By Kayode Olabanji
The Ondo State Head of Service, Chief Segun Odusanya, has secured the partnership of the Layeni Ogunmakinwa Memorial Foundation to recognise and reward outstanding workers in the state civil service.
Odusanya disclosed this on Monday when the founder of the foundation, Otunba Olumide Ogunmakinwa, paid him a visit in his office, saying arrangements had been concluded to honour deserving workers as part of activities marking the 2026 Public Service Week.
The Head of Service said the dedication and commitment of Ondo State workers would not go unrewarded under his leadership.
He said the Layeni Ogunmakinwa Memorial Foundation had indicated its readiness to partner with the state government by sponsoring some categories of merit awards for outstanding civil servants during the celebration.
While appreciating the foundation for the gesture, Odusanya said the government would continue to recognise workers who distinguished themselves in the discharge of their duties.
He also encouraged well-meaning individuals and organisations to support initiatives aimed at celebrating and motivating public servants.
Speaking on the motivation behind the partnership, Ogunmakinwa said it was inspired by the desire to sustain the legacy of his late father, Chief Dr Olayeni Ogunmakinwa, who dedicated himself to impacting lives and promoting excellence in the public service.
He explained that his father, who retired as a Permanent Secretary in the Ondo State civil service, pioneered the Ondo Civil Service Merit Award in the late 1980s while serving in the Office of Establishment and Training.
“My father started it when he was the Permanent Secretary in the Office of Establishment and Training. That was when he came up with the Ondo Civil Service Merit Award in the late 80s,” Ogunmakinwa said.
He explained that following his father’s death in 2010, the family decided to revive the initiative through the Layeni Ogunmakinwa Memorial Foundation in honour of their late parents.
Ogunmakinwa said the foundation planned to recognise at least 10 categories of civil servants who had distinguished themselves through outstanding performance.
So this year, the idea is to see about a minimum of ten categories of civil servants carefully selected by their various department heads for outstanding performances for recognition and awards, he said.
It would be recalled that the Head of Service recently inaugurated a committee to coordinate activities for the 2026 Public Service Week celebration in the state.