Religious Leader, Ex-Lawmaker Urge Nigerians To Impact Lives, Hold Leaders Accountable

The General Overseer of Glorious Ministries Worldwide, Dr Victoria Michaels and a former federal lawmaker, Sen. Dino Melaye, have urged Nigerians to be determined in impacting lives and holding leaders accountable.

The duo spoke at the 2021 National Public Service Awards and Summit (NAPSAS) in Abuja.

They said that citizens must be intentional in assisting one another and hold leaders accountable to create better country for the future generation.

Michaels, who was a recipient of the award, said that every Nigerian had a role to play in creating better Nigeria, adding that the responsibility should not be left for government alone.

She said that every citizen must be intentional in doing what would improve the living conditions of others, especially the less privileged.

“There are children out there that all they need is someone to believe and to invest into their future.

“There are women out their being abused, crying for rescue. There are senior citizens that are not cared for.

“We have a lot of young people who are just in need of the resources to pursue their dreams and their careers,” he said.

He encouraged everyone to be a public servant to his or her communities, who when they wake up every morning they make the determination to touch someone’s life.

“I believe that the greatest legacy of anyone is not how many houses he has; it is not how much money you have in your bank account or how many acolytes we get.

“I believe it has to do with how many lives you are able to impact while you are alive.

“I encourage you to go extra mile to go do what you can to touch someone’s live. Together we can make a different in our generation,” Michaels said.

She called for more investment in the youth as well encouraging them to be more involved the leadership process.

“Let us listen to what the youth have to offer. You will be amazed to know that young people have solutions to the problems that we have today,” she said.

She also stressed the need to ensure that employments and political appointments were based on capability, if credible results must be achieved.

Malaye, who was also a recipient of the award, said that citizens must ensure that their leaders were at all time accountable to the people.

The former lawmaker said that citizens must be ready to ask their leaders questions, saying “silence in an unjust society is a crime.

“If you are in the local government, ask your councilors and chairman questions to hold them accountable.

“If you are in state, ask your commissioners and your governor questions, because they must be accountable to you.

“The president, the president of the Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives, governance in this country must be accountable, because the office of the citizen of the Republic of Nigeria is bigger than any office,” Melaye said.

In his remarks, the Director-General of NAPSAS, Dr M.D Eseyin, said NAPSAS was established to recognise, reward outstanding, excellent leadership and performance to humanity and national development.

Eseyin said that celebrating heroes and heroines who had lived selflessly and contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria deserved commendations.

“To all our recipients, you must know that your devotions and giant strides of delivering your best in the service of humanity have not gone unnoticed, and the honour bestowed upon you today is not accidental.

“This is the result of your dedication and hard work towards our dear nation.

“A reward for your deliberate and sincere efforts and intelligent execution of your growth-inducing innovations in your various fields of service, and of course, your choice of toeing the path of excellence is worthy of emulation and deserves our commendation,” he said.

According to him, this honour is to appreciate and encourage your passion and efforts towards improving the state of our nation to greater heights.

“We believe, will surely manifest in no distant time.

“Our assessment and evaluation team shall continue to watch out for individuals whose contributions to public service delivery deserve recognition and commendation,” he said.

Eseyin disclosed that the body’s website was already opened and the contact person were now ready to receive nominations for 2021 NAPSAS awards.

Other recipients of the award include the Sole Proprietor of Trust Chariot Hospital, Alhaji Abdulkadir Mamman and the Director of General of National Women Development, Dr Asabe Bashir.

Others include Head of Media, National Space Research and Development Agency (NARSDA), Mr Olayode Abdulrazaq.

The recipients commended NAPSA for the award, saying it would motivate them to do more towards the development of the nation and mankind.

Abdulrazaq said that service to God and humanity remained ultimate to everyone.

“The main purpose of coming to this world is to serve.

“Aside from any worshiping, going to most or churches, if you are not serving humanity then you have not come to this world,” he said. (NAN)