The Director, Finance and Accounts at the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Mr. Godson Ordu has retired from active service amidst encomiums from Management, Staffers of the Institute, as well as members of the public for the indelible marks he left in office.
The encomiums were showered on him at an event organized to send him forth on Monday, 23rd November, 2015 at the Institute’s Head Office, located at No. 23, Kigoma Street, Wuse Zone 7, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, which reflected his conduct, commitment and passion for humanity as well as dedication to duty.
For the Executive Secretary of NICO, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, Ordu may have retired from active service but he remains part of NICO; that the Institute still needs his wealth of experience to move forward, saying he never had any cause to regret making him (Ordu) Director of Finance and Accounts because he did not disappoint NICO.
His words: “When I came on board, we had only three directors and one floating director, who had no portfolio; and I reasoned that we can open up the place and we created five departments: Finance & Accounts, Admin & Human Resources, Research & Documentation, and Orientation & Cultural Affairs, and Training School; and that reduced tension in NICO. As at that time, Ordu was the Chief Accountant and when I saw the level of commitment and zeal in him, I decided that he needed to be encouraged by elevating him to Director, Finance and Accounts. Even though some people did not like it, I did it in the interest of the organization; because I had seen him as part of the winning team and the best thing was to give him that encouragement.”
“As at that time, I inherited most of you when there was no money to pay your salaries and I said you people may have to go because I never wanted to be bothered with people asking for their salaries. But all thanks to Ordu because, as at that time, I didn’t know where Budget Office, Accountant-General, Auditor-General or Director of Budget’s offices were. Ordu was going to Budget Office single handedly until we got your salaries to start running. So, you have Mr. Godson Ordu to thank,” he said.
Continuing, Ayakoroma said most times, people do not appreciate something they have until they lose it, stressing that some persons did not appreciate Mr. Ordu but now that he is leaving, they will appreciate him just as he prayed that although Ordu has retired, he will always work with the Institute on consultancy basis.
Also speaking, former Executive Secretary of NICO, Elder J.B. Yusuf remarked that Ordu remains one of his success stories in NICO, informing: “He is one of my projects in NICO that I can say was successful. I know how hard working he was. When I did a re-organization, it created some problems; but I knew that with him in Accounts, NICO will have no problem. And I am very happy that when I left, the current ES did not change him because some of the qualities I found in him, I know he also found them in him.”
On his part, the Director, Orientation and Cultural Affairs, Mr. Alex Omijie said he joined NICO the same time with Mr. Ordu and has taken time to study him to know that the secret behind his success story is loyalty, stressing that, any staff who wants to succeed in his chosen carrier in NICO needs to study the life of someone who has been successful, and that Mr. Ordu was a very loyal and dedicated staff.
His words: “If you want to climb to the top, it is important that you are loyal. Mr. Ordu was loyal and that accounts for the height he attained. We are celebrating a man who was committed, dedicated to his job and upright even in the face of challenges.”
The Coordinator, NICO Training School, Abuja Study Centre, Dr. Regina Onouha also described Mr. Ordu as a man, who was not only committed and dedicated to his duties but had also touched many lives and prayed that God will lead him through his future life endeavours.
For the man who takes over as Head of Finance and Accounts, Mr. Alfred Ogbe Herbert, Mr. Ordu had been a mentor, a man with the drive to achieve, a man who does not look at his current state to achieve what he wants, saying he does not allow his environment to deny him the opportunity to achieve what he wants to achieve.
It will be recalled that the erstwhile Director of Finance and Accounts, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Mr. Godson Igbo Ordu, born on 22nd November, 1955, joined the Institute in 1993, and retired after attaining the mandatory age of 60years on Sunday, 22nd November, 2015.
Caleb Nor
Corporate Affairs Unit
NICO, Abuja