Retirement should not be viewed as the end of a productive career but as an opportunity for reinvention, personal growth and continued contribution to society, Vice President, Relations and Sustainable Development at Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Igo Weli, has said.

Weli spoke at a pre-retirement seminar organised by Renaissance in partnership with the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN) for public servants preparing to exit active service in Abuja.

The programme was designed to equip participants with practical knowledge, skills and tools to navigate life after retirement, with sessions covering psychological transition and legacy, pension systems and public sector benefits, financial management, post-service business opportunities, exit planning and healthcare options after retirement.

Commending the participants for their years of dedicated service to the nation, Weli acknowledged the critical role public servants play in national development, describing the public service as a vital institution for translating government policies into tangible outcomes for citizens.

“Today is a celebration of your years of service and contribution to nation-building. The Nigerian public service remains one of the most important institutions in our country, providing the framework through which government policies are translated into meaningful outcomes for citizens. Across every sector, including the oil and gas industry, the efforts of public servants create the enabling environment for progress and growth,” he said.

According to him, the achievements of organisations such as Renaissance are supported by the daily efforts of civil servants working across ministries, departments and agencies of government.

“Many of the achievements recorded by organisations such as Renaissance are possible because of the work carried out daily by civil servants in ministries, departments and agencies. Your impact extends far beyond your offices and is reflected in the growth and development of our country,” Weli added.

He urged the participants to approach retirement with optimism and confidence, stressing that leaving active service should not diminish their capacity to contribute to society or pursue new opportunities.

“Retirement is not an ending; it is the beginning of a new chapter. It is a time to apply the knowledge, experience and networks you have built over the years in new and meaningful ways. Whether through entrepreneurship, mentoring, consulting, community service or personal pursuits, there are tremendous opportunities ahead,” he said.

Weli encouraged the retiring officers not to despair over the transition from active service but to embrace the possibilities it offers for personal fulfilment and continued relevance.

“I encourage you not to despair about leaving active service but to look forward to the possibilities that this next phase presents. Your capacity to make a difference does not end with retirement,” he said.

He reaffirmed Renaissance’s commitment to the initiative, noting that the company would continue to collaborate with PSIN to strengthen future editions of the programme and improve support for public servants preparing for retirement.

In her remarks, the Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of PSIN, Barrister Imeh Okon, emphasised the importance of deliberate preparation for retirement, describing the transition from active service as a critical stage of life that requires careful planning beyond financial considerations.

“Retirement is an inevitable phase of life for every worker and one that requires careful preparation. Beyond financial readiness, individuals must also prepare psychologically, socially and professionally for the transition,” Okon said.

She explained that the seminar was structured to provide participants with the knowledge, skills and perspectives needed to approach retirement with confidence, dignity and a clear sense of purpose.

“This seminar has been designed to provide participants with the knowledge, skills and perspectives required to approach retirement with confidence, dignity and a clear sense of purpose. Our goal is to help retiring officers view retirement not as a period of decline, but as an opportunity for renewal, reinvention and continued relevance,” she said.

Okon commended Renaissance for partnering with the Institute to support public servants as they prepare for life after government service.

The pre-retirement seminar was held alongside the second batch of the Oil and Gas Seminar for Senior Government Officials, another joint initiative by Renaissance and PSIN aimed at deepening participants’ understanding of the oil and gas industry and its contribution to the Nigerian economy.

The second batch of the oil and gas seminar, held on October 6 and 7, followed the successful inaugural edition in June 2026.

Speaking during the opening session, Renaissance’s General Manager, Business Relations, Mr. Enobong Ekanem, said the expansion of the programme was informed by feedback from participants at previous engagements.

“We listened to feedback from a previous engagement and that is why we organised this programme for other levels of the civil service,” Ekanem said.

He noted that government policies implemented through the ministries, departments and agencies represented at the seminar had contributed to Renaissance’s efforts to increase oil production.

“The policies of the Federal Government, implemented by persons and ministries, departments and agencies represented here, have aided Renaissance to ramp up production. We will show you how everything you do in your job leads to every drop of oil produced in this country,” he said.

Ekanem described the public service as the engine room of the nation, emphasising that the work of civil servants remained indispensable to effective governance and the development of strategic sectors, including oil and gas.

He said the seminar would help participants understand the connections between government policies, public sector responsibilities and operational outcomes in the petroleum industry, highlighting how decisions and actions across government institutions could influence production and broader economic performance.

Through the joint initiatives, Renaissance and PSIN are seeking to strengthen the capacity of public servants at different stages of their careers, while promoting a better understanding of the relationship between effective public administration, economic development and the oil and gas industry.