The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has joined the government and people of Kwara State in mourning the loss of Prince Mahe Abdulkadir, the Chief of Staff to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Prince Mahe, a septuagenarian, who retired as a Permanent Secretary and Clerk of the Kwara State House of Assembly, was appointed the Chief of Staff on November 3, 2023, before which he had served as the Secretary to the State Government.
In a terse statement he personally signed and made available to Blueprint in Abuja, Sunday, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, said Abdulkadir was a dedicated public servant “whose unwavering commitment to the development of Kwara State was evident in his years of service.”
He said the deceased’s exemplary leadership and contributions will be remembered as a legacy of service to his state and country.
The statement read: “The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) joins the government and people of Kwara State in mourning the loss of Prince Mahe Abdulkadir, the Chief of Staff to His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
“Prince Abdulkadir was a dedicated public servant whose unwavering commitment to the development of Kwara State was evident in his years of service. His exemplary leadership and contributions will be remembered as a legacy of service to his state and country.
“On behalf of the management and staff of NELFUND, we extend our deepest condolences to His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Abdulkadir family, and the entire people of Kwara State. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this period of immense loss.
“May the Almighty grant the departed eternal rest and comfort those he has left behind.”
Blueprint reports that the late Chief of Staff was buried on Saturday evening, according to Islamic rites; hours after he breathed his last.
The Janazah was attended by thousands of people at the deceased’s Ilorin residence, including Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi state,Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly; Rt Hon Yakubu Salihu Danladi, senior government officials, bureaucrats, clerics, community leaders and family members.
The prayer was led by Chief Imam of Ilorin Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Soliu, who prayed to Allah to admit the deceased to al-jannah Firdaus.
Governor Abdulrazaq called the late Chief of Staff a pillar of support for the administration, saying he would be greatly missed.
“This is a great loss. He was a stabilising factor in our administration. He is a pillar of support for our administration. We will truly miss him. May Allah grant him Aljanat Fridaous,” the Governor told reporters on the sideline of the burial event.
On his part, Ododo described Mahe as a peace-loving personality and prayed to God to bless his soul.
“He was a peace loving personality. The entire family and the state in general will miss him. There is nothing we can say because from Him we come and unto Him we shall return. What we owe him now is prayer, and we will continue to pray for him,” he said.