Productivity is the new credo of Nigerians, courtesy of Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, FNIM. And for Chairman, Governing Council of the National Productivity Centre (NPC), this year’s National Productivity Order of Merit Award ceremonies were a watershed in the history of the Awards: President and Commander- in - Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal republic, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, took time off to personally sign the Certificates given to the 2010 awardees along with the plaques and whatever else, do not ask me, Amebo!

We took up a few of the many awardees after the colourful and hilarious ceremony at the National Centre for Women Development in Abuja. First was Oka-Akoko, Ondo state-born Mr. Christian Olusola Kolawolewho turns 50 December 18, wrote the first draft Memo on the need to review allocation formula of VAT revenue to give more to states and Local Councils. The result of the presentation of that memo is what obtains today. Kolawole also interfaced alongside one other official from Ondo state with the NDIC and Commercial in an interest remission exercise which saved more than N400 million for Ondo state.

This man processed Forex for Ondo state at the CBN Headquarters and was signatory to the government’s Funds Release Warrants and Secretary of the Cash Allocation Committee headed by the then Military administrator. Permanent Secretary since 2009, he has coordinated preparation and personally presented Ondo state’s component of the Vision 20:2020 in the South – West Zonal Validation Workshop in Lagos where Ondo emerged best among the 6 states – he naturally popped up Representative of the zone in the National Central Working Group of the national Vision 20:2020. 

Says Kolawole, when we asked what the award means to him and what he intends to do next: “It means a lot to me. I feel highly honoured to have been recognised by my country and I dedicate it to God and henceforth I will do more than I have always done, to bring about positive change among my people and community as well as in the nation as a whole.”

What if he had a chance to lead Ondo state? He smiles shyly before stating that his governor was doing well and how he along with others were joining hands with Dr. Mimiko alias Iroko to give shape to things in the area. ..

Next was yet another Ondo state citizen, this time from Akure. Chief Dr. (Mrs.)  Olusolape Jemilugba   who as Health Prefect in Fiwasaye Girls’ Grammar School before writing the WASCE in 1974, naturally moved on to train as  a Nurse up to the PhD in the discipline at the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile- Ife in 2007,  after her Higher School Certificate from the Polytechnic, Ibadan in 1976.

Her lengthy citation at the 2010 National Productivity Order of Merit Award  reads in part: “As a dedicated officer with immense contribution to the improvement of the quality of education in the state Schools of Nursing and Midwifery, her efforts paid off, as her products recorded excellent in the National Qualifying Examinations with some of them coming out tops in their specialities.

Jemilugba, a committed educationist and Director of Nursing Services ensures that admission into Nursing Schools are strictly on merit, given his zero tolerance for examination malpractices whose passion and prudent use of resources make the school enjoy improved and accelerated infrastructural development. For all her effort, she was duly rewarded with the prestigious Ondo state Family Health Care Award (2005) and the Nursing Excellence Award (2009).

The reward for hard work being more work, as they say, Jemilugba got appointed to the Board of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria in May 2007. She injected discipline through her membership of the Disciplinary Tribunal of the Council and the Disciplinary Committee of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives. Her 1999 idea of introduction of Basic Midwifery Programme to reduce maternal and infant mortality in Nigeria, which led to the now national Midwifery Scheme, aimed at fast-tracking the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals

Dr. Jemilugba wants Nigerian women to arise and shine, and would encourage any of her children who pts for Nursing. Golfer, prolific writer and Barewa College Zaria Old Boy Ivy League Keel  University (UK) trained Doctor of Philosophy holder in Criminology, immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt. - General Abdulrahman Bello Danbazzau, one of the lucky recipients, gave the gratitude speech on behalf of the others. He amused the audience that the smile (which surprised Master of Ceremony Cyril Stober of NTA) was a celebration of his dropping the khaki and now growing a beard, and declared that he was now one of the civilian population, promising more smiles to come...