Sam Amuka, Awosika, Pinnick, Temile, Rone, Others Bag Itsekiri Honours

The Publisher of Vanguard Newspaper, Mr Sam Amuka, Chairman of Access Bank Plc and Honorary Consul to the Cech Republic, Dr. Ajoritsedere Awosika, Nigeria’s representative on Fédération Internationale de Football Association, FIFA /member executive committee of Confederation of African Football, CAF, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick, Oil Magnate, Mr. Alfred Temile and the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of UTM Energy Limited, Mr Julius Rone were among awardees of the Royal Order of Iwere distinguished award, ROI, conferred by the Olu of Warri Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR at a colourful award ceremony in commemoration of his 3rd coronation anniversary.

The others are the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, Mr Ade Mabo, Mr. Misan Harriman, Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, Master Eworitsewarami Justin Wilbert.

Pinnick who was the first to be conferred expressed profound gratitude for the award, saying it was a call to greater service to Itsekiri nation and humanity. ” This is the best of the awards I have acquired . It’s a call to greater service.”

He also thanked the publisher of Vanguard Amuka and Dr Mrs Awosika who were also awardees for the tremendous support they gave him while he led the nation’s and the global football industry at separate times.

Amuka led by his sponsor Chief Otimeyin Adams danced to admiration of the monarch, queen consort, Chiefs and the mammoth gathering of Itsekiri sons, daughters and eminent guests before kneeling down to pay obeisance to the monarch. He was later decorated with his medallion by his sponsor after his citation had been read.

Expressing gratitude for the honour Amuka who in Itsekiri language spoke glowingly of the monarch said, ” You were crowned from heaven. You will take Warri kingdom to greater heights. Your reign will witness greater blessings“.

Oil magnet Rone also spoke along similar lines after his decoration by his sponsor, describing the award as the best he has had. ” I served four monarchs in this palace . I have been honoured around the world but this is the best. You will take the kingdom to greater to heights”, he said.

Dr. Awosika, daughter of Nigeria’s first finance Minister, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh after her decoration with the award spoke beautifully of the throne, recalling that her father when he was alive took Itsekiri dancers every year to entertain the former Queen of England in London. She prayed for greater glory for the king and the kingdom.

She said, ” Ogiame (referring to the king) our pride and the pride of the nation. I give all the glory to God, the God that brought this day to pass. On the third day Christ rose, I am so glad that it is the third anniversary that I am privileged to be honoured. The figure is significant. It is forward ever and backwards never. The spirit of unity is in Itsekiri . We are moving to unprecedented heights. I say this with a sense of respect and honour to this throne. Every year my father the late Chief Festus Okotie- Eboh took Itsekiri dancers to the Queen of England. God has blessed us with you( the king). God’s glory that has kept you on this throne can never depart.“

A young Itsekiri, Master Eworitsewarami Justin Wilbert, an undergraduate student of the Computer science department at the University of St Andrews, Scotland was honoured for his feat in academics. In his brief response, he thanked the monarch for the honour accorded him for academic excellence. He dedicated the award to his class of 2023 at Loyola Jesuit College.

Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, Executive Vice President, Upstream, NNPCL who sent a video message of gratitude as she couldn’t attend the event thanked the monarch for the honour.

The Olu of Warri, in his closing remark, said the award was to recognise greatness and excellence in various fields of endeavour by Itsekiri sons and daughters, adding that in the future it will be opened to non-Itsekiris. 

“We are what we celebrate. In Iwereland and everywhere our people are worth celebrating because of what they achieve and have inside them. They must be celebrated.

“I want our people to associate home as a place that honours them. What we set out to achieve with this award are hard work, industry, solution to society’s problems, and value for education, not just education alone, but skills. We are here to celebrate integrity and set examples for our children and children’s children. I recognize that there is grace in people’s lives. We will celebrate such people, and set Godly examples for all.