The Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, has said that for him to see his birthday again in 2014 is a clear manifestation of God’s love and mercy upon his life, stressing that if not for God’s faithfulness, no one can see his or her next birthday.
Ayakoroma stated this in his office on Wednesday, 19th February, 2014, when staffers in his office organized a brief event to mark his birthday, on Thursday, 13th February, 2014 while he was away in Casablanca, Morocco, on official engagement.
The NICO Boss, who was overwhelmed with the show of love extended to him by staffers in his office, had this to say: “I really appreciate your show of love. It is indeed a very kind gesture. For me, I am not used to celebrating birthdays probably because I feel that I have not achieved; so, there is nothing for one to celebrate. But then, the fact that people deemed it fit to sacrifice time, energy and resources to do something for me, I think it is something to be appreciated.”
He continued: “I want to say that I do appreciate every bit of what you are seeing here; and as you are celebrating with me this day, God will also give you your own day to celebrate. I thank you all and above all, give God all the glory because He is the one that has seen me in and out.”
Speaking earlier, the Director of Administration and Human Resources, Barr. Abayomi Oyelola, mni, stated that the significance of organizing the brief event to mark the ES’s birthday by staffers in his office was to let him know that he is appreciated and loved by those surrounding him.
His words: “The essence of doing this is to let you know and appreciate the fact that you are loved by those who work around you whether you are here or not and that this is just a token of the expression of our love. We are gathered around you just to support you and let you know that as you grow in age, so do the people who work around you wish you the best.”
He prayed that as the ES’s birthday came a day before the celebration of St. Valentine, which symbolizes an expression of love, he will continue to be surrounded by love and as he grows in age, God will continue to guide him and make him grow from strength to strength, from wisdom to wisdom; and that whatever he desires to do for his people, God will give him the strength to do so.
Earlier in the morning, during the NICO in-house Fellowship, “NICO Prays,” the Executive Secretary had testified of the goodness of God in his life and more importantly, on the occasion of his birthday where he thanked staffers for their prayers, encouragement and support and also shared his experience from his official trip to Casablanca, Morocco, where he delivered a paper, titled, “Nigerian Literature: Beyond Languages and Boarders,” at the just concluded 20th International Publishing and Book Fair, saying it was the reason for his being absent in the fellowship on his birthday.
Others present at the event were the Director of Finance & Accounts, Mr. Godson Ordu, Director of Research & Documentation, Prince Bamidele Olusa, Acting Director (ES Office), Mr. Nelson Campbell, Acting Director, Orientation & Cultural Affairs, Mr. Alex Omijie, Assistant Director, Admin & Human Resources, Mrs. Jane Anigala and other support staffers in the office of the Executive Secretary.
Caleb Nor & Njideka Dimgba
Corporate Affairs
NICO, Abuja