TRAILBLAZER BOWS OUT: TITILAYO TOBA-OJO RETIRES AT 60, LAUNCHES BOOK
By Olugbolade Ogboro-Cole
It was a day of tributes, and transition in Ado Ekiti on Thursday as Mrs. Titilayo Toba-Ojo, the first female Permanent Secretary to rise through the ranks in the Ekiti State Local Government service, officially bowed out at 60, closing a remarkable chapter with the launch of her book, The Grassroot Engine.
The atmosphere at the Local Government Service Commission was charged with emotion during her Pen Down ceremony, as colleagues bid farewell to a career defined by discipline, mentorship, and institutional memory. By evening, the valedictory mood shifted to a grand celebration as Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, top functionaries, traditional rulers, and family gathered for her 60th birthday and book presentation.
Described by peers as an “Administrator per Excellence” who never compromised on standards, Toba-Ojo was showered with encomium from well-wishers who credited her nurturing leadership for shaping their careers.
In her valedictory address, an elated Toba-Ojo expressed profound gratitude to Governor Oyebanji for what she termed his “non-intrusive governance style,” which allowed professionalism to thrive.
“I feel happy! I don’t even know how to describe it,” she exclaimed. “I thank the Governor for allowing us to serve without interference. The Chairman of the Commission and the board members made the job very easy for me; we worked like a father and daughter.”
Overwhelmed by the massive turnout, she admitted she had not fully grasped her impact until that moment. “People said I touched their lives in a different way. I didn’t think much of it, but seeing them drop everything to be here shows that God has been faithful.”
Addressing the next generation of civil servants, she urged transparency and loyalty: “Let transparency be your watchword, just as Governor Oyebanji has demonstrated, which is why we are seeing even development across the state.”
Her husband, Mr. Toba Ojo, described her as a “rare gem,” adding that her impact always leaves astonishing footprints.
In a compelling review of The Grassroot Engine, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Peju Babafemi, described the 233-page masterpiece as a vital blueprint for rescuing Nigeria’s local government system from institutional amnesia.
Presenting the book before dignitaries including all local government chairmen, NULGE leadership, and traditional rulers, Babafemi noted that the work rebrands the local government as the “operational engine of democracy.”
Quoting a poignant passage from the text, the Commissioner read: “I am documenting this story because institutions do not fail because they lack potential; they fail because they stop reflecting. If we do not capture the lessons of the past, the future will force the next generation to repeat our struggles without our wisdom.”
The high point of the review, according to Babafemi, was found on page 74, where the author delves into the spiritual dimension of leadership. She commended Toba-Ojo for reminding public servants that governance is a divine calling, citing her initiative to institute prayer sessions across local government secretariats.
With members of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Ekiti State chapter, in attendance, the Commissioner declared The Grassroot Engine a mandatory read for academics, policymakers, and political office holders. She emphasized that amid the current national debate on local government autonomy, this book serves as a crucial guide for institutional continuity and ethical leadership.
Dignitaries at the event included all local government chairmen; leadership of NULGE; permanent secretaries; traditional rulers including the Onisan, Oba Ayodele Adejuwon, and the Olufaki, Oba Adegbenro Falore; and Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Peju Babafemi, who delivered the book review.
At 60, Toba-Ojo did not merely step away from the desk—she turned a page, leaving behind an administrative footprint that will echo through Ekiti’s grassroots corridors for generations.
