Grace Adayilo, First Female FCT Head of Service, Dies Suddenly

Former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Head of Service, Mrs. Grace Adayilo, popularly known as Mama Africa, has passed away. She died in the early hours of Monday, September 1, 2025.

The news of her death was confirmed by Pastor Danladi Jeji, President of the Original Inhabitants Development Association of Abuja (OIDA), who was working closely with her on a project. In a tribute shared on the FCT Stakeholders’ Assembly Platform, Pastor Jeji described his grief, noting that they had planned to celebrate the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on the day she passed. “My heart is very, very heavy. The Almighty God has called you to be with Him,” he wrote.

A relative of the late civil servant also confirmed her passing, saying she attended church service on Sunday and ministered to the congregation without showing any signs of illness or fatigue.

Mrs. Adayilo made history on October 6, 2024, when President Bola Tinubu appointed her as the first female and first indigenous Head of Service of the FCT Civil Service Commission, succeeding Dr. Atang Udo Samuel. Her appointment was celebrated as a groundbreaking achievement, breaking both gender and geographical barriers.

Her sudden death has left colleagues, family, and the wider Abuja community in shock, as many continue to pay tribute to her legacy of service and leadership.