By Chika Okeke
In line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Nigeria Export Promotion Council, NEPC, has stated that Sustainable Opportunities for Active Retirement, SOAR, was designed to guide participants into the profitable path to non-oil exportation
Executive Director of NEPC, Mrs Nonye Ayeni disclosed this at the inauguration of pre-retirement programme tagged: ‘SOAR’, meant to guide civil servants on a sustainable path after retirement.
Ayeni noted that the initiative was borne out of the council’s commitment to promote inclusive economic participation, adding that the programme would provide an opportunity for civil servants approaching retirement to embrace new opportunities.
She said that retirement should not be seen as the end of productive engagement, but rather as the beginning of a new chapter.
Ayeni added: “They say you retire to refire, so it’s the beginning of a new chapter filled with opportunities to deploy years of experience, discipline, and leadership towards building sustainable enterprises.”
“We are going to open you to many opportunities, and by the end of this programme you will be clear about what you need to do.”
She pleaded with other government agencies to create similar initiatives that would guide retirees to a better life after service.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack encouraged civil servant to be relevant even after retirement, commending NEPC for the initiative.
Walson-Jack who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Common Services, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Danjuma Usman pleaded with other relevant agencies to establish similar programmes to help civil servants after serving the federation.
She said: “Don’t go into retirement with trial and error. One will have to identify what he or she can do and get it done very well. Being the maiden edition, we hope that the council will be able to sustain the initiative and other MDAs and government will key into it.”
Some participants praised the programme, describing it as timely and impactful.
A participant from the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission, NIPC, Mrs Zainab Ochojila described the initiative as timely and impactful, adding that retirees will no longer grumble.
She stated that with an iniative like SOAR, civil servants would retire with confidence rather than with fear of life after service.
Another participant, Mr Gabriel Odu noted that many civil servants often approached retirement with fears, expressing optimism that with initiatives like SOAR, retirees will excel.
