In what can be likened to fun time, staffers in the Office of the Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), on a lighter mood, gathered in the Office of the Special Assistant to the ES, Hon. Nelson Campbell, as they took turns to share diverse working experiences to felicitate with him on his 52nd birthday.
The event, which took place on Wednesday, April 24, 2013, at the Institute’s Head Office, at No. 23, Kigoma Street, Wuse Zone, 7, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, took the SA to the ES by surprise as he never expected such kind gesture by staffers.
Speaking at the occasion, the former Deputy Director (Protocol), Mr. Alex Omijie (now Acting Director, Orientation & Cultural Affairs), disclosed that staff working under the Office of the ES deemed it fit to honour the SA to ES, as a mark of appreciation, by gathering around him to felicitate with him on the occasion of his birthday, even though the official date was on Saturday, April 20, 2013.
Also paying tribute, the Media Assistant to the ES, Mr. James Gillowei (Snr.), acknowledged Hon. Campbell as a man with a unique personality trait, yet the most misunderstood in the Institute, saying: “Having worked with him over time, I have come to realize that he is not the way we perceive him to be. Whatever misgivings we may have in the course of 
working with him, let us look beyond them because in any action he takes, he is only guiding us in the line of duty.”
Responding, Hon. Campbell expressed joy over the kind gesture extended to him by staffers, where many had the opportunity to recall and express their working experience with him. “I may appear to be hard on many, but the actions I take are not in my personal interest but in the interest of the leadership of NICO, as well as the overall interest of NICO, as an Institute. Whatever actions and cries we have had in the past, it is for us to do the job,” h
e said.
He further urged staff to try and understand his person, saying, “I feel everybody should struggle in life, like I did, because for as far as we are here, it is for a purpose. I don’t believe in sentiments and maybe God has a purpose for such a forum to reconcile us together.”
The brief birthday climaxed with the singing of a birthday song for the celebrant by staffers, cutting of the birthday cake, as well as light refreshment.
Caleb Nor
Corporate Affairs