A 2-day Workshop: A Psychology Guru, Prof. Ogungbamila Salutes Governor Akeredolu for repositioning OSOPADEC for sustainable development, applauds Sam Erejuwa for his proactive leadership
_…says Erejuwa’s accessibility, generosity has been generally acknowledged…as he organises lifestyle management in retirement for top, senior staff of OSOPADEC_
A Psychology Guru, Professor Bolanle Ogungbamila of Smiles Consult and Psychological Services Limited and a lecturer at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, has saluted the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN for repositioning OSOPADEC for the sustainable development of the people and communities in the mandate areas. He also applauded and commended the Chairman, Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Elder Sam Erejuwa for his proactive leadership, stressing that Erejuwa’s accessibility and generosity has been generally acknowledged by all and sundry and that his major concern for the development of mandate areas is second to none.
OSOPADEC management under the leadership of Elder Sam Erejuwa in conjunction with Smiles Consult and Psychological Services Limited, has organized a 2-day workshop in lifestyle management in retirement for top and senior management staff of OSOPADEC.
A 2-Day Workshop which commenced on Thursday 6th to 7th October, 2022 at Bliss World Resorts and Hotels, Ijapo, Akure, Ondo State, has in attendance all the top and senior management staff of OSOPADEC.
The Chairman of Commission, Elder Sam Erejuwa, while giving his opening remark, appreciated his boss, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN for giving him opportunity to serve. He then predged his total loyalty for the Governor and assured the people of mandate areas of his total commitment of good representation to ensuring the rapid growth and development of the areas.
While speaking, he especially appreciated the total cooperation and support of all the board members and management staff of OSOPADEC.
He said, “in a civilized world, people are conscious of lifestyle management in retirement which help employee to have a more successful career, better relationships, more self-confidence, management plan and overall better communication. However, in our dear country, Nigeria, retirement has increased the likelihood of being lonely, whereas engaging in bridge employment decreased the chances of being lonely, These findings may indicate that combining retirement with employment may be a source of social interaction, which can provide protection against loneliness, and which may, in turn, be positively related to other factors – subjective quality of life, health status and provide answers to different problems in different environments”.
“This workshop is to equip OSOPADEC staff on what to do and outlive the fear associated with retirement and create a written retirement plan for themselves”.
“If you are worried about the fate of retirement, then you need to take saving method for retirement very seriously, and if you are confused about how much to save? This workshop will train you on the way forward and how to create a detailed retirement plan approach for yourself, and see for yourself how much you need to be socking away”. Erejuwa said.
The Chairman of OSOPADEC Workers’ Union, Mr. Sola Ademuwagun while speaking with Coastal Renaissance news thanked the Commission Chairman, Elder Sam Erejuwa for his initiative, stressing that the Chairman and his Board members had built an unbreakable team to raise the bar of excellence in governance and service delivery in the Commission, with visible achievements and progress to show for their efforts.
Comrade Ademuwagun described the workshop as “a new approach to retirement planning and best retirement calculator for individual staff of OSOPADEC.
He then appealed to the Commission’s Chairman, Elder Sam Erejuwa to extend the workshop to all the junior staff of OSOPADEC as this will prepare and equip them to combat the challenges ahead of retirement.
He finally charged the Chairman and management staff of OSOPADEC to make the workshop a workable POLICY in the Commission.
In the same manner, OSOPADEC Information Officer, Mr. Godson Ewata while speaking, commended the efforts of Elder Sam Erejuwa for restoring the lost glory of OSOPADEC.
He said, “OSOPADEC under the leadership of Elder Sam Erejuwa has remained a state of pride for staff and other stakeholders in and outside the mandate areas who crave responsive governance and progress”.
“It is time to come together as determined staff of OSOPADEC and show genuine love towards our indefatigable Chairman, who is our priceless symbol and pride in the mandate areas. We must rally round him and give him maximum support in very ramification so that we can encourage him to discharge other beneficial programmes he has in stock for the staff, Commission and the mandate areas”. Ewata said.
On Thursday 6th October, 2022 which was day 1 of the workshop, Prof. Bolanle Ogungbamila, a lecturer at Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko, spoke on the topic – ‘Psychology of Lifestyle Management in Retirement’; the second speaker, Elder Sam Erejuwa, OSOPADEC Chairman spoke on ‘Budgeting for Financial Freedom’ and Dr. Mann Ali, Retired Permanent Secretary, OSOPADEC, spoke on ‘Health and Wellbeing in Retirement: Medical Aspects’.
Day 2, Friday 7th October, 2022, the first paper was delivered by Prof. Tomola Obamuyi, a lecturer at Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), and spoke on ‘Financial Literacy and Exploitable Investment Opportunities in Pre-Retirement and Retirement Period among the Staff of OSOPADEC’. The second speaker, Mr. Oluwafemi Adegoroye, ARM Pension, Ondo State, spoke comprehensively on ‘Retirement and Pension Management in Nigeria:The faith of Employees in Unfriendly Economic Situation’; while Prof. Bolanle Ogungbamila crowned the workshop up with ‘Psychological Aspects of Health and Wellbeing in Retirement in the last day.
