ELDER JB YUSUFF: PLAUSIBLE PROVIDER OF LESSONS
Posted on January 31, 2018 by thekwaratabloid
Most human beings are acutely ‘self absorbed’. Most times they are even oblivious of this fact. But that does not make the fact untenable anywhere. As far as most human beings are concerned, if it is not about them, nobody else matters.
One exemption to this generally accepted rule is Elder John Bernard Yusuff, immediate past Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation.
Born in Isolo- Opin town in Ekiti L.G.A. in 1948, he holds both of his first degree ( Sociology, 1976) and second degree (Master of Art in African Studies, specializing in the Cultural Anthropology of Africa,1984) from the University of Ibadan.
He was employed by the Federal Civil Service Commission in Lagos in 1977 and was posted to former Department of Antiquities (Presently known as the National Commission for Museums and Monuments). Between August 1977 and April 1979, he was in the National Museum, Onikan as Curator (Registration) in Document Department.
In May 1979, he was invited by the State to assist in establishing the Research and Museum Services Department of the Kwara State Council for Arts and Culture. He sought transfer of service from the Federal Civil Service Commission to the State. It was approved. Consequently, he transferred his service to Kwara State where he worked for ten years (1979-1989) before transferring his service to the National Council for Art and Culture, a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture (in November 1989) as Assistant Director, Research and Documentation.
From 1987 to February 1997, he was with the National Council for Art and Culture and rose to the rank of Deputy Director in 1994. He attended many conferences and seminars either as paper presenter/discussant or Nigeria Representative at UNESCO programmes.
One milestone achievement in the work life of Elder J. B Yusuff is that he successfully coordinated, the relocation from Dodan Barracks, the car in which the late Head of State Gen. Murtala Mohammed was assassinated. The car was removed to the National Museum Onikan. He was given the privilege of soliciting materials, photographs and spouts that led to the exhibition of the car with the achievement of Nigeria Governments from the pre-colonial to colonial, Independence and post independence up till Shagari period.
In January 2005, he became the Acting Executive Secretary and was later confirmed Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) with effect from 1st August, 2006. He retired without blemish in 2009 as a result of Federal Government policy on tenure appointment for career Public Servants.
Instructively, however, during his tenure as Executive Secretary, he repositioned the organization through capacity building programmes for the staff and cultural stakeholders as part fulfillment of the then Federal Government’s reforms. He put in place both logistics and infrastructures for NICO’s effectiveness. Towards this end, the training of cultural workers to professionalize the sector was his major preoccupation.
He ensured that NICO has offices in the six geo- political zones of Nigeria and the construction of a permanent headquarters office complex in Kuje, Abuja. He also ensured that Kwara State got the North Central Zonal Office of NICO in Ilorin.
While on the job, Elder Yusuff contributed significantly to the development of culture both nationally and internationally. He was Nigeria expert on Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of UNESCO, Paris just as he was Nigeria Chair at the International Council of Museums (ICOM) in Paris. (2004-2008).
For us at The Kwara Tabloid, his real appeal goes beyond his feats as a celebrated Public Servant. It is his involvement in community programmes and activities. As a member of the select group called Council of Elders / Think tank to the Asolo of Isolo Opin land, he awarded Scholarship to 25 students in tertiary institutions as his personal contribution to the development of indigent students after retirement in 2009.This is in addition to his Annual Scholarship to two students in Isolo – Opin from 2009 till date.
Elder J. B Yusuff is Chairman Isolo – Opin carnival organizing community – a programme of Isolo – Opin Development Association (IDA) , he is Grand Patron of Dynamic Social Club, the club is socio-cultural, non-political Association, he is a frontline member of Kwara Ekiti Indigenes just as he was Chairman, second Kwara Ekiti Indigenes Day celebration in 2012. The celebration comprised Ekiti, and Oke- Ero Local Governments and enjoyed active ith participation from Ekiti State.
In September 2017, Elder Yusuff was selected as a delegate of Kwara Yorubas to the Yoruba submit in Ibadan on the Restructuring of Nigeria where the Yoruba Agenda 2017 was presented . Recently, he was named Chairman of the Coronation of Olopin of Opinland at Isare Opin.
Since his retirement, Elder Yusuf has taken permanent residence in Ilorin. He takes time to visit and consult with his people and offers useful assistance when ever he can and such is needed.
