Abuja: The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) inaugurated a pre-retirement programme on Wednesday in Abuja, themed ‘Sustainable Opportunities for Active Retirement (SOAR)’, which aims to guide civil servants in preparing for life after retirement. The initiative seeks to provide retiring public servants with the tools and knowledge needed to embrace new opportunities post-retirement.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Executive Director of NEPC, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, emphasized that the programme was established as part of the council’s commitment to fostering inclusive economic participation. Ayeni highlighted that the programme is designed to empower public servants to view retirement not as an end, but as a gateway to new beginnings. She stressed the importance of utilizing years of accumulated experience in building sustainable enterprises.
Ayeni further explained that with the support of President Bola Tinubu under The Renewed Hope Agenda, the SOAR programme intends to guide participants towards
profitable ventures in non-oil exportation. She expressed confidence that by the end of the programme, participants would have a clear understanding of the steps needed to pursue these opportunities. Ayeni also encouraged other government agencies to develop similar initiatives for retirees.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, in a speech delivered by Dr. Danjuma Usman, praised the NEPC for its efforts. Walson-Jack urged civil servants to remain relevant even after retirement and called for the establishment of additional programmes to assist retirees in transitioning smoothly into new endeavors.
Participants at the event expressed their satisfaction with the initiative. Mrs. Zainab Ochojila from the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission described the programme as timely and impactful, noting that it could prevent retirees from facing hardships. Mr. Gabriel Odu highlighted the importance of initiatives like SOAR in alleviating retirement anxieties and opening opportunit
ies for skills development and international market access.
The inauguration was attended by over 100 civil servants from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), marking a significant step towards supporting the nation’s civil servants in their transition to retirement.