Wahab @60: Celebration of service well delivered, life well spent

Retirement, especially from the civil service, always elicits joy, happiness and fulfilment, for the accomplishment of a long, tortuous and tedious journey through thick and thin, for 35 years.

It’s a journey that subjects civil servants to a series of tests, exposure to various competitions, with some struck on the way. While some make it to the finishing line, some others are struck on the way through either the dangers that the job posts, death or incapacitation.

And that was why finishing the race, which is either 35 years of hard work and labour, or the attainment of 60 years of age, is always considered a great achievement, and celebrated by champions at the end of the race.

For Alhaji AbdulRahman Wahab, it’s a celebration of great fulfilment and accomplishment. It was a celebration of my 60th birthday and retirement in good health and wellness.

60th birthdays marks a significant milestone. It often symbolizes six decades of life experiences and can be viewed as the beginning of a new chapter, particularly as many people in their 60s retire or enter a new phase of life. It’s often referred to as a person’s diamond jubilee or the start of their golden years.

The term “Diamond” in Diamond Jubilee signifies durability and brilliance, much like the gemstone itself. Turning 60 symbolizes a time of reflection on the resilience and beauty of life, much as a diamond reflects resilience and splendor. It acknowledges the endurance and precious nature of one’s life journey, and so it symbolises for Alhaji AbdulRahaman Wahab, who ticked the dots on both ends.

Alhaji Wahab achieved both, and that was why family, friends, associates and well wishers gathered at Henry George Hotel, Adewole area of Ilorin on Saturday May 10, 2025, to celebrate his birthday, as well as his retirement from the civil service.

It was a unique honour for a unique personality whose life is so unique, whose birth was also unique, and also had a unique career, being the very first Director of Land from the whole Ilorin Emirate since the creation of the state. That made his career a unique one.

“Today, family and friends gathered here to celebrate my 60th birthday, which coincided with my retirement from the civil service, after 35 years of absolute service delivery. Today is one of my happiest days, and this is because I don’t know that today will come to pass at all, owing to so many difficulties I encountered in my life.

“My life is so unique, and my birth was also unique. With 35 years in civil service, honestly, its not easy, but by the grace of Almighty Allah. I was able to accomplish the mission, I thank Allah for making this day a reality.

Alhaji Wahab (ANIVS, RSV, HND, BSC), retired Director, Department of Lands at the Kwara State Geographic Information Service (KWGIS) is an indigenes of Ilorin West Local Government of Kwara.

The Estate Surveyor and Valuer holds Higher National Diploma (HND) in Estate Management and a Bachelor Degree (B.Sc) in the same discipline. He worked in various offices, which included the Kwara Property Development Corporation, between December 1993 to June 1996, Senior Estate Officer for Kwara Property Development Corporation (July 1996 to July 2000), Head of Estate Unit for Kwara Investment and Property Development Company Limited (July 2000 to April 2003), Assistant Chief Estate Officer for Kwara State Housing Corporation (2009 to 2011), and Manager (Estate), Kwara Investment and Property Development Company from 2003 to 2009.

He was Head of Department, Inspectorate, Bureau of Land between 2012 to 2013, Head of Department, Acquisition, Bureau of Land (2013 to 2018), and Deputy Director of Lands, Bureau of Lands, from 2018.

His working experiences included coordination on Lands Matters, monitoring of government layout to prevent encroachment, as.well as revocation of land for breach of terms and enforcement of terms and condition of allocation.

Highlights of his fruitful services to the state and his achievements includes the enforcement of lease forums through adequate monitoring of government layout which was more or less an avenue for land speculators/encroaches which prevented rapid development and enhancement of value.

He assisted in the creation of more layouts which included the Malete Residential Scheme, Offa Residential Scheme, Omu-Aran Residential Scheme, Eiyenkorin Residential layout, Amoyo Residential, Agric Second Phase and Osin Aremu Government layout

It also included the acquisition of prominent land for BUA, Thai farm, Industrial park, Acquisition of land for L.G.A, Acquisition for Federation Housing Estate in Ogbondoroko.

He.supervised the restructuring of the directorate for efficient operation through correction of litigation, stakeholder engagement, special scheme, monitory and others helped in the increase in revenue general in the state.

Among the dignitaries that graced the colourful gathering are His Royal Highness, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, as the Royal Father of the Day. The Chairman of the Traditional Council in Kwara state was represented by the Balogun Alanamun, Alhaji Dr. Abubakar Uthman Atolagbe Jos.

Others are Abdulhakeem Abdulsalam, Director PP&DC, KW-GIS TPL, Alhaji Sodiq Olowo, the President, Omo Dada Development Association, Ahaji Sulyman Yahaya Alapansapa, the Chairman of Durban Ilorin Emirate and the Danmadani of ilorin, Alhaji Garba Mojo, a retired Permanent Secretary in the state, as well as Alhaja Wasilat Yahya Seriki, popularly being referred to as Iron Lady.

Also present are Alhaji Gani Yita, the Permanent Secretary, General Service, Governor’s Office, Coach Issa Saliman Lanki, who representated the family of the celebrant, Baba Raman, the General Manager, Harmony Investment and Property Development Company, Ibrahim Mohammed, a retired Surveyor General in Kwara State, Esv Jimoh Waheed, Deed Registrar KW-GISand Esv Alhaji Muri Adi, a doyen in Estate Surveying and Valuation, among others.

While thanking Allah for a life well spent and a service well delivered, Alhaji AbdulRahaman Wahab thanked the state government, his family and friends, as well as well wishers, for celebrating him, even as he advised civil servants on diligence and discipline on the job.

“I will want to advise civil servants to be hardworking and dedicated to duty. They have to be loyal to their superior officers, and most importantly, abide by the rules and regulations of their employers.

“Those are the traits that I applied that saved me and assisted me in successfully accomplishing my mission.