no doubt that Usman’s place in our public service history is secure. It was not built on spectacle, nor did it rely on applause. What she has become was a product of decisions taken quietly, responsibilities carried fully, and institutions strengthened with care,” he added.
Highlighting the challenges Bala Usman overcame as a young woman from northern Nigeria, Shettima noted, “Her journey required courage, and that is why she has become that proof. Its trials were visible. Its demands were exacting. Its rewards were earned.”
Other dignitaries at the event, including Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, praised Bala Usman for introducing structure and clarity into governance, particularly during her tenure at the Nigerian Ports Authority, and for her unwavering commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
The Minister for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, and the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Zubaida Umar, also acknowledged her impact on public institutions and youth-focused initiatives, describing her as principled and dedicated.
Keynote speaker Dr. Joe Abah, former Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, highlighted Bala Usman’s life as a lesson in leadership, noting that the impact of government service often becomes visible only after leaving office.
In her remarks, Bala Usman expressed humility and gratitude to President Tinubu, Vice President Shettima, and other dignitaries, recalling her contributions to election planning since 2015 and her tenure at the NPA. She reaffirmed her commitment to advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Bala Usman’s distinguished career includes serving as Chief of Staff to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, being the first female Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority from July 2016 to February 2022, and co-founding the global #BringBackOurGirls movement in 2014, advocating for the rescue of abducted Chibok schoolgirls.
