By Abubakar Imam
A Deputy Registrar at the University of Ilorin, Mr Moses Opaleke, has advised staff members of the institution not to be afraid of going on retirement.
Mr Opaleke gave this advice last Thursday (June 26, 2025) while presenting a paper titled “Transition from Work Life to Retirement” at a send-off ceremony organised in honour of three retired staff members of the Directorate of Corporate Affairs at the University Auditorium Basement. The retired staff members are Mr George Adenle Adebisi, a Deputy Director; Mr Olusegun Mokuolu, an Assistant Director; and Mr Sunday Fadesire, a Senior IT Officer.
The Deputy Registrar, who is a renowned Pensions Administration expert, said that there is no need for any staff member to be afraid of retirement since it is an inevitable phase of life.
Mr Opaleke, who is currently incharge of Examinations and Records at the Academic Support Services Unit, described retirement as “a genuinely pleasurable period of life”, particularly if the retiree has adequately planned ahead and equipped himself with resources needed to enjoy it.
While identifying the fear of unknown, the fate of tomorrow and the fear of leaving lucrative offices as some of the reasons making some people to develop fear towards retirement, Mr Opaleke said that such an attitude is needless because retirement is like death, which is bound to happen sooner or later.
He urged staff members of the University to always remember that there would certainly be an exit from work, reminding them that anything with a beginning would certainly have an end.
Mr Opaleke encouraged staff to always prepare ahead for retirement before they are either slowed down by poor health or asked to go by their employers either upon the attainment of the statutory retirement age or any other factor.
He counselled the retiring staff members that the process of planning for retirement should take place over a period of time starting preferably from the first year of employment and certainly not later than five years before one is due to retire.
He encouraged staff members not to see retirement from the negative perspectives but to work towards it by being careful in their spending as he urged the retirees to adjust their spending remarkably and immediately.
Mr Opaleke urged staff to plan very well right from the time they are young and full of energy, advising that those skipping their annual leaves should begin to take the leave to have a taste of life outside the regular world of work.
The Deputy Registrar also encouraged retired employees to think of something else they can do, saying that the establishment of small businesses and professional outfits would not only earn them additional funds but also keep them busy.
He also suggested small scale farming as a means of keeping fit, saying that instead of going far from home a retiree can have a garden at his backyard where vegetables would be planted for the use of the family.
He also advised staff members to be conscious of the need to practice effective family planning, saying that it is one of the ways one can prepare ahead for retirement.
He advised against taking new wives or having more children in the twilight of their careers as he said that it would be very financially difficult and tasking for a man or woman in retirement to fund the education of young children.
Mr Opaleke said that efforts should be made to ensure that children become economically independent during the period one is still at work for the little earnings that retirement would impose to be sufficient to keep body and soul together.
He also urged staff of the University to ensure that they have a good and comfortable retirement home, saying that little savings can turn a tenant to landlord in the course of a working life.
The Deputy Registrar also encouraged the staff to plan their lives in retirement so as not to become lonely and idle upon the commencement of their lives in retirement.
He also encouraged would-be retirees to plan for their health, saying that access to good medical facilities is very essential for a good post-work life.
Mr Opaleke also advised retirees against borrowing money or taking loans either from individuals or financial institutions as he said that inability to repay may induce depression.
The Deputy Registrar, who congratulated the three honourees on their glorious retirement from the services of the University of Ilorin, urged them to have a positive perspective and devote their time to productive ventures.
He also commended the Directorate of Corporate Affairs for always celebrating their colleagues on their retirement as he urged other units of the University to emulate the Directorate by celebrating their own.
The event was presided over by the Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, and attended by the Station Manager, UNILORIN 89.3 FM, Mr Akintola Ibrahim (Alooma), and other staff members of the Directorate.
