The executives of the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta Branch, led by Comrade Famuyiwa Sarafadeen Abiodun (popularly known as Ijoba), have paid a courtesy visit to the erstwhile Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola, OFR.
During the visit, the union leaders expressed admiration and appreciation for Ambassador Isola’s unwavering humility, deep-rooted empathy, and unflinching advocacy for fairness and justice in governance.
Ambassador Sarafa Isola’s history with the Nigerian working class predates his diplomatic appointment. As a former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Secretary to the Ogun State Government, and a seasoned grassroots mobilizer, his public service philosophy has always emphasized that “a government that values its workers is a government that will stand the test of time.”
His tenure as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom was marked not only by diplomatic excellence but also by human-centered leadership—ensuring that Nigerian professionals abroad, especially health workers, were supported, recognized, and inspired to contribute to national development.
For the MHWUN, an affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the visit symbolized unity and continuity. It reaffirmed that workers and leaders can collaborate to advance the dignity of labour, promote fair working conditions, and strengthen national productivity.
Comrade Ijoba, speaking on behalf of the delegation, described Ambassador Isola as “a rare example of leadership that connects the corridors of power with the corridors of compassion.”
He further commended the Ambassador’s consistent advocacy for social justice, inclusive governance, and sustainable development, describing him as “a beacon of moral leadership in a time when Nigeria needs sincerity of purpose more than ever.”
In his response, Ambassador Sarafa Isola expressed gratitude to the MHWUN leadership for their visit and reaffirmed his belief in collective leadership, integrity-driven service, and the enduring role of workers as the lifeblood of national growth.
He emphasized that “the measure of leadership is not in titles or offices held, but in the number of lives touched, and the institutions strengthened through honesty and humility.”
He charged the labour union to continue to uphold professionalism, discipline, and dedication to duty—qualities that make the health sector a pride of the nation.