The cosmos never forget the daring and thrusts of the valiant. Through every epoch and every hour, his exploits persist, like a true vine ascending the sky on the bark of a sturdy pine. Thus for being a true man of valour and peerless feats, New Telegraph Newspaper has honoured Nsima Udo Ekere the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission and the All Progressives Congress Governorship Candidate for Akwa Ibom State for the 2019 election, at the 2018 edition of New Telegraph Awards.
At the expansive Balmoral Hall of Federal Palace Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, on Saturday, where some preeminent Nigerians, the likes of the Chairman, BUA Group, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, Chief Dan Chukwudozie of Dozzy Group, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, were honoured, Ekere was recognised and honoured with Corporate Leadership Award for the second consecutive year.
Yet, unlike the proverbial warrior who lives to sing the song of his own deeds and derring-do, Esima remains impressively humble and immune to conceit, treading a rare path to acclaim thus, attracting honour in torrents, from home and abroad.This is why he is perpetually on song, among his clan and league of extraordinary men in the world.
While thanking the Management and Staff of the New Telegraph, for finding him worthy of the honour, Dr. Ekere promises not to shirk or slumber in his mission to impact on humanity and make the world a better place.
However, Ekere has done greatly well in NDDC, no doubt. When he was appointed substantive MD of NDDC, from the bowels of the creeks and cities that make up the oil-rich region emanated a rare combination of critical approval and public affection; love, even. His arrival was akin to that of a rural pediatrician; eagerly anticipated to wrought magic.
Thankfully, he understands the expectations of the harried people of the region and set about meeting them. And there was no question about his competence or character to deliver on the job. Ekere introduced the robust and revolutionary 4-R strategy, which he described as “Reforming the governance systems to ensure that as an organization they comply with extant rules and regulations and prevent mistakes of the past from recurring; Restoring the core mandate of the commission by ensuring that they have a properly prepared set of master plans for the nine states and Reaffirming the commission’s commitment to doing what’s right and proper.”
Every revolution needs an icon. For the NDDC to be alive to its responsibility and fulfil its mission, Ekere understood early that he had to do things differently, he had to be the beacon of change. A native of Ikot Oboroenyin, Edemaya Clan in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Ekere’s ascendancy to the top is a great lesson for youths everywhere because it debunks and defangs so many of the prejudices and stereotypes that unfairly hold many back. He achieved success the old-fashioned way: he earned it. He worked hard and stayed humble.
However, following Ekere’s emergence as governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the nooks, crannies and political circuits of the state are ecstatic with joy. Little wonder the good and law-abiding people of Akwa Ibom are shouting from the rooftops that Ekere is the ‘Best Man For The Job”!
There is no gainsaying Ekere is the sweetest thing that ever happened to the state in recent times. Pundits ascribe this to Nkere’s brilliance, humility and earnestness in dealings with the electorate, associates and rivals on the political turf.
Nkere is certainly not your run of the mill politician; he is astute, modest and ideologically grounded in the kernels of administrative politics and socio-economics. Little wonder he enjoys the confidence of the APC’s top politicians.
