Tt is a tradition that has kept the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) going. Yearly, the Institute confers its highest professional membership on selected people. This year, 48 persons were chosen as fellows, making them eligible to use the suffix, FNIM, after their names. The Institute, which has 200,000 members, instituted the award in 1963.
Twenty seven of fellows were honoured last Thursday at the Shell Hall of the Muson Centre in Lagos during the NIM Award, Fellows and Spouses Day Luncheon. The remaining 21 will be honoured in Warri, Delta State, during its conference between September 21 and 23.
The Shell Hall throbbed with activities. It was decorated in the NIM colours of blue and red. Before long, more tables and chairs were brought in to accommodate those standing behind the hall.
Everybody stood for the rendition of the National Anthem. The NIM Code of Conduct was read by its President and Chairman of Council, Dr Nelson Uwaga. It was followed by his welcome address, in which he highlighted the Institute's activities since his assumption of office eight months ago.
"Fellow's upgrade is not a destination or an end in itself. I, therefore, implore the recipients not to be contented with just adding the designation, FNIM, to their names but to see it as a call to higher service to the Institute, the management profession and the nation. From this day forward, each of you is required to devote more of your time, talent, treasure and thinking to the service of the Institute and mankind," Dr Uwaga said.
In a lecture titled: "Random Thoughts on NIM and its Fellows," a former Director of Tower Aluminium Plc, Mr Akinbayo Adenubi urged the awardees to always wear their lapel pin, because it opened doors for a lot of other fellows in the past.
Another fellow, Chief Tonye Korubo-Owiye, spoke of how the awardees were selected.
Chairman of the Awards Committee Mrs Pat Anabor called out those conferred with awards.
The trio of Chief Timothy Adebutu; Mrs Georgina Hollist and Mrs Funmilayo Green, who are septuagenerians were conferred with Life Membership.
Four others comprising two individuals and two firms got corporate awards. They are: Mrs Rabi Sodangi, who got the Chris Abebe Award; Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Tuyo