Bolaji Marks Retirement with Launch of Memoir on Nigeria’s Foreign Service

Bolaji Marks Retirement with Launch of Memoir on Nigeria’s Foreign Service

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

A three-day celebration in Abuja has marked the 60th birthday, retirement and book launch of the outgoing Director of Reforms and Innovations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Akinremi Alade Bolaji.

The events opened on Tuesday with a thanksgiving service at the Ministry’s Christian Chapel, continued on Wednesday with his formal Pull-Out Ceremony, and climaxed on Thursday with a grand dinner and presentation of his memoir, The 7-Star Diplomat, at the Ladi Kwali Hall of the Abuja Continental Hotel.

Bolaji, who served for nearly 35 years, said the memoir was more than a personal reflection, it was written as a compass for younger diplomats navigating the complexities of global service.

He explained that the book captures both his experiences and the often-unseen virtues required to succeed in diplomacy, noting that these traits are very salient, but they are not loud.

The retiring envoy used the occasion to highlight the burdens and risks carried by diplomats, insisting that their contribution to national security is frequently overlooked. He stressed that the glamour perceived from the outside is deceptive.

“Often, the foreign service is underestimated and not as highly rated as the military. But in the real sense of it, they face more fire. They face more hazards than going to the battle front,” he said, arguing that diplomacy remains the bridge between conflict and peace.

He added that despite the prestige associated with the title Excellency, diplomats work “in very murky waters,” often under suspicion in their host countries and with remunerations that “are not beautiful.”

Bolaji also revisited one of the most defining chapters of his career, his wrongful dismissal for seven years, a period he described not as a setback but a stepping stone.

“Nothing was lost, I got back all my promotions, I became one of the first set of directors in my set, and I got an ambassadorial assignment,” he said, attributing his resilience to self-motivation and the grace of God.

Looking ahead, he urged the government to accord the Foreign Service greater recognition and advised newly nominated ambassadors to embrace the demands of modern diplomacy, which he described as more cerebral than ceremonial.

“Diplomacy is now critical thinking. A diplomat is everything. Jack of all trades and master of all,” he said, warning that the role requires sacrifice, commitment and deep patriotism.

Tributes poured in from colleagues, among them Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and Former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Scandinavian countries, Ambassador Godknows Igali, who said Bolaji’s career embodied the finest traditions of the Foreign Service.

Igali noted that the turnout of both serving and retired diplomats; including those who came out of retirement after more than a decade, spoke volumes about Bolaji’s reputation.

“It means that we value his service to the country. Bolaji’s very strong point is the fact that he relates well with everybody. He’s an expert in many things. But the more important part is his humanness. He relates with both senior colleagues, retired colleagues and colleagues in service,” Igali said.

He added that the memoir offers a valuable periscopic view of Nigeria’s diplomacy over the last 35 years.

Bolaji’s wife, who is also the Director of Human Resource Management, Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), Mrs. Foluso Bolaji, also offered a deeply personal reflection on life as the spouse of a diplomat.

She described him as a committed patriot whose work always centred on the welfare of Nigerians abroad.

“He’s a real diplomat, a good husband and great father to five children,” she said, recalling years of relocations and cross-continental postings that required her to become part of the diplomatic machinery herself.

“The life of a diplomat’s wife is like that of a soldier. We also project Nigeria to other people.”

For Agbaoye of Ibadanland and chairman of the occasion, Chief Orikolade Karim, Bolaji’s career stands as a model of discipline and excellence for younger officers.

“Ambassador Akinremi Bolaji is a unique person with a dedicated focus on Nigeria’s global image,” he said, praising his consistency in representing the country with “panache, class and commitment.”

The highlight of the evening was the formal unveiling of the memoir, The 7-Star Diplomat, which drew enthusiastic applause from guests.

The occasion was graced by dignitaries, including the wife of Nigeria’s former Vice President, Her Excellency Titilayo Atiku, ambassadors from various countries, senior government officials, retired diplomats and members of the diplomatic corps.

The celebration closed with warm tributes from colleagues, family and friends, many of whom described Bolaji as “a diplomat’s diplomat.”

His memoir is expected to serve both as a historical record and a training guide for future generations of Nigeria’s foreign service officers.