Bendel State veteran exits Delta Civil Service after 35 years — Pensions boss hails Agbaike as a “living archive” of the state’s public service

ASABA, DELTA STATE — After an extraordinary 35-year career spanning the military and democratic eras of Nigeria’s public administration, Mr Johnson Agbaike, Deputy Director of Information and former Public Relations Officer at the Delta State Government House, Asaba, has officially bowed out of the Delta State Civil Service.

Agbaike retired from active service on August 28, 2026, bringing to an end a remarkable public service career that began in the defunct Bendel State Civil Service before the creation of Edo and Delta States in 1991.

At a retirement ceremony organised in his honour by members of the Press Unit, Government House, Asaba, on Monday, the Chairman of the Delta State Bureau for Pensions, Sir Edwin Ogidi-Gbegbaje, described Agbaike as a “living archive” of the state’s civil service.

Ogidi-Gbegbaje said Agbaike occupied a unique position in the history of Delta State’s public service, describing him as the last serving officer whose career began under the old Bendel State Civil Service before the state was created alongside Edo State in 1991.

According to him, Agbaike’s career provided him with a rare opportunity to witness and participate in some of the most significant political and administrative transitions in the state.

He noted that the retiree had served under several military and civilian administrations, working with different governors, commissioners for information, chief press secretaries and public relations officers throughout his long career.

Ogidi-Gbegbaje said Agbaike distinguished himself through professionalism, accuracy, discretion, loyalty and an unwavering commitment to duty.

He particularly praised his contributions to the Government House Press Unit, where he played a role in documenting government policies and programmes while helping to communicate the activities of successive administrations to the public.

The pensions boss said Agbaike’s contribution could not be measured only by official records, stressing that his influence was also evident in the younger generation of public officers and journalists whom he mentored during his years in service.

He said many of those who benefited from Agbaike’s experience had gone on to become part of Delta State’s press corps.

Ogidi-Gbegbaje described the retiree’s career as an example of integrity, discipline, professionalism and responsible public service, saying that Agbaike had left behind a legacy worthy of recognition.

Leading other tributes at the ceremony, the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, represented by a retired Functioning Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Mr Harold Ojji, described Agbaike as a dedicated public servant whose impact was visible in the quality of his work and his commitment to duty.

Aniagwu said retirement should not be viewed as the end of a person’s contribution to society, but rather as the beginning of another phase in which experience, knowledge and wisdom accumulated over decades could be deployed for the benefit of the wider community.

He commended Agbaike for his contribution to the development of younger officers and urged him to continue to make himself available as a source of guidance and knowledge.

The Commissioner also advised the retiree to remain humble and continue learning as he entered a new chapter of his life.

He thanked God for Agbaike’s good health and prayed for continued divine guidance, preservation and blessings for him and his family.

Aniagwu added that after decades of dedicated service, the retiree deserved the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of his labour.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Delta State Governor, Sir Festus Ahon, represented by the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Media, Dr Nelson Egware, also joined other speakers in celebrating Agbaike’s contribution to the state.

Ahon described the retiree as a dedicated, loyal, reliable and committed public servant who remained firmly committed to his responsibilities throughout his career.

He said Agbaike was someone who did not compromise his duties for personal convenience, describing him as a humble and dependable colleague and friend.

The ceremony also attracted several senior government officials, journalists, former colleagues, friends and members of Agbaike’s family.

Among those who paid tribute were his elder brother and Chairman of the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC, Dr Jerry Agbaike; Manager, Communications, Government House, Mr Jackson Ekwugum; Executive Assistant to the Governor on Public Enlightenment (Projects and Policies), Mr Olisa Ifeajika; Permanent Secretary, Protocol and Housing, Mr Nelson Anino Tetsola; veteran journalist, Mr Frank Igwebueze; and Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Delta State Council, Mr Churchill Oyovwe.

The speakers commended Agbaike for his long-standing commitment to the Delta State public service and his contributions to government communication and the development of the state’s media and information machinery.

Responding to the tributes, an emotional Agbaike reflected on his 35-year journey in the civil service, recalling that he began his career as a Level Four officer in the then Bendel State Civil Service.

He attributed his career progression to the grace of God, perseverance and dedication to duty, saying the journey had been one marked by challenges, opportunities and invaluable relationships.

Agbaike expressed appreciation to the former governors of Delta State under whom he served, as well as the present Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, for giving him the opportunity to contribute his quota to the development of the state.

He also thanked his superiors, colleagues, friends and associates who, according to him, contributed in one way or another to his successful career.

The retiring officer, who attended the ceremony with his wife, Theodora, and their children, said he was “only bowing out of service” after 35 years, rather than withdrawing from the relationships and responsibilities that had defined his professional life.

He said he would continue to maintain contact and collaborate with his former colleagues and friends even after leaving the civil service.

Agbaike also expressed gratitude to the organising committee of the retirement reception, describing the gathering as a deeply emotional and memorable moment in his life.

He used the occasion to encourage members of the Government House Press Corps to remain dedicated, disciplined and committed to their responsibilities.

The veteran public servant urged journalists to protect the credibility of the profession and remain conscious of the enormous responsibility placed on them as intermediaries between government, institutions and the public.

He stressed the importance of accuracy, professionalism and responsibility in the dissemination of information, particularly at a time when public trust in information channels remains critical.

The ceremony featured emotional tributes, presentation of gifts, goodwill messages and expressions of appreciation from colleagues, friends and family members.

For many of those present, Agbaike’s retirement represented more than the departure of a civil servant.

It marked the closing chapter of a career that began in the Bendel State era, survived the transition that produced Edo and Delta States, and continued through successive military and democratic administrations.

From his early days as a Level Four officer to his eventual position as Deputy Director of Information and former Government House Public Relations Officer, Agbaike’s career reflected decades of institutional memory within Delta State’s public service.

With his retirement, the state’s civil service loses one of its longest-serving links to the pre-1991 Bendel administrative era — a career public servant who witnessed the evolution of government communication from one political generation to another.

After 35 years, Johnson Agbaike has bowed out.

But for the colleagues, journalists and younger officers he mentored, the knowledge and institutional memory accumulated across those decades remain part of the legacy he leaves behind.

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