*Left to Right: Sabiu Zakari-Fin Secretary; Elisabeth Emuren- Auditor; Japh Nwosu-Ex-Officio Member; Goke Adegoroye- Publicity Secretary; Engr Ebele Okeke-1st Vice Chairman; Dame Esther Didi Walson-Jack -Head of Service; M. Yayale Ahmed-COLRFEPS Chairman; Kehinde Ajoni-Legal Adviser; Akin Arikawe-2nd Vice-Chairman; Dr Adaoha Okwuosa-Socials Secretary; Dr. Mrs Lami Hamza-Ex-Officio Member
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator George Akume, GCON is to deliver the keynote address at the 2025 CORFEPS End-of-the-Year Dinner and Honours Award in Abuja on December 4. Dr. George Akume is the former Governor of Benue State and previously served as Minister for Special Duties.
The Council of Retired Federal Permanent Secretaries (CORFEPS) is set to host its 2025 End-of-Year Dinner and Honours Award Event at the State House Conference Centre Hall in Abuja on Thursday, 4th December 2025, scheduled to run from 6pm to 10pm.
The theme for this year’s Annual Dinner is “Harnessing CORFEPS as a Wealth of Knowledge for Nation Building”. The dinner is typically accompanied by a Keynote Address on major contemporary issues in governance and national development.
According to a statement released by the CORFEPS Chairman, Planning Committee- Dr. Adaoha C. Okwuosa, OON: “this year marks a significant occasion as the CORFEPS National Executive has taken the decision to institute a CORFEPS Honours Award. This special addition to the activities will kick-start with the honour and recognition of the Fathers and Founders of CORFEPS. These individuals are celebrated as the titans who provided support to the growth of the Federal Public Service as it is known today”.
Distinguished Honourees and Attendees
The event will particularly recognise past and living legends of the Civil Service, including Allison A. Ayida, Izoma Philip Asiodu, Francesca Emanuel, Alh. I. M. Damcida, Asiwaju Tunji Olutola, and Alhaja Latifat Okunnu, among others.
“This year, the Keynote Speaker will be the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, GCON. The occasion will be chaired by the present Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dame Esther Didi Walson-Jack. Welcoming the guests will be the Host, M. Yayale Ahmed CFR, an eminent bureaucrat, former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and former Minister of Defence. Also expected to be present is Engr. Ebele O. Okeke CFR, the First Female Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. Guests at the occasion will include members of the Federal Executive Council, Heads of Public Service Parastatals and Agencies, Captains of Industry, Retired and Serving Permanent Secretaries, Directors, and some Development Partners”, Dr. Akwuosa said.
CORFEPS started in Lagos in 2004 as an Association and was eventually incorporated on 17th February 2012. It serves as a Body of Retired Civil Servants from the top echelon who are in a position to contribute to the nation, acting as a reservoir of public service experience and knowledge. The registration established its deliberative and advisory role. The Council’s motto is “Continuing Patriotic Service”, and its membership is restricted to persons who have attained the position of Federal Permanent Secretary or the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and have retired.
In keeping with its Constitution, CORFEPS has steadfastly remained a non-profit, non-religious and non-political Council. Its key objectives include:
- Providing a forum for engaging in meaningful discourse on important and relevant issues of national development, including matters pertaining to the Public Service.
- Drawing public attention to matters of desirable national living standard and standards of values, morality, performance and conduct.
- Carrying out periodic objective assessment of the overall performance of the nation and giving constructive advice on key public policy issues.
- Assisting to restore and maintain the proper role of the Civil Service as a non-partisan organ to serve government and the nation.
- Enhancing continuous interaction among Retired Federal Permanent Secretaries and promoting the welfare of members, as a means of inspiration for serving public servants.
The Council seeks to achieve its objectives through a structure of Standing and Ad-Hoc Committees, such as the Research Committee, the Advisory Committee, and the Standing Committee on Members Welfare, which report to the Monthly Ordinary General Meeting (OGM). A key strategy involves well-organized annual seminars and colloquiums on topical and contemporary issues, as well as the articulation of Memoranda and Advisories dispatched to the Executive or Legislative arms of government.
Under the present Administration, CORFEPS has transmitted several documents to the requisite arms of government in 2024 and 2025. To the Executive Arm of Government, these include a Memorandum on Strengthening the Renewed Agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR (March 13, 2024), a Memorandum on Strengthening the Federal Government Food Security Agenda (August 26, 2024), and an Advisory on “Probable Deportation of Foreigners from the United States of America: Implications for Nigeria” (December 5, 2024). To the National Assembly, documents transmitted include a “Memorandum on Improvement of Nigeria’s Tax Bills” (January 23, 2025) and a “Memorandum for Constitutional Amendment” (July 21, 2025).
Members Welfare
With a strategy of well-organized annual seminars and colloquiums on topical and contemporary issues on governance and national development, CORFEPS leadership is constantly mindful of its stated goals. An additional method is the articulation of Memoranda and Advisories which are dispatched to the Executive or
the legislative arms of government as required. For instance, under the present Administration, CORFEPS had in 2024 and 2025 transmitted the following documents to the requisite arms of government:
A. To the Executive Arm of Government:
i.13th March, 2024 – Memorandum on Strengthening the Renewed Agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR
ii.26th August, 2024 – Memorandum on Strengthening the Federal Government Food Security Agenda
iii.5th December, 2024 – Advisory on ‘’Probable Deportation of Foreigners from the United States of America: Implications for Nigeria’’.
B. To the National Assembly:
i.23rd January, 2025 – ‘’Memorandum on Improvement of Nigeria’s Tax Bills’’.
ii.21st July, 2025 – ‘’Memorandum for Constitutional Amendment’’.
The CORFEPS End-of-Year Event has usually been a dinner-only occasion for relaxed social interaction between CORFEPS families and stakeholders of CORFEPS from the Public Service and Private Sectors as well as Diplomatic Sector.
The dinner is usually accompanied with a Key-Note Address on major contemporary issues in governance and national development. This year, 2025, the CORFEPS National Executive has taken a decision to institute a CORFEPS Honours Award.
This special addition to the CORFEPS activities is being kick-started with the due honour and recognition of Fathers and Founders of CORFEPS at this equally special venue of the State House, Aso Villa Conference Centre.
The dinner is traditionally a relaxed social occasion for interaction between CORFEPS families and stakeholders from the Public Service, Private, and Diplomatic Sectors.
We thank you all for availing us of your esteemed company at this auspicious occasion. You are all welcome.
