Ahmed Joda and other Super Permanent Secretaries, particularly Philip Asiodu, Liman Ciroma and Alison Ayida, prevailed in guiding Nigeria away from a break up, following the civil war. For many decades after his retirement from the public service, almost all succeeding regimes have called on him to continue to offer his commitment and expertise in the public service.
In terms of public policy, my understanding is that for him, the greatest challenge facing Nigeria since 1970 has been that of rebuilding a high-quality educational system that could build knowledge, skills, civic education and critical thinking for our young ones. That would be the basis on which they could have confidence in a future that could provide jobs, opportunities and progress for the majority. It was Ahmed Joda who drew our attention to the National Pledge made by Nigeria in 1973.
“These children are not actually in Quranic schools learning Islam and imbibing its teachings. They are children born and abandoned by their parents. They are children, at their most tender and vulnerable stages of their lives uncared for by their parents, and unrecognised by the authorities and society. They grow to adulthood without the parental care or guidance that every child is entitled to. No one knows, or cares, where they sleep, with whom they interact or what kind of lives they lead.
May Ahmed Joda’s soul rest in perfect peace and may his life’s work be a catalyst to encourage the current leaders to become truly committed to educating the children of the masses, after all they make sure that their own children get a good education.