The atmosphere at the Apapa office of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) recently, was ecstatic as the staff celebrated the retirement and 60th birthday of the Director, Inspectorate & Compliance Directorate (ICD), Mr. Suleiman A. Isa.
In his remarks at the sendforth, Mr. Suleiman Isa, who said he had never celebrated birthday loudly, thanked the staff of the organisation for honouring him and advised them to carry along and relate cordially with all the stakeholders for SON to achieve its mandate of standards, safety and promotion of industrial growth of the nation.
Isa said SON under the present administration has achieved a lot and provided enabling environment for the staff to work when compared to the period when he joined the organisation.
Isa, who had worked at the Textile and Leather Department, disclosed that the exit of SON from the port a few years back was caused by some actions and inactions of some directors.
“SON cannot operate in isolation; whoever is taking action must not rock the boat. The present administration has encouraged staff to carry stakeholders along. We have achieved a lot of achievements especially under the present administration. Let us do more to generate revenue as directed by the management.
“SON has had a lot of legal cases but the Legal Department has made it easy for the organization. Actions and inactions of some directors caused SON to be removed from the port by the Federal Government,” said Isa, calling on colleagues still in service to take appropriate actions timely.
Isa was described as hardworking, discipline, gentle, strategist and friendly by colleagues and staff.
Remarking, Mrs. R. Kabir from Textile and Leather Department, said Suleiman Isa is intelligent and she acquired a lot of knowledge from him while working together at the department. “He was my first teacher. I acquired a lot of knowledge through him. He is intelligent and ever busy,” she said.
In his remarks, Mr. P. Manji, Head, Port, Borders and ICDs, said he met Isa in 1992 when he joined the SON, saying since then they have closed and happy that Isa was leaving the organisation with unblemished records.
Describing the retired Director as an easygoing person, Manji said that everyone must be cautious of the legacies that people will remember them for after retirements. “Isa is an easygoing person. This birthday is not for him; it is about what people will say about us. Whatever will do today will reflect us tomorrow. The only legacy we can leave behind is good names. God will be with you, Isa,” Manji prayed.
That Suleiman Isa is easygoing was countered by Mr. Ado, Deputy Director, ICD, saying “Alhaji Isa is very hard when it comes to work. When he expects you to do something and you don’t do it, you will see his hard side. But he is a good man.”
The cutting of cake for the birthday/retirement was supervised by Mrs. Modupe Owoniyi of Ports and Borders. Owoniyi said the colours of the cake mirrored the good virtues – humility, simplicity, friendliness, hardworking – that Mr. Suleiman Isa is made up.
Photo: Mr. Suleiman A. Isa, outgoing Director, SON.
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