By Muhammad Mamman
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has been thrown into mourning following the death of its pioneer Head of the Civil Service, Mrs Grace Adayilo.
Adayilo was reported to have passed on in the early hours of Monday, 1 September 2025. Her death was confirmed in a brief text message to journalists by her Special Assistant on Media, Anthony Odey, who wrote simply: “Yes, please.”
Details surrounding the circumstances of her passing remain undisclosed at this time.
Appointed by President Bola Tinubu on 6 October 2024, Adayilo etched her name in history as the first-ever Head of Service of the FCT—and notably, the first woman to hold the position. Prior to her elevation, she had served as Permanent Secretary in the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat.
As of press time, neither her family nor the FCT Administration had issued an official statement on the loss.
