Akume to deliver keynote address at 2025 CORFEPS dinner

George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation, is set to deliver the keynote address at the 2025 end-of-year dinner and honours award of the Council of Retired Federal Permanent Secretaries (CORFEPS).

The event is scheduled to hold on December 4 at the state house conference centre in Abuja.

With the theme ‘Harnessing CORFEPS as a Wealth of Knowledge for Nation Building,’ this year’s edition will feature deliberations on contemporary issues in governance and national development.

In a statement, Adaoha C. Okwuosa, chairperson of the planning committee, said the 2025 ceremony is significant as “CORFEPS is instituting a new honours award”.

Okwuosa said the inaugural award will celebrate the “fathers and founders” of the council — individuals she described as titans who supported the evolution of the federal public service.

From Left to Right: 1) Sabiu Zakari – fin secretary. 2) Elisabeth Emuren – auditor. 3) Japh Nwosu – ex-officio member. 4) Goke Adegoroye – publicity secretary. 5) Ebele Okeke – 1st vice chairman. 6) Dame Esther Didi Walson-Jack – head of service. 7) M. Yayale Ahmed – COLRFEPS chairman. 8) Kehinde Ajoni – legal adviser. 9)Akin Arikawe – 2nd vice-chairman. 10) Adaoha Okwuosa -socials secretary. 11) Lami Hamza – ex-officio member.

Among the honourees are Allison Ayida, Philip Asiodu, Francesca Emanuel, I. M. Damcida, Asiwaju Tunji Olutola and Latifat Okunnu.

The event will be chaired by Esther Didi Walson-Jack, head of the civil service of the federation. The host is Yayale Ahmed, former head of service, former SGF and ex-minister of defence.

Ebele Okeke, the first female head of the civil service of the federation, is also expected to attend the event.

According to Okwuosa, guests will include members of the federal executive council, heads of parastatals and agencies, captains of industry, retired and serving permanent secretaries, directors and development partners.

Founded in Lagos in 2004 and incorporated in 2012, CORFEPS serves as a body of retired senior civil servants who provide advisory input on national issues.

Its motto is ‘Continuing Patriotic Service’. Membership is reserved for former federal permanent secretaries and past heads of the civil service.