Akunyili and her 500 awards
When it is difficult to ensure her physical presence, she is represented. Yet, not all functions have people representing her. We usually have challenges meeting her expectations. The greatest headache that I will live to remember are screening awards before they are conferred on her and deciding which functions she should attend or send representative […]
When it is difficult to ensure her physical presence, she is represented. Yet, not all functions have people representing her. We usually have challenges meeting her expectations. The greatest headache that I will live to remember are screening awards before they are conferred on her and deciding which functions she should attend or send representative to or which function the media should cover or not. Particularly for the awards, this was critical because we believed it is almost impossible for her to accept the legion of awards dangled at her no matter how altruistic the intention of the brains behind the award is! Every day, the minister receives an average of five proposals to confer her with awards from reputable organisations from Nigeria and outside the shores of the country! As at last month, she has been conferred with over 500 awards. The one I find most interesting is the Islam Ambassadorial award conferred on her in 2010 by the prestigious Eagle Eye Hajj Monitors Group.
The body is a pressure group rooted in the teaching of Islam and saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that pilgrims are of good behaviours while in the Holy Land! Leader of the group, Alhaji Nurudeen Gasali said the award is in recognition of Professor Akunyili’s service to her fatherland. He said the minister attends to matters on merit and related with people on the strength of their character and not their beliefs, creed, origin and social status. In addition, Alhaji Gasali stressed that Eagle Eye Hajj Monitors chose Professor Akunyili for the award because ‘‘the Re-branding Campaign which is anchored on attitudinal change complements the teaching of the two dominant religions – Islam and Christianity.”
As Islam’s Ambassador, the group also donated Koran to the Minister. The elated Akunyili was humbled by the gesture of her Muslim compatriots and promised to redouble efforts at nation building. Never before in the annals of Nigeria’s history was a devout Christian honoured with this rare and prestigious award! The award is a clarion call to service not just to Professor Akunyili but to all public office holders. The lesson here is that leadership is a sacred responsibility and those who are entrusted with it must at all times, rise above board. The Professor of Pharmacology has consistently done this. Secondly, Nigerians are watching and are willing to honour who ever distinguishes himself or herself in the service to the fatherland. Religion, tribalism or ethnicity are no longer the deciders!
Eagle Eye Hajj Monitors is one of the many organisations that have bought into the national Re-branding campaign. As partners with the Federal Ministry of Information and Communications, the group is deeply involved in the re-orientation and attitudinal change drive of pilgrims. Recently, three Nigerians on 2010 pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia found lost monies and returned them to their rightful owners.
They are Alhaji Idris Ginshau from Jigawa State who returned SR50,000 (N2.1 million), Alhaji Mutiu Goriola who returned $10,000 (N1.5 million) and Alhaji Akaje Ibrahim from Kwara who returned SR500 (N20,000).
This good news was disclosed by the leader of the Eagle Eye Hajj Monitors Group, Alhaji Gasali during a courtesy call on Professor Akunyili. Alhaji Gasali said the pilgrims were motivated to return the money because of the impact the Re-branding campaign has had on Nigerians particularly the pilgrims.
Francis Agbo was Special Adviser (Media) to former Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili, Abuja