The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has been thrown into mourning following the death of Mrs. Grace Adayilo, the pioneer Head of the Civil Service of the FCT and its first female occupant of the role.
Adayilo reportedly died in the early hours of Monday, September 1, 2025. Her passing was confirmed in a brief message by Anthony Odey, her Special Assistant on Media.
“Yes, please,” Odey wrote in response to inquiries, offering no further details on the cause or circumstances surrounding her death.
Her death marks a significant loss for the FCT civil service, where she had made notable strides in leadership and institutional reform.
Adayilo was appointed as the first-ever Head of the Civil Service of the FCT on October 6, 2024, following approval by President Bola Tinubu.
Her appointment took immediate effect and was widely celebrated at the time, both for its historic significance and for her longstanding dedication to public service.
Before her elevation to Head of Service, Adayilo served as Permanent Secretary of the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, one of the most active departments within the FCT Administration.
As of the time of this report, neither her family nor the FCT Administration has released an official statement regarding her death.