Below is the full text of address delivered by Professor Bolanle Ogungbamila.
Being an Address of Welcome Delivered by Professor Bolanle Ogungbamila of Smiles Consult and Psychological Services Limited During a 2-Two Day Workshop on Lifestyle Management in Retirement for Top and Senior Management Staff of OSOPADEC Held on the 6th and 7th October, 2022 at Bliss World Resorts and Hotels, Ijapo, Akure, Ondo State
Protocols
Retirement is an inevitable phase in the life of an employee. However, most employees, especially public sector employees in Nigeria, prepare for and go into retirement with a heightened level of anxiety orchestrated by the prevailing economic conditions in the country, which have been made worse by the unbridled level of corruption. Government have become increasingly incapacitated to fulfil its obligations to employees, retirees, and the general citizens. The fact that the government is the highest employer of labour in Nigeria has further dealt a deadly blow to the resources and the capacity of government and its agencies to meet the retirement requirements and obligations of public sector employees. Therefore, as most employees approach retirement, they become more depressed, anxious, and disillusioned.
It is worrisome that most public sector organizations in Nigeria do not adequately prepare their employees for retirement. Retirement management does not start and end with efficient payment of gratuity and pension. It covers employees’ perception that the organization sincerely cares about their life during employment and in retirement. When employees in active service perceived that the organization has not made sincere and purposeful efforts that would help them adjust to retirement, they may engage in negative work behaviors (which would be injurious to the organization and recipient of their services) and bad health behaviors (which would be injurious to them and their love ones). Some try to cut corners in order to have more time to prepare for retirement, others promote self-interest at the expense of the organization and the society in order to “secure” their life in retirement. Yet others may be unlucky as their lives are ruled by ill-health, financial crises, and psychological trauma before and in retirement.
Against this background, I sincerely appreciate the Management of OSOPADEC, under the able and proactive leadership of Elder Sam Erejuwa for putting this workshop together. The workshop will adequately prepare the employees of OSOPADEC for retirement because it will equip them with the necessary financial, medical, and psychological competencies that would enhance their level of preparedness for pre-retirement and retirement life. Specifically, the workshop would train participants on how to effectively manage health, finances, relationships and commitments before and during retirement. An effective management of these key areas of life before and during retirement has been associated with psychological balance at work, at home, and in other aspects of life as well as longevity.
At this juncture, let me commend the Government of Ondo State for birthing OSOPADEC and salute the current Governor of the State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN for repositioning OSOPADEC for the sustainable development of the people and communities in the mandate areas. However, OSOPADEC cannot adequately fulfil its mandate without the brilliant inputs of its employees. The inputs of the employees are a function of their intellectual, cognitive, and emotional resources. No matter how intelligent and resourceful employees may be, if they perceive that the organization does not adequately care about their wellbeing and does not genuinely address their real and imagined fears, especially on adjustment to life in retirement, they may spend less time and resources on how to help the organization achieve its goal and objectives.
This workshop is an indication that OSOPADEC does not only focus the development of the people and communities in the mandate areas but is also genuinely concerned about the employees that help her deliver on the mandate. Once the employees have been equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge on how to deal with points of financial, health, and psychological anxiety that may emanated in connection with retirement management, their levels of commitment, engagement, functionality, and productivity at work would increase. These would enhance the service delivery of OSOPADEC. Therefore, the employees, OSOPADEC, and the mandate areas would directly or indirectly benefit from the workshop.
This workshop is, therefore, designed to enhance the functionality of the top and senior management staff of OSOPADEC and make OSOPADEC exceptionally ready and be able to deliver a first-class development to the people and the mandate areas. On the first day of the workshop, Professor Bolanle Ogungbamila of Smiles Consult and Psychological Services Limited will handle the psychology of lifestyle management in retirement. Elder Sam Erejuwa, the Chairman of OSOPADEC, has promised to take the participants through budgeting for financial freedom, free of charge. The first day will be rounded off with the presentation of Dr. Mann Alli, a retired Permanent Secretary and former Secretary of OSOPADEC, on the medical aspects of health and wellbeing in retirement. The second day of the workshop would commence with the presentation of Professor Tomola M. Obamuyi, a renowned Professor of Finance and Entrepreneurship Management from the Federal University of Technology, Akure. He would discuss financial literacy and exploitable investment opportunities in pre-retirement and retirement periods. Mr. Oluwafemi Adegoroye of ARM Pension Limited will discuss retirement and pension management in Nigeria with a focus on the fate of employees when the economic situations are unfriendly. The workshop would be rounded off with the presentation of Professor Bolanle Ogungbamila on the psychological aspects of health and wellbeing in retirement.
At Smiles Consult and Psychological Services Limited, we ensure that individuals including employees are stable enough to perform their responsibilities at work, home and the society. This is because we strongly believe that when employees are functional, they would make the organization and society perform ultimately to the benefit of all. That is why we parade the best professionals in our programmes.
On behalf of the Management of Smiles Consult and Psychological Services Limited and the resource persons, I welcome you all to the workshop.
It promises to be an exciting moment!!!
