Grace Adayilo, FCT’s First Female Head of Service, Passes Away at 57
Grace Adayilo, the trailblazing first female Head of Service in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration, has died at the age of 57.
She reportedly passed away in the early hours of Monday, September 1, 2025.
Her sudden death came as a shock to many, especially as she had attended a church service just the day before without showing any signs of illness.
Adayilo etched her name in history in October 2024 when President Bola Tinubu appointed her as the Head of Service—the first woman to occupy the role since the inception of the FCT.
Her appointment came shortly after the retirement of Dr. Atang Udo Samuel and was in line with the administration’s push for enhanced public service efficiency under Tinubu’s “Hope Agenda.”
Before her historic elevation, Adayilo had a distinguished career in the FCT civil service.
She served as the Permanent Secretary of the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat and had previously held the position of Education Secretary at the Local Education Authority (LEA) in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), where she spearheaded reforms to revitalize the educational sector.
Earlier in her career, she was Director of the Gender Development Department under the Social Development Secretariat, where she addressed complex issues related to gender-based violence, family disputes, and child welfare, in alignment with the Child Rights Act of 2003.
Reacting to her death during a media briefing on Monday, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike described Adayilo’s passing as a profound loss.
He praised her dedication and work ethic, revealing that he had personally appealed to President Tinubu to extend her tenure due to her exceptional service.
“The late FCT Head of Service was very hardworking,” Wike stated. “I pleaded with President Tinubu to extend her tenure because of her commitment. If I had received the news earlier, I would have canceled this media chat. Her passing is truly sad and unfortunate.”
Grace Adayilo leaves behind a legacy of service, leadership, and advocacy for reform in public administration and gender equity.
