Following the directive by Nigeria's Central
Government for Heads of over 20 Federal Agencies to handover, former
Director General of the country's Agency for Food and Drug
Administration and Control or NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Botwev Orhii handed over
Wednesday in an emotional ceremony.
King James Yiye who was at the Agency's Headquarters in Abuja reports...
Dr. Paul Orhii who arrived Abuja from Lagos this morning immediately went in to brief
NAFDAC's Director of Administration and Human Resources Mrs. Yetunde Oni, whom he later handed over to in acting capacity.
Shortly after the briefing, Dr. Orhii came down to meet the rest of NAFDAC's staff waiting outside in spite of the scorching sun to hear from him for the last time as their Director General.
In his short and touching speech, Dr. Orhii said he was very grateful to the leadership of Nigeria and Nigerians for giving him the unique opportunity to serve his country for 7 years. "Not just the opportunity to serve but to help me make great achievements that are recognized not only within the country but internationally, there is no country you go to and when you mention NAFDAC that somebody will turn their head to look"
He said having served his country under 3 Presidents who have had confidence in him, he was indeed very grateful.
Dr. Orhii paid tribute to Presidents Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhamadu Buhari for keeping him on the "very complicated job and very sensitive position" for such a long time.
While trying to illustrate how big the opportunity he has been given was, Dr. Orhii said, out of the over 180 million Nigerians who think they can be better DGs of NAFDAC, if each person was given just a day, that will take 180,000,000 days but he alone was given over 7 years by different leadership to serve on the same position.
"I'm happy I served my country meritoriously and we achieved great results, that's what kept me working...for those of you who were here, it sounds like yesterday, this is the same suit I was wearing, if you can go and watch that video, I decided to wear it today while searching through my wardrobe in Lagos this morning..."
The sad faces missing their boss were relieved and they laughed and applauded Dr. Orhii who naturally is talented to make even those mourning to laugh.
The Future
Like a parting gift, Dr. Paul Orhii advised the staff to take NAFDAC as their main life and build institutions that should outlive them.
"Let nobody tell you that any other person can not do better than me, with your support, they can. If they are standing on our shoulders, they should be able to look further, so they can build on what we have put in place at NAFDAC and should be able to do better, that's the kind of Agency that I want to leave behind, and see in the future...".
The Acting Director General Mrs. Yetunde Oni promised Dr. Orhii that they won't disappoint him, "the assurance you are getting from us all is that, the legacy that you have left behind in terms of all the strategies that you have put in place such that the Agency has continued to record successes, we will build upon, we can not do it on our own, we will continue to solicit your support and your guidance so that together, we will continue to work passionately and rub-off positively on the health of all the Nigerians whose health has been entrusted in our hands".
Practical Results
Former Director of Narcotics and Controlled Substances at NAFDAC Hashim Ubale Yusufu said when Dr. Paul Orhii assumed duty as the Director General of NAFDAC in January 2009, the World Health Organization report released that same year for Nigeria showed the level of counterfeit or failed products at over 40%, but now that Dr. Paul Orhii is leaving NAFDAC, he said, the WHO study on anti malaria shows the level of counterfeit at 3%.
Looking Back
What was different about Dr. Paul Botwev Orhii as the Directorc General of NAFDAC?
Hashim Ubale Yusufu tells me in a full interview which will be published soon. But from what appeared to be first of its kind in Nigeria, Dr. Orhii handed over his staff identification card and all official car keys to Mrs. Oni and later drove away in a black Volkswagen mini van.
http://www.lasgidionline.com.ng/2016/02/dr-paul-orhii-leaves-nafdac-in.html
King James Yiye who was at the Agency's Headquarters in Abuja reports...
Dr. Paul Orhii who arrived Abuja from Lagos this morning immediately went in to brief
NAFDAC's Director of Administration and Human Resources Mrs. Yetunde Oni, whom he later handed over to in acting capacity.
Shortly after the briefing, Dr. Orhii came down to meet the rest of NAFDAC's staff waiting outside in spite of the scorching sun to hear from him for the last time as their Director General.
In his short and touching speech, Dr. Orhii said he was very grateful to the leadership of Nigeria and Nigerians for giving him the unique opportunity to serve his country for 7 years. "Not just the opportunity to serve but to help me make great achievements that are recognized not only within the country but internationally, there is no country you go to and when you mention NAFDAC that somebody will turn their head to look"
He said having served his country under 3 Presidents who have had confidence in him, he was indeed very grateful.
Dr. Orhii paid tribute to Presidents Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhamadu Buhari for keeping him on the "very complicated job and very sensitive position" for such a long time.
While trying to illustrate how big the opportunity he has been given was, Dr. Orhii said, out of the over 180 million Nigerians who think they can be better DGs of NAFDAC, if each person was given just a day, that will take 180,000,000 days but he alone was given over 7 years by different leadership to serve on the same position.
"I'm happy I served my country meritoriously and we achieved great results, that's what kept me working...for those of you who were here, it sounds like yesterday, this is the same suit I was wearing, if you can go and watch that video, I decided to wear it today while searching through my wardrobe in Lagos this morning..."
The sad faces missing their boss were relieved and they laughed and applauded Dr. Orhii who naturally is talented to make even those mourning to laugh.
The Future
Like a parting gift, Dr. Paul Orhii advised the staff to take NAFDAC as their main life and build institutions that should outlive them.
"Let nobody tell you that any other person can not do better than me, with your support, they can. If they are standing on our shoulders, they should be able to look further, so they can build on what we have put in place at NAFDAC and should be able to do better, that's the kind of Agency that I want to leave behind, and see in the future...".
The Acting Director General Mrs. Yetunde Oni promised Dr. Orhii that they won't disappoint him, "the assurance you are getting from us all is that, the legacy that you have left behind in terms of all the strategies that you have put in place such that the Agency has continued to record successes, we will build upon, we can not do it on our own, we will continue to solicit your support and your guidance so that together, we will continue to work passionately and rub-off positively on the health of all the Nigerians whose health has been entrusted in our hands".
Practical Results
Former Director of Narcotics and Controlled Substances at NAFDAC Hashim Ubale Yusufu said when Dr. Paul Orhii assumed duty as the Director General of NAFDAC in January 2009, the World Health Organization report released that same year for Nigeria showed the level of counterfeit or failed products at over 40%, but now that Dr. Paul Orhii is leaving NAFDAC, he said, the WHO study on anti malaria shows the level of counterfeit at 3%.
Looking Back
What was different about Dr. Paul Botwev Orhii as the Directorc General of NAFDAC?
Hashim Ubale Yusufu tells me in a full interview which will be published soon. But from what appeared to be first of its kind in Nigeria, Dr. Orhii handed over his staff identification card and all official car keys to Mrs. Oni and later drove away in a black Volkswagen mini van.
http://www.lasgidionline.com.ng/2016/02/dr-paul-orhii-leaves-nafdac-in.html
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