After over three decades of dedicated service in the Federal Civil Service, the Director of Information and Spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Joel Okwuchukwu Oruche, has officially bowed out of service.
Dr. Oruche, who joined the service on January 30, 1992, will retire on July 29, 2025, upon reaching the statutory retirement age of 60. He had served in various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), leaving behind a legacy of professionalism and innovation in government communications.
Appointed as Director of Information in the Ministry of Agriculture in April 2022, Dr. Oruche previously served as Press Secretary and Resident Information Officer in key MDAs, including the Ecological Project Office, Federal Civil Service Commission, NEPAD, and the Ministry of Defence.
During his tenure, he was instrumental in launching initiatives that enhanced government visibility and stakeholder engagement. Notably, at the Ecological Project Office, he introduced the Pre-Project Sensitization Programme, a platform that fostered collaboration between benefiting communities, contractors, and government agencies. This intervention was credited with reducing project delays and averting cost escalations due to abandoned projects.
At the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Oruche also initiated the Annual Training Workshop for Agriculture Correspondents, providing a platform for journalists to gain deeper insights into the Ministry’s programmes and policies through direct interactions with directors and experts.
In his valedictory remarks on Monday, Dr. Oruche expressed appreciation to members of the press, particularly Agriculture Correspondents, for their cooperation throughout his career. He called on journalists to continue supporting the Ministry’s public engagement efforts.
To mark both his retirement and 60th birthday, Dr. Oruche is set to launch a new book titled “Where No One Is Oppressed: The Challenge of Nation Building in Nigeria” on July 31, 2025, in Abuja. The publication is his personal contribution to ongoing discourse on national unity and development.
A seasoned philosopher, educationist, information management expert, researcher, novelist, and author, Dr. Oruche has 18 published books to his name. His departure signals the end of a remarkable era in public communication and service, with his intellect and experience expected to be missed by colleagues and stakeholders in the Ministry.