ELDER JB YUSUFF: PLAUSIBLE PROVIDER OF LESSONS
Posted on January 31, 2018 by thekwaratabloid
Most human beings are acutely ‘self absorbed’. Most times they are even oblivious of this fact. But that does not make the fact untenable anywhere. As far as most human beings are concerned, if it is not about them, nobody else matters.
One exemption to this generally accepted rule is Elder John Bernard Yusuff, immediate past Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation.
Born in Isolo- Opin town in Ekiti L.G.A. in 1948, he holds both of his first degree ( Sociology, 1976) and second degree (Master of Art in African Studies, specializing in the Cultural Anthropology of Africa,1984) from the University of Ibadan.
He was employed by the Federal Civil Service Commission in Lagos in 1977 and was posted to former Department of Antiquities (Presently known as the National Commission for Museums and Monuments). Between August 1977 and April 1979, he was in the National Museum, Onikan as Curator (Registration) in Document Department.
In May 1979, he was invited by the State to assist in establishing the Research and Museum Services Department of the Kwara State Council for Arts and Culture. He sought transfer of service from the Federal Civil Service Commission to the State. It was approved. Consequently, he transferred his service to Kwara State where he worked for ten years (1979-1989) before transferring his service to the National Council for Art and Culture, a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture (in November 1989) as Assistant Director, Research and Documentation.
From 1987 to February 1997, he was with the National Council for Art and Culture and rose to the rank of Deputy Director in 1994. He attended many conferences and seminars either as paper presenter/discussant or Nigeria Representative at UNESCO programmes.
One milestone achievement in the work life of Elder J. B Yusuff is that he successfully coordinated, the relocation from Dodan Barracks, the car in which the late Head of State Gen. Murtala Mohammed was assassinated. The car was removed to the National Museum Onikan. He was given the privilege of soliciting materials, photographs and spouts that led to the exhibition of the car with the achievement of Nigeria Governments from the pre-colonial to colonial, Independence and post independence up till Shagari period.
In January 2005, he became the Acting Executive Secretary and was later confirmed Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) with effect from 1st August, 2006. He retired without blemish in 2009 as a result of Federal Government policy on tenure appointment for career Public Servants.
Instructively, however, during his tenure as Executive Secretary, he repositioned the organization through capacity building programmes for the staff and cultural stakeholders as part fulfillment of the then Federal Government’s reforms. He put in place both logistics and infrastructures for NICO’s effectiveness. Towards this end, the training of cultural workers to professionalize the sector was his major preoccupation.
He ensured that NICO has offices in the six geo- political zones of Nigeria and the construction of a permanent headquarters office complex in Kuje, Abuja. He also ensured that Kwara State got the North Central Zonal Office of NICO in Ilorin.
While on the job, Elder Yusuff contributed significantly to the development of culture both nationally and internationally. He was Nigeria expert on Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of UNESCO, Paris just as he was Nigeria Chair at the International Council of Museums (ICOM) in Paris. (2004-2008).
For us at The Kwara Tabloid, his real appeal goes beyond his feats as a celebrated Public Servant. It is his involvement in community programmes and activities. As a member of the select group called Council of Elders / Think tank to the Asolo of Isolo Opin land, he awarded Scholarship to 25 students in tertiary institutions as his personal contribution to the development of indigent students after retirement in 2009.This is in addition to his Annual Scholarship to two students in Isolo – Opin from 2009 till date.
Elder J. B Yusuff is Chairman Isolo – Opin carnival organizing community – a programme of Isolo – Opin Development Association (IDA) , he is Grand Patron of Dynamic Social Club, the club is socio-cultural, non-political Association, he is a frontline member of Kwara Ekiti Indigenes just as he was Chairman, second Kwara Ekiti Indigenes Day celebration in 2012. The celebration comprised Ekiti, and Oke- Ero Local Governments and enjoyed active ith participation from Ekiti State.
In September 2017, Elder Yusuff was selected as a delegate of Kwara Yorubas to the Yoruba submit in Ibadan on the Restructuring of Nigeria where the Yoruba Agenda 2017 was presented . Recently, he was named Chairman of the Coronation of Olopin of Opinland at Isare Opin.
Since his retirement, Elder Yusuf has taken permanent residence in Ilorin. He takes time to visit and consult with his people and offers useful assistance when ever he can and such is needed.
