The footprint of Mr. Sam Adurogboye, the immediate past General Manager, Public Affairs of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is indelible and will always remain fresh.

Capt. Chris Najomo, the Acting Director-General Civil Aviation (ADGCA), stated this over the weekend at the retirement celebration of Adurogboye, which was held for him by his colleagues in the Public Relations Department at the Regional Headquarters of NCAA at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos.

Najomo who was represented at the occasion by Engr. Samuel Ngene, the Lagos Regional Manager, NCAA, said that Adurogboye played a pivotal role in ensuring positive media coverage for the agency since he joined the organization at inception in 2000.

Najomo insisted that the footstep left behind by Adurogboye was huge and challenged other staff of the agency, especially those in the Public Relations Department to emulate him.

The ADGCAA expressed delight that Adurogboye reached the pinnacle of his career as a civil servant, having been the General Manager of the agency.

He said: “This occasion is nostalgia. Not everyone that started well got to the finishing lane sound and healthy.”

“ In civil service, our career stops at General Manager. It takes about four years to move from a Deputy General Manager to General Manager and this is not even guaranteed.”

“Thank you for being a voice of the NCAA and a rallying point for the media. The footstep you left is huge and anyone that will fit in will need to work harder.”

“ If the NCAA is looking for experts in aviation reporting, then they should look into your direction.”

Besides, colleagues and friends in the aviation industry also paid glowing tributes to Adurogboye.

One of the staff stated that Adurogboye was fond of returning unspent budgets back to the coffers of the NCAA, an act, which she said was uncommon in the civil service.

Also, Mrs. Carol Adekotujo, the Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, described Adurogboye as a mentor, teacher, a lover of God and peacemaker in the agency.

She emphasised that she was privileged to be tutored by Adurogboye immediately she joined the service in 2001, stressing that Adurogboye worked with all the staff equally, especially those who were ready to learn.

In his response, Adurogboye expressed gratitude to everyone who made his work at NCAA smooth.

He enjoined them to always think of how to add values to the system and contribute to the growth of everyone who comes across them.

Adurogboye also explained that he had no fewer than 10 vouchers of returned unspent budgets in his file, stressing that he left the system without any blemish.

He further recalled how Capt. Musa Nuhu, the immediate past Director-General Civil Aviation, rejected his retirement letter based on his contribution to the system.

He said: “Let us always think of how we can help the system to grow and also think of how we can add value to other people.”.

“ Within a twinkle of an eye, all of us will be outside. It is the lives you touched and the values that you add to the people that will help you in your days of adversity.”