Jonathan, Shettima, Ooni Celebrate Ex-Minister Abubakar Sulaiman at 60
Prominent Nigerian leaders, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, on Thursday celebrated the 60th birthday of former Minister of National Planning and current Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman, in Abuja.
The event, which also featured the public presentation of Prof. Sulaiman’s new book, “Transformative Leadership in Practice,” drew dignitaries from politics, academia, civil society, and traditional institutions who lauded his contributions to national development, scholarship, and public service.
Delivering his goodwill message through the former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), former President Jonathan praised Sulaiman’s intellect and commitment to effective governance during his tenure as Minister of National Planning.
“Although his appointment came at the twilight of my administration, he quickly stamped his authority on the work of the National Planning Commission. His innovations and transformative leadership attributes were brought to bear on the work of the NPC, transforming it into an efficient public institution,” Jonathan said.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, commended Sulaiman for his consistency, academic excellence, and patriotism, describing him as “a rare breed of public servant with integrity and vision.”
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, also paid glowing tribute to the celebrant, applauding his humility, wisdom, and dedication to Nigeria’s democratic growth. He urged younger Nigerians to emulate Sulaiman’s example of service rooted in knowledge and national interest.
In his response, Prof. Sulaiman expressed gratitude to the dignitaries and guests for honouring him, saying the milestone was an opportunity to reflect on his journey and renew his commitment to the pursuit of good governance and democratic development in Nigeria.
“Leadership is about service, empathy, and vision. I am deeply humbled by the love shown today and remain committed to contributing my quota to building a better Nigeria,” he said.
The event also witnessed the unveiling of Transformative Leadership in Practice, Sulaiman’s latest scholarly work, which explores the principles of ethical and visionary leadership in governance.
Among the dignitaries present were members of the National Assembly, former ministers, academics, and representatives of various traditional and religious institutions.
