The director of information and spokesperson of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Joel Oruche is set to retire from the Federal Civil Service after more than three decades of dedicated service.
Oruche, who joined the civil service on January 30, 1992, will officially retire on July 29, 2025, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60. He assumed duty as director of information at the ministry in April 2022.
Throughout his career, Oruche served across several ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), including the Ecological Project Office, Federal Civil Service Commission, NEPAD and the Ministry of Defence, where he functioned as press secretary or resident information officer.
His legacy includes notable contributions to improving public communication and stakeholder engagement. While at the Ecological Project Office, he initiated the pre-project sensitisation programme, which brought together government officials, benefiting communities, contractors and other stakeholders. This initiative fostered collaboration, minimised conflicts and prevented project delays and abandonments that previously led to worsened ecological degradation and increased costs for the government.
At the Ministry of Agriculture, Oruche introduced the Annual Training Workshop for Agriculture Correspondents. This initiative enhanced media understanding of the ministry’s activities, with directors and technical experts providing direct briefings to journalists.
In his valedictory remarks on Monday, July 28, 2025, Oruche expressed heartfelt appreciation to journalists who supported him across various MDAs, especially the agriculture correspondents. He urged continued cooperation with the department, pledging to maintain lasting relationships with his colleagues.
As part of activities marking his retirement and 60th birthday, Oruche will unveil his latest book titled “Where No One is Oppressed: The Challenge of Nation Building in Nigeria.” The book presentation is scheduled for July 31, 2025, in Abuja.
A renowned intellectual, Oruche is a philosopher, educationist, information management expert, researcher, novelist and prolific writer with 18 published books to his name.
According to a statement by the ministry’s assistant director of information, Ezeaja Ikemefuna, Oruche’s vast experience as a teacher, journalist and writer will be deeply missed by the department and the ministry at large.
