The Federal Capital Territory Administration has moved to preserve the legacy of its late indigenous female Head of Service, Grace Adayilo, with the launch of an initiative focused on women’s empowerment, grassroots development and community transformation.
The Grace Adayilo Legacy Initiative for Grassroots Development (GALI) was formally launched in Abuja on Tuesday during activities marking the first anniversary of Adayilo’s passing.
The initiative is expected to transform the late public servant’s years of service, mentorship and commitment to administrative excellence into sustainable programmes targeted at improving lives at the grassroots, particularly among women and local communities across the FCT.
The event brought together public sector leaders, members of Adayilo’s family, friends, associates and beneficiaries of her mentorship.
Speaking at the launch, the FCT Head of Civil Service, Nancy Nathan, commended the establishment of the initiative and pledged the continued support of the FCT Administration.
She said the initiative would help ensure that the values Adayilo represented during her years in public service continued to inspire future generations.
Nathan also urged young public servants to emulate the late Head of Service’s dedication and commitment to duty, stressing the importance of transparency, integrity and accountability in sustaining the foundation and its programmes.
One of the major areas of focus of the initiative is women’s empowerment, with particular attention to the Yeyedu Women Association, a network of women mentored by Adayilo.
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The late FCT Head of Service was affectionately known among many of her mentees and associates as “Mama Africa” in recognition of her commitment to mentoring, supporting and empowering women.
Speaking on the objectives of the initiative, the Director of the FCT Department of Reforms Coordination and Service Improvement, Jumai Ahmadu, said GALI would focus heavily on uplifting communities and creating measurable impact at the grassroots.
She said the initiative had brought together Adayilo’s family, mentees, friends and associates to build on the values and ideals she promoted throughout her public service career.
According to Ahmadu, the goal is to ensure that Adayilo’s contributions do not end as memories but are translated into programmes capable of improving lives and strengthening communities.
The launch of GALI, she said, represents a collective commitment to preserving the late public servant’s legacy by extending her passion for service, mentorship and human development to a wider population.
For the family and associates of the late Head of Service, the first anniversary of her death was therefore more than an occasion for remembrance.
It marked the beginning of a structured effort to ensure that the life and service of Grace Adayilo continue to find expression in empowered women, stronger communities and a new generation of public servants committed to integrity and selfless service.

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