Didi Walson-Jack: The Public Servant Who Planted Institutions Across Nigeria’s Civil Service
Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, mni, will on Thursday , August 27, 2026, bow out of the Nigerian public service after more than three decades of meritorious service marked by
On Thursday, August 27, 2026, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, mni, will retire from her role as Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, marking the end of a three-decade-long career in Nigeria's public service. Beginning her journey as a State Counsel in the Rivers State Civil Service in 1992, Walson-Jack's commitment to public service was evident from the outset.
She declined a lucrative banking offer to join the Civil Service, demonstrating her dedication to building institutions and supporting the nation's growth. Her career began in 1992 when she chose the Civil Service over a banking offer and began her journey that would see her rise to the highest administrative office in Nigeria. Throughout her career, Walson-Jack focused on building systems, developing people, and creating institutions that could survive after she left.
Her philosophy, encapsulated in the words "I planted, I believed, and I moved on," guided her professional life. In her memoir, I Planted – A Memoir of Purposeful Service, she elaborates on this approach, detailing her experiences and contributions to Nigeria's civil service.
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