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Rain Of Encomium As NICO Director, Ordu Bows Out

By Bridget Chiedu Onochie, Abuja
27 December 2015   |   1:10 am
THE outpouring of encomium at the disengagement ceremony from public service in honour of Director, Finance and Accounts, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Godson Ordu reflected the estimation of the retiring officer in the hearts of his colleagues and associates at the culture agency.   Both the staff and management of the Institute…
Ordu

Ordu

THE outpouring of encomium at the disengagement ceremony from public service in honour of Director, Finance and Accounts, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Godson Ordu reflected the estimation of the retiring officer in the hearts of his colleagues and associates at the culture agency.
 
Both the staff and management of the Institute had gathered in the office space to celebrate a man they described as action man and disciplinarian.
Aside music and dance put together by the NICO Cultural troupe, there was a short drama enacted in his honour at the send forth ceremony, which reflects the personality and virtues of Ordu.
 
The short drama presentation leaves a stranger to the Institute  with a memory of Dr. Ordu as a man who abhorred indecent dress sense, who frowned at apathy, a man of vision and one, who was committed to the welfare of the staff.  
It also  highlights  Ordu’s prudence in the management of the Institute’s finance as well as his  ability to reconcile union bodies and the management at different occasions over welfare incentives.  
 
Above all, the drama reflects his high sense of commitment and professionalism  in the discharge of his duties.
 
And when it was time for remarks, Ordu was eulogized by all. Although they pointed out that he was strict, they confessed however that he had the magic to ensure that members of staff, especially those he encountered daily, were not disillusioned for focused for efficiency.
 
In an emotion ladened voice,  they celebrated with him for the grace to complete his years in service while expressing how much his absence would be felt in the Institute.   
 
Even the Executive Secretary of the Institute, Dr Barclay Ayakoroma, agreed that the retiring officer was dedicated and zealous for greater heights in his career.
  
Ayakoroma noted that Ordu may have retired from active service but he remained part of NICO as his service  and wealth of experience would still be required to move the Institute forward.
 
He added that he never had a cause to regret making  him a substantive Director of Finance and Accounts.
  
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 department; Training School, Finance and Accounts, Administration  and Human Resources 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 managing team and the best thing was to give him that encouragement”.

The E.S further commended Ordu for single handed handled the relationship between the Institute and the budget office.
 
Former Executive Secretary of NICO, Elder J.B Yusuf remarked that Ordu remained one of his success stories in NICO. His words “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”.
  
For the  Director, Orientation and Cultural Affairs, Mr. Alex Omijie, who joined NICO same time as  Mr. Ordu, the secret behind his success was loyalty.  
 
To him, “any staff who wants to make a successful carrier in NICO needs to study the life of someone who has been successful. Mr. Ordu was a very loyal and dedicated staff.
  
“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”.
  
Coordinator, NICO Training School, Abuja Study Centre, Dr. Regina Onouha, also described Ordu as a man who was not only committed and dedicated to his duties but also touched many lives. She  prayed that God will lead him through his life endeavours.
  
For the man who replaces Dr. Ordu now as Head of Finance and Accounts, Mr. Herbert Ogbe, Mr. Ordu has been a mentor, a man with the drive to achieve and who does not look at his current state to achieve what he wanted.  “He never allowed his environment to deny him the opportunity to achieve what he wanted. to achieve.
 
In his response, Ordu told the gathering that he was fulfilled, having served in the agency without blemish.
 
Ordu may have retired from service but he was definitely not tired to work. According to him, it was a completion of one phase and the beginning of another.
His words: “This is just the beginning of my career as a Nigerian and I am looking forward to greater responsibilities”.
 
Ordu did not leave without leaving some words for his subordinates. Aware though that there are some with great commitment to hard work and integrity,  he admonished that government employees should be loyal to the authority and be systematic and obedient to set rules.
 
The citation read at the sent forth ceremony showed that Mr Godson Ordu  joined the National Institute for Cultural Orientation in  1993. He rose through several ranks and was appointed  Director, Finance and Accounts in August 2011.
He holds Bsc Accounting from the University of Lagos. He is also a Doctorate Fellow, Internal Auditors of Nigeria, Senior Fellow, Institute of Internal Auditors of Nigeria, Member, African Association of Internal Auditors, Member, Nigerian Institute of Management, Member, Association of Chartered System Accounants, Member and Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.

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