The need to accept and embrace retirement as a transition to greater fortunes has been harped by the Director General/Chief Executive, National Metallurgical Development Centre, Jos, Engr Prof. Linus Asuquo.
The DG/CE harped this mantra during the Sent forth/Appreciation ceremony organized by the management of NMDC in honour of Sixteen Officers who retired from the Agency from 2018 to 2020 at the Centre’s Conference Hall recently.
Prof Asuquo noted with chagrin the countenance of many workers whenever the issue of retirement is being mentioned. He equivocally said that retirement is another form of elevation devoid of regimental tendencies.
The NMDC Boss while extolling the contributions of the Retired Officers in the growth of the Agency charged them to embrace the world outside the Centre with four Ds which included Desire/ Direction, Determination, Diligence and Discipline. He said that testimonies of those who accepted Retirement as transition to greater opportunities have shown that life after retirement is more promising than the one experienced while in public service.
Prof Asuquo sited the present President of America as example of a man close to eighty years yet kicks high in all his governmental activities.’ His age should be a source of motivation to you all’ he emphasised.
‘At my age of over sixty years, am only beginning ‘ the DG/CE stated. He advised the Retirees to expunge from their future endeavours the four Ds that can stand as stumbling blocks on their ways, these included, Doubts, Discouragement, Dismal and Disappointment.
The DG/CE encouraged both the members of staff and the Retirees to make use of every healthy opportunity around them to prepare for greater task ahead of them before and after retirement.
Prof Asuquo wished the Retirees the best of life while urging them to hold unto God as no human plan can come into fruition without the approval of the creator he stressed.
In his response,the formal Acting Director General of the Agency, Engr Emmanuel Ishaku Mbaya on behalf of his colleagues Retirees thanked the DG/CE and the entire members of staff of NMDC for considering them worthy for such honour.
Mbaya said that retirement is an indispensable factor in the public service. He narrated his experience climbing the ladder in the civil service to the position of a Director and his experience so far outside the walls of the civil service.
The former Acting DG expressed his awe on the unimaginable human and infrastructural transformation taking place at NMDC within the short period the DG/CE assumed leadership of the Centre.
He equally implored the DG/CE and his work force never to dither in their resolve to make Research and Development a better option to oil in growing the economy of Nigeria.
Mbaya said that no person who retired from NMDC will ever regret working their because as a research institute, it makes one to be more creative and encourages bond among colleagues.
‘We contributed our quotas to the system while in service and today we are happy to successfully managing our businesses in the other side of the world’ Mbaya stated.
The Director of Finance and Human Resources Management of the Centre, Dr Abubakar Yusuf Tumi in his vote of thanks said that the decision of the management to appreciate the Retirees was burned out of the passion of the DG/CE to reward hard work and excellence among the work force. He said that the sent forth was the first of its kind organised by the centre.
Dr.Tumi advised the retirees to go to world as Ambassadors NMDC through their honest and diligent way of handling their engagements outside the fore walls of the centre.
He told all members of staff to emulate all the virtues the retirees left behind that can serve as propensity for better life after retirement.
