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Chief Jerome Udoji: Architect of Nigeria’s Modern Civil Service

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A tribute to Chief Jerome Oputa Udoji, the civil servant, legal luminary, and traditional ruler who transformed Nigeria’s public administration.

Chief Jerome Oputa Udoji (1917–2010) was a distinguished Nigerian public servant, lawyer, businessman, and traditional ruler. Born on July 17, 1917, in Ozubulu, Anambra State, he would go on to become a transformative figure in Nigeria’s civil service and public administration. Widely regarded for his legal acumen, administrative foresight, and ethical leadership, Udoji’s contributions continue to shape governance in Nigeria.

Education and Early Career

Chief Udoji’s commitment to education laid the foundation for his remarkable career. He attended:

St Michael’s Catholic School, Ozubulu

St Charles Teacher’s Training Institute, Onitsha

Driven by a passion for learning, he proceeded to University of Cambridge, England (1945–1948), where he studied law and became one of the first Nigerians to graduate from this prestigious institution. He was subsequently called to the English Bar at Gray’s Inn, London.

Upon returning to Nigeria, Udoji embarked on a stellar career in public service, beginning as a third-class clerk in Western Nigeria. He steadily rose through the ranks:

Personal Assistant to the Provincial Secretary, Western Nigeria

Assistant District Officer, Ekiti Division (1948–1950)

District Officer, Egbado Division (1951–1953)

Permanent Secretary, Eastern Region Ministries of Health, Commerce, Finance, and Establishment (1955–1959)

Chief Secretary and Head of Eastern Nigeria Civil Service (1960–1966)

He briefly practiced law privately (1966–1968) and worked as a consultant for the Ford Foundation in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Udoji Award and Civil Service Reforms

The pinnacle of Chief Udoji’s career came in 1972, when General Yakubu Gowon appointed him Chairman of the Public Service Review Commission. The commission, famously known for the “Udoji Award”, undertook a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s civil service, introducing far-reaching reforms:

Salary Reforms: Recommended significant increases in civil servants’ salaries, implemented in 1974, dramatically improving spending power and morale.

Administrative Reorganisation: Advocated for a unified and integrated administrative structure, elimination of inefficiencies, and restructuring of redundant departments.

Training and Capacity Building: Introduced formal civil service training programmes to professionalize public administration.

Efficiency and Cost-Effectiveness: Emphasized accountability, elimination of waste, and streamlined governance processes.

The Udoji Award became a benchmark for modernizing public administration and enhancing civil service professionalism in Nigeria.

Business and Traditional Leadership

In addition to his civil service career, Chief Udoji was a successful businessman, engaging in consultancy and strategic advisory roles. He also held the traditional title of Igwe Ozuluoha I of Igboland, reflecting his standing and influence within his community.

Legacy

Chief Jerome Udoji passed away in 2010 at the age of 98, leaving a lasting legacy:

Recognized as a transformative civil servant whose reforms continue to influence Nigerian governance.

Remembered as a legal scholar and administrative strategist, combining Western education with deep understanding of Nigerian socio-cultural dynamics.

Honoured as a traditional ruler, bridging modern governance and indigenous leadership structures.

The Udoji Award remains a defining milestone in Nigeria’s civil service history, symbolizing the pursuit of efficiency, equity, and professionalism in public administration.

Visual Representation

The accompanying image captures Chief Jerome Oputa Udoji in the 1970s, reflecting his stature as a pioneering civil servant, lawyer, and public figure in Nigeria.

Sources

Udoji, J. O. Public Service and Administration in Nigeria (Government Press, Lagos, 1974)

Akinyele, R. Nigerian Civil Service Reforms: The Udoji Experience (University of Ibadan Press, 1990)

Ezeani, Chukwuma. Notable Nigerians in Public Service (Enugu Academic Press, 2005)

National Archives of Nigeria, Lagos & Enugu Records (1960–1975)

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Bosso replaces Danjuma as Imo Police Command CP

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The Imo State Police Command, Owerri, has a new Police Commissioner in the person of Audu Garba Bosso, who replaced Aboki Danjuma, the outgoing Police Commissioner. Danjuma was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) and posted to Force Headquarters, Abuja.

