By Julius Peter
Chief Onimim Batubo, Se-Tombo 1 of the Kalabari Kingdom, has described the former Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, CON, MNI, as a woman of exceptional integrity, hard work, humility and unwavering fear of God.
Batubo made the commendation yesterday at a high-profile event organised to celebrate the presentation of Walson-Jack’s two books, I Planted: A Memoir of Purposeful Service and Beyond the Mandate: A Memoir of Leadership, Legacy and the Labour of Public Service.
The event, which attracted prominent Nigerians from different sectors, provided an opportunity for leaders, colleagues, friends, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to celebrate Walson-Jack’s career in public service and reflect on her contributions to the development of Nigeria.
Speaking at the occasion, Chief Batubo said Walson-Jack had distinguished herself throughout her career through dedication to duty, honesty, discipline and a strong sense of responsibility.
He described her as a woman whose public service record reflected integrity and commitment to the common good, stressing that her accomplishments were the product of hard work, wisdom and purposeful leadership.
According to him, Walson-Jack’s character and professional achievements have earned her the respect of people across different sections of society.
He said Nigeria still needed the wealth of experience, wisdom and intellectual capacity that she possesses, noting that her retirement from active public service should not be seen as the end of her contribution to national development.
“Nigeria needs her wisdom and intellectual capacity. I believe that now that she has retired, she will go higher. I wish her well and pray that God will continue to bless her with good health so that she can continue with her good work,” Batubo said.
The Kalabari traditional ruler also prayed for God’s continued guidance and strength for Walson-Jack, expressing confidence that her experience and knowledge would remain valuable to the country even beyond her years in government service.
The two books presented at the occasion offer reflections on Walson-Jack’s journey through public service, her leadership experiences, the challenges she encountered and the lessons she gathered throughout her career.
I Planted: A Memoir of Purposeful Service chronicles her experiences and philosophy of service, while Beyond the Mandate: A Memoir of Leadership, Legacy and the Labour of Public Service examines leadership, institutional responsibility and the enduring impact of public servants who devote themselves to national development.
The books are expected to serve not only as a record of Walson-Jack’s personal and professional journey but also as reference materials for younger public servants, administrators and leaders seeking to understand the demands and responsibilities of public service.
The occasion was attended by an array of distinguished personalities, including former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan. Governors, ministers, permanent secretaries, traditional rulers, senior government officials, professionals and other stakeholders were also present.
Their presence underscored the significance of Walson-Jack’s career and the broad recognition of her contributions to Nigeria’s public administration.
The gathering also provided a platform for tributes and reflections on the importance of integrity, competence and purposeful leadership in public service.
For many of those who attended, the presentation of the two books represented more than the launch of literary works. It was also a celebration of a career built around service, leadership and institutional responsibility.
Walson-Jack’s transition from active public service into a new phase of life is therefore being viewed by admirers and colleagues as an opportunity for her to deploy her extensive experience, knowledge and intellectual capacity in other areas of national development.
As tributes continued to pour in, the message from the occasion was clear: retirement from public office does not necessarily mark the end of service to the nation. Rather, it can provide an opportunity for experienced leaders to contribute in new ways, mentor younger generations and continue to influence society through knowledge, ideas and service.
The celebration of Walson-Jack’s two books consequently served as both a reflection on the past and a statement of confidence in what lies ahead for a woman widely described by her admirers as principled, hardworking and committed to purposeful public service.
