By ABUBAKAR YUSUF
Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs), clocked 62 on Wednesday, 29th September, 2021.
A politician of high repute from a royal family in Lagos, she was also a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State between 2001 and 2005.
Before then, as a grassroots politician, that later metamorphosed into national limelight, she held forth as former commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in Lagos State for many years.
Though, highly placed in national standing with revered personality, she has however not allowed her position in society to erase her sense of humility, kindness, show of love, ideals, disposition and has continued to touch as much lives as have come her way. She has continued to lead the campaign vigorously for the upliftment of the downtrodden, gender equity and overall reduction of inequality.
Princess Adefulire,with all her enormous and respected royalty,delved into become a social reformer,who does not condone creed, religion or sectional couch in the course of carrying out both her official and personal activities to all and sundry.
A disciplinarian of high callibre,whose quest for transparency and accountability in the public service has been a template for fiscal discipline in the public life.
She has not only advocated for social and economic security of ordinary Nigerians, but demonstrated same both at local and international fora.
Her unflinching flare and strong passion for humanitarian gestures overtime know no bound, as she carries out her official activities beyond the demands of public service to the betterment of the people.
Aside giving special attention to social stratification in Nigeria, through the implementation of SDGs in the last six years, she has not hidden her desire to see to the removal of all forms of bottlenecks that limits the girl child from accessing quality education and attaining their potentials across the states.
Worried by the consequences of COVID-19 pandemic and the disturbing number of out of school children, she led the campaign for inclusive education in Nigeria, especially for those from the poor background. This is currently receiving attention at the highest level with a steering committee on Alternate School Programme already inaugurated by the president.
Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire has continued to lend her voice on alleviating the plights of the downtrodden in the society, while her stand on the implementation of pro-poor programmes that will better the lives of ordinary Nigerians remains unwavering.
In carrying on with the mandate of her Office, coordinating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, Princess Orelope-Adefulire has continued to push for the provision of quality healthcare, inclusive and quality education for all, quality potable water and overall reduction of inequality and poverty as the global community enters the decade of action for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. Her efforts have attracted accolades from both local and the international quarters.
No doubt, the efforts Princess Orelope-Adefulire in poverty reduction is remarkable as she has continued to push against all odds, the empowerment of youths, girls and women through the construction and equipping of numerous Skill Acquisition Centres across the country.
World over, graduates of various fields are being encouraged to take to highly demanded entrepreneurs and skill development and this makes the proactive stance of the SDGs boss in Nigeria a welcome development.
Mama SDGs, as she’s popularly called, had rolled out a well-articulated programme of empowerment across the country that will engaged our teeming youths and prepare them for different ventures and vocations.
At her current age and status in the public office, her people oriented programmes and frame of mind as well as ability to continue to deliver on the mandate of her Office certainly stands her out for the job and as a round peg in the round hole.
As you mark another year on the surface of the earth, may the light of humanitarian services continue to shine in all your endeavours.
CONGRATULATIONS and Happy Birthday Your Excellency, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, wishing you many more years.
Yusuf, writes From Abuja