By Ezeaja Ikemefuna

The Director of Information and spokesman of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Joel Oruche is due to retire from the Federal Civil Service after over thirty years of meritorious service to the nation.

Dr Oruche, who joined service on 30th January 1992, will retire on the 29th of July, 2025, after attaining the mandatory age of sixty.

He assumed duty as Director of Information in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in April 2022.

Dr. Oruche has serviced in different MDAs, as Press Secretary / Resident Information Officer including Ecological Project Office, Federal Civil Service Commission, NEPAD, and Ministry of Defence.

In his tour of duty, Dr. Oruche made significant contributions towards publicizing government activities, for instance,while at Ecological Project Office, he initiated the Pre-Project Sensitization Programme which brought together government officials, project benefiting communities, contractors and other stakeholders for effective collaboration aimed at ending conflicts between communities and contractors which hitherto, stalled execution of projects, resulting in the abandonment of projects and worsening of ecological sites at extra cost to government.

At the Ministry of Agriculture, the outgoing director initiated the Annual Training Workshop for Agriculture Correspondents aimed at deepening their understanding of the Ministry’s activities with Directors and other Experts taking turns to brief the Participants.

In his valedictory speech on Monday, 28th of July 2025, Dr Oruche expressed his profound gratitude to all reporters who worked with him during his tour of duty in different Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) especially Agriculture Correspondents for their commitment and support.

He urged them to continue to support the department with the same level of commitment pledging to keep open his relationship with colleagues.

He revealed that the highlight of the Ceremony to mark his birthday and exit from Public Service will be presentation of his book titled: “where no one is oppressed’ the challenge of nation building in Nigeria” which is his humble contribution to nation building and national question slated for 31th July 2025 in Abuja.

Dr Joel Okwuchukwu Oruche is an intellectual philosopher,Educationist, and Information Management Expert, a researcher, novelist, and prolific writer with 18 published books.

His wealth of experience as a writer, teacher, and journalist will be missed by the department and, indeed, the ministry.

BY UTHMAN BABA- NASEER MINNA

Dr. Mustapha,JIbrin-Alkhair

a medical Doctor of high repute can best be described as an astute professional medical doctor that has a Midas touch to humanity.

In the course of his professional callings in his field of endeavours, he has exhibited a high level standard in effectively carrying out his duty to God and humanity which are the ethical attributes of a medical doctor.

Dr. Mustapha JIbrin-Alkhair, inherited the path of medical line from his late Father Doctor Jibrin Alkhairi of blessed memory whose kindhearted informed his decision to pioneered the establishment of the first private hospital in Minna for the sake of humanity and the vulnerable indigent patients in Minna and beyonds.

His late father, according to a verifiable source in Minna had used his hospital to treat and conducted free surgery to various indigents and vulnerable patients in his hospital without taken a dime from them.

Dr. Mustapha Jibrin,a Public health expert of inestimable standard who has cut a niche for himself in his professional callings.

Dr. Alkhairi as is fondly called has exhibited his professional and leadership quality during his sojourn in the Niger State Ministry of Health when he was appointed as the Commissioner for health under the immediate past administration of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello.

His days as a Commissioner for health, Dr. Mustapha, has brought unprecedented innovations to the health sectors that has positively impacted on patients particularly pregnant women, children and aged as well as the indigents and vulnerable patients in Niger State.

Dr. Mustapha,JIbrin-Alkhair

Equally,Dr Mustapha Jibrin as Commissioner for health himself along with of senior technical and management staff, provide and oversight of: Hospitals and health institutions in the state primary health care agency,drug management agency, contributory health scheme,Emergency/outbreak operation centre, health training in the state among others innovations.

Similarly as the Commissioner for health in Niger State,Dr. Mustapha represented United Nation Education Children Education Fund (UNICEF) in Niger State and provided technical and programmatic assistance to health MDAs in the state. He also supported the establishment of working committee to coordinate HTR activities which included baseline and end-line assessment,training communications, monitoring and data analysis.
Supported micro- planing to determine target populations,health team composition and schedule of outreach services. Ensured data integration and reporting into LGAs,state and pollio reporting systems

He made it as a duty for patients to be treated at no cost while surgeries will be carried out on patients at an affordable rates knowing Fully well that government all over the world will not compromise the health of its citizens.

Also, as the Commissioner for Investment Commerce and Industry, Dr Mustapha conceived,formulated and evaluated policies and strategies related to investment,commerce and industry. He also formulated policies and programmes for the promotion and development of micro- medium and small-scale industries in Niger state. Developed strategies and institutional incentives to migrate Niger State from a civil service-oriented state into a major Commercial and investment hub to service the Federal Capital Territory.

This among others innovations were all conceived during his and under his leadership as member of the Niger State executive council under the immediate past administration of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello.

It is not out of place however, that Allah SWT in his infinite grace, the mantle of leadership of Chanchaga local government area will bestow on him at the November, Local government election in Niger State.

Dr. Mustapha Jibrin has paid his political dues in Niger State since the inception of the current democratic dispensation which to him politics is all about service to humanity.

His believe as a medical doctor,that ventured into the oceanic pools of politics having touched lives in many stratas of human endeavours, Coming in to politics is to continue to serve the larger society through impacting on them with the needed amenities that will have direct bearings on their lives.

Although,he was given the same mandate to serve the people of Chanchaga local government area which was truncated through litigation at the end the incumbent leadership of Aminu Ladan took over the leadership through litigation in court.

Dr. Mustapha however,took the court litigation with faith as a true believer in destiny he took the decision of the litigation behind him and forget ahead with all sincerity.

At the consensus conducted to select three suitable candidate to contest the November Council poll in Niger State, it was the decision of Allah SWT,the brought him back again out of the three aspirants he was picked to view for seat come November,2025. council election.

Aminu Ladan,the incumbent Chairman of Chanchaga local government area led some team of politicians from the council to pay him a congratulatory visit where he assured him of his Unflencshing Support at the November Council poll.

With all indication, Dr. Mustapha Jibrin Alkhairi, will pilot the Plane of Chanchaga local government to the enviable destination invite of Unprecedented track record of his achievements as Commissioner in the Health Ministry and Commerce under the leadership of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello.