By Perekeme Odon
It
was a colourful moment no one would forget in a hurry as three staff of the
National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Lagos Zonal Directorate, were
honoured during a send-off ceremony on Monday, November 20, 2022, to mark their
retirement from the council's services.
The event, which saw friends and well-wishers
gather at the NCAC Red Brick at the National Theatre to bid them farewell into
retirement, was a joyous occasion. Welcoming staff and the retirees, among whom
were the former Head of Lagos Zonal Directorate, Mr Dotun Victor Omoniyi; Head
of Accounts Department, Mrs Emimie Christiana Ogbolu; and Mr. Anthony Anietie
Etukudoh, to the event, the Acting Head of Lagos Zonal Directorate, Mr Edwin
Ezenobie, commended the retirees for their dedication and commitment over the
years.
Mrs. Christiana Ogbolu, who began her
career at the Council in 1987 as a
Visual Arts Assistant in the Visual Arts and Crafts Department and progressed
to become the head of the finance and accounting department, was showered with
accolades. Prior to her employment, Mrs. Ogbolu was opportune to engage
extensively in the frontlining of various art exhibitions at NCAC and outside
functions. She was the Treasurer of the NCAC Co-operative from its formation
and later became the President in 2016 till her retirement after 35 years of
service.
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Mr. Victor Omoniyi & Mrs. Christiana Ogbolu
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Speaking at the event, Christiana Ogbolu
expressed gratitude for the outpouring of praise, saying, "I am gladdened and surprised by the accolades showered on me.
"This event today sincerely whispered that we are one family. I want to
thank everyone who contributed to putting smiles on our faces. A lot happened.
Some were retrenched, and a few died along the way and never saw their
retirements. You will not die in service, as I pray for your retirement in the
future the way I am retiring.” She stated.
Mr. Ezenobie described the former Head of
Zone, who, until his retirement, was a Director and Head of Zone of the
Council, as a good man and a gentleman. He commended him for dedicating 32
years of uninterrupted service and loyalty to the Council. He urged the staff
of the Council to imbibe the spirit of truthfulness, vision, diligence, hard
work, and teamwork that these dedicated servants had exhibited in performing
their duties in the Council.
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Mr. Omoniyi Receives His Award From Mr. Ezenobie
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Mr. Omoniyi was employed at the National
Council for Arts and Culture as a Research Officer II in 1990, and during his
32-year sojourn in the Council, he variously served and supervised the
development of various projects in different capacities at the NCAC
headquarters in Abuja before becoming a Director.
The retired Council Director thanked the
attendees for their cooperation and support in carrying out his Council duties.
According to him, “I thank God that we are all ending well. Today is a day of
sober reflection, because uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. As the
leader of a company, you see a lot and say little. As long as you’re in the
civil service, you must stay within the rules and work within the rules. I
thank the peacemakers and those who supported me during my tenure as Zone Head
in the cause of my service."
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Mrs Ogbolu Receives Her Awards From Mrs Akwara
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He also advised staff to cooperate with
Mr. Edwin Ezenobie, whose baton falls on the mantle of leadership as the Acting
Head of Zone at NCAC Lagos. “Mr. Ezenobie
had been so supportive to me. We’ve had lots of quarrels, pains, and
disagreements that made us fall apart and come back together, and I pray for
him to rise to the peak of his career. You people should not put him in a
situation that would make him behave or work otherwise.” He advised.
It is indeed a truism that the world
stops when people of integrity and good leadership are celebrated! This was the
case for the former Head of Zone, NCAC Lagos, Mr. Dotun Victor Omoniyi, Head of
Accounts Department, Mrs. Emimie Christiana Ogbolu, and Mr. Anthony Anietie
Etukudoh. The management and staff of NCAC will surely miss their leadership
and also wish them well in their future endeavours.
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| Mr Isa Ozigi Receives Mr Etukudoh's Award |
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Mrs Chizoba Ikeh, Mrs Ogbolu & Perekeme Odon
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(l-r) Mr Edwin Ezenobie, Mrs Ogbolu & Mr Victor Omoniyi
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Art Work Presented To Mr. Victor Omoniyi
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Presentation Of Gift to Mr. Victor Omoniyi
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(l-r) Mrs Ngozi Chinelo Nnodibe, Mrs Ogbolu and Daughter
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Mrs Nneka Akwara
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J-Spring & Mrs Nnodibe
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Mr Popoola of NICO
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Mrs Franca Amuta Presenting A Gift To Mrs Ogbolu
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Mrs Ngozi Okutuo Presenting A Gift to Mrs Ogbolu
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| Acting Head of Zone, Mr Edwin Ezenobie |
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Mr Alhaji
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Mrs Christiana Ogbolu & Mr Edwin Ezenobie
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(l-r) Mr Ezenobie, Mr Omoniyi, Mrs Sandra Kalu & Mr Samuel
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Mrs Christiana Ogbolu & Mr Samuel Ebatamaehi
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(l-r) Mrs Euphemia Ven, Mrs Nwobodo, Sandra, Mrs Ogbolu
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(l-r) Mr Shola Abiodun, Ngozi, Mr Omoniyi & Pst Babatope
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| Ngozi |
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Mrs Chinelo Nnodibe, Mrs Nneka Akwara & Mrs Mario Okeke
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Mr Kingsley Esho
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(l-r) Euphemia, Toyin, Toyin, Omoniyi, Quadri, & Grace
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Mr. Shola Abiodun, Mrs Nnodibe & Mr. Dotun Omoniyi
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Mr Dotun Omoniyi & Mrs Christiana Ogbolu Making A Toast
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Ene Ursula
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Presentation of Gift To Mrs Christiana Ogbolu
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Mrs. Chinelo Ngozi Nnodibe
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Mrs Chioma Okere
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Miss Ogbolu
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Mr Shola Abiodun
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