Upon assumption of duty, CP Bosso called on sister security agencies, stakeholders, and all residents to collaborate with the police in tackling crime and social vices.

He stressed that community-based policing, intelligence-led operations, and a people-friendly approach will guide his administration, with strict adherence to the rule of law and respect for human rights.

In a brief biography made available to journalists by the Command’s spokesperson, Henry Okoye, it was revealed that CP Bosso was born on December 31, 1967, in Bosso, Niger State.

He enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on June 10, 1994, as a Cadet ASP, Course 18/1994.

Revealing his academic history, Okoye stated that CP Bosso holds an NCE in Geography/Biology, a B.Sc.Ed in Biology, and an M.Sc in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He is also a member of the National Institute of Policing Studies (MNIPS).

In the course of his career, he has attended key professional courses, including PMF Mobile Training School, Citizenship and Leadership Course, Community Policing Course, TLCC, and SLCC, which have shaped his strategic and community-oriented policing philosophy.

The command’s spokesperson added that before his recent deployment to Imo State, CP Bosso served as DPO in over twenty-two divisions nationwide across Sokoto and Kwara State Commands, including Bale Gudu, Dange-Shuni, Wamako, and Kebbe Divisions in Sokoto State, as well as ‘B’ Division, Surulere, Ilorin, Kwara State Command, among others.

“He also held strategic appointments across several state commands, which include: CSP Administration, Kwara State Command; 2i/c Ilorin Metro Area Command, Kwara; 2i/c CID, Katsina State Command; AC Provost Marshal, Force Headquarters, Abuja; Area Commander, Saki, Oyo State Command; Area Commander, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State Command; ACP Administration, Enugu State Command; Area Commander, Iyekogba, Edo State Command; Director CPTU, Police Service Commission, Jos; Director Finance & Administration, POLAC Wudil, Kano State; DCP G.I FCID Annex, Gombe State; DCP Operations, Borno State Command; and CP G.I FCID Annex, Kaduna State, before his posting to Imo State,” Okoye stated.

The new Commissioner has called on all Imo residents to actively partner with the Police and other security agencies through timely information sharing and participation in community policing initiatives, assuring the public of his commitment to protecting lives and property, maintaining peace, and fostering a people-friendly policing culture across the state.

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After Bitten To De@th By Snake, Another Snake Reportedly Found Under Ambulance Carrying Nanyah’s Remains Back Home

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A London-based teacher and culture ambassador, Uche Nworah, has shared a shocking incident that reportedly occurred while the remains of late singer Ifunanya Nwangene popularly known as Nanyah, were being transported to Enugu.

Nworah, who claims to have been Facebook friends with Ifunanya’s uncle for years, revealed details he says were shared directly by her uncle during a phone conversation.

Contrary to earlier reports circulating on social media, Nworah clarified that Ifunanya did not reside on the ground floor of her Abuja apartment but on the second floor.

This, he noted, raises questions about how snakes could have accessed her living space, as ground-floor access via drains or toilets would not apply.

According to Nworah, the ambulance carrying Ifunanya’s body broke down while en route to Enugu, in line with her father’s wishes.

The breakdown caused a delay as a replacement vehicle had to be called to continue the transport.

While waiting for the replacement ambulance, a snake was reportedly found under the broken-down vehicle.

Sharing the uncle’s account on Facebook, Nworah wrote:

“…Beyond social media claims, I received a call from Ifunanya’s uncle, who has been my Facebook friend for many years. During our conversation, he made disclosures that some may consider disturbing, while others may view them as mere coincidences.

He stated that contrary to widespread reports on social media, Ifunanya did not live on the ground floor of her residence but on the second floor. This raises questions about how snakes could have gained access to her apartment. Had she lived on the ground floor, one might argue that the snakes entered through drainage systems or toilets, but this explanation appears less straightforward given that she lived on the second floor.

He further recounted a strange incident that occurred while her body was being transported to Enugu State in an ambulance, in accordance with her father’s wishes. According to him, the ambulance conveying her remains broke down along the Abuja Expressway, necessitating calling for a replacement vehicle. During the wait he said, a snake was discovered beneath the broken-down ambulance and was subsequently killed.

While these incidents may be entirely unrelated and purely coincidental, they nonetheless raise questions and leave room for reflection.”

The revelation has sparked discussion online, with many questioning the unusual events surrounding the singer’s death.

See below;

Screenshot

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FMINO PRESS RELEASE: CAC AT 35 YEARS HAS BECOME A PILLAR OF NIGERIA’S ECONOMIC CREDIBILITY – INFORMATION MINISTER

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The Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency, institutional reform, and ease of doing business, describing effective inter-agency collaboration as critical to the success of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The Minister made this known while receiving the Registrar-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN, who led the delegation of the Commission on a courtesy visit to the Ministry ahead of the Commission’s 35th anniversary celebration (CAC@35).

Idris commended the Corporate Affairs Commission for what he described as remarkable institutional reforms that have repositioned the Commission as “a key driver of Nigeria’s business environment and economic credibility.” He noted that CAC’s transformation, particularly through technology and digitisation, aligns strongly with the Federal Government’s broader reform agenda.

The Minister praised CAC’s role in improving the ease of doing business, strengthening corporate governance, and enhancing investor confidence, stressing that such reforms are vital to national development. He also acknowledged the Commission’s contribution to Nigeria’s recent delisting from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, describing it as a major milestone that reflects growing global confidence in Nigeria’s regulatory and transparency frameworks.

According to him, the progress recorded under the Tinubu administration, including rising foreign reserves, easing inflation, improved investor confidence, and economic stabilisation, cannot be fully told without recognising the role of reform-driven institutions such as the Corporate Affairs Commission.

The Minister further encouraged CAC to intensify public engagement and advocacy to ensure Nigerians are fully informed about the Commission’s innovations, services, and achievements. He assured the Commission of the Ministry’s support in amplifying its reforms and programmes through strategic communication and public enlightenment.

Earlier, the Registrar-General of CAC, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN, said the courtesy visit was to formally invite the Honourable Minister to the Commission’s 35th anniversary celebration and to present a scorecard of reforms achieved under the current administration.

He explained that CAC has transitioned from a largely manual, location-bound registry to a fully digital, technology-driven institution, with services now accessible in real time from anywhere in the country. He disclosed that the Commission has expanded its digital offerings from 33 services to over 100 online services, deployed artificial intelligence for business name reservation and registration, and introduced Application Programming Interface (API) services to support banks, embassies, security agencies, and other institutions.

The Registrar-General highlighted the operationalisation of the Beneficial Ownership Register, noting that it has strengthened transparency, boosted investor confidence, and positioned Nigeria as a global reference point for corporate disclosure. He added that CAC’s reforms have helped bring over four million informal businesses into the tax net, improved security by registering POS operators, and supported small and medium-scale enterprises through free business registrations in partnership with relevant agencies.

He also announced the Commission’s upcoming partnership with Google to further strengthen its digital infrastructure and service delivery, as well as the launch of an AI-powered public support platform to guide users on corporate and regulatory matters.
He thanked the Honourable Minister for the warm reception and support, and formally invited him to the CAC@35 anniversary celebration scheduled for February 9, 2026.

The event was attended by the Permanent Secretary of Information and National Orientation, Mr Ogbodo Chinasa Nnam, Director National Archives, Dr. Evelyn Odigboh, Director Public Relations and Protocol, Dr. Haruna Suleiman, and the Special Assistant, Administration to the Honourable Minister, Dr. Sunday Baba, fnipr.

Rabiu Ibrahim
Special Assistant (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation.

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

 

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