The Ogun State Head of Service, Mr. Kehinde Onasanya, and other permanent secretaries in the state have praised the Chairman of the Body of Permanent Secretaries and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olu Aikulola, who will retire from service on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.
They gave their tributes during a special farewell session held in his honour by the Body of Permanent Secretaries.
The event took place at the Bureau of Political Affairs and Administration Conference Room, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, and also included the formal handover of leadership of the group.
In his remarks, the Head of Service described Aikulola as a wise, focused, and humble man whose leadership and mentorship left a lasting mark on the Ogun State Civil Service.
“Dr. Aikulola has been a man of integrity, intelligence, and exceptional management skills. The Ogun State Civil Service will continue to benefit from his wealth of experience even in retirement,” Onasanya said.
He also recalled supporting Aikulola during a challenging time in his career, saying his honesty and dedication stood out.
“He went through a challenging period, which he shared with me, and I stood by him based on his track record and outstanding qualities. In the end, he was exonerated. Dr. Aikulola, I am proud of you,” Onasanya stated.
The Head of Service praised Aikulola’s short but remarkable tenure as Chairman of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, noting that he introduced a Code of Conduct for members and promoted unity among them.
The Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Mr. Oyejola Oyeneye, recalled meeting Aikulola years ago when he worked as a Zonal Education Officer and admired his creativity and commitment to public service.
He mentioned that Aikulola’s project, tagged LINKAGES, attracted support from the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, for renovating schools in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area.
Oyeneye added that Aikulola’s dedication and excellent service earned him the National Order of Merit Award given by former President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, in 2017.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Oluwatosin Oloko, who joined the service the same year as Aikulola, said they both stayed committed and content despite their modest pay at the beginning of their careers.
She praised his honesty and noted that he never took advantage of private school owners, a value they both shared.
The state’s Accountant General and Permanent Secretary, Treasury, Mr. Babatunde Aregbesola, fondly called Aikulola “Stanley” and described him as a man of integrity, loyalty, generosity, and humility.
“He is an encourager, a supporter of good causes, and a lover of God who consistently shows respect for constituted authority,” Aregbesola said.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Kayode Oladehinde, also described Aikulola as “a man of impeccable character,” who is deeply passionate about mentoring his subordinates.
In his response, Aikulola thanked the Head of Service for supporting him during tough times and said that support made a big difference.
He also appreciated his colleagues in the Body of Permanent Secretaries for their cooperation and promised to continue supporting the civil service whenever needed.
The ceremony ended with the formal handover of leadership from Aikulola to his successor, the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Establishments, Mrs. Lydia Fajounbo.
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