Lagos State government through the Office of the Local Government Establishments and Training, OLGE&T on Wednesday urged 341 retiring officers to prioritize their health and make meaningful use of their retirement life by engaging in productive activities.
The occasion was the Pre-Retirement Training For Officers in the Unified Local Government Service organised by OLGE&T held at the Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA Secretariat, Ilupeju, with the theme “ Beyond Retirement: Preparing For A Healthy, Purposeful And Prosperous Chapter.
The Head of Service, Olabode Agoro represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning, Wasiu Olayinka, described the workshop as a ‘timely initiative’ adding that while retirement does not happen by chance it requires early sensitization and adequate preparation.’
“ You need to prioritize your health, as retirement provides an opportunity to pay greater attention to your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. After many years of meeting the demands of public service,you must now maintain healthy habits, undertake regular medical check-ups and make time for activities that promote a balanced and fulfilling life. The objective is not merely to retire from work, but to retire into a life that is healthy, meaningful, and worthwhile, Agoro urged.
He also advised those who are yet to retire to start making plans for retirement and should not wait until their retirement date before they begin to plan.
The Permanent Secretary, OLGE&T, Toyin Ogunlana said the retiring officers had given time, knowledge, skills and experience to the public service and contributed, in different capacities, to the development of local communities.
She said retirement may bring an end to active public service, but it does not have to bring an end to productivity, relevance or purpose. She urged them to see it as the beginning of a different kind of fulfillment for them.
“It can be the opportunity to pursue that business you have always thought about, to learn a new skill, invest, mentor younger people, serve your community, spend more time with family and finally make room for the things that years of demanding public service may have placed on the back burner, “ she said.
Toyin further said the workshop was part of the commitment of OLGE&T to ensuring that Lagos workers do not simply leave the service but are prepared for post-retirement life
“Do not wait until your last day in service before you begin thinking about your next chapter. The best retirement is one that is planned for while you are still in active service.
You have spent many years serving the government and our communities. Now, it is time to prepare for a chapter in which you can invest more deliberately in yourself, your family, your interests and your future. We appreciate your service. We value your contributions and we want the next chapter of your life to be one you enter with confidence, dignity and purpose,
Begin to see retirement not as an ending, but as a new chapter waiting to be written,” she said.
Some past retired officers at the event also urged the retiring ones not see their retirement as the end of their lives and avoid living sedentary lifestyle and engaged in regular exercises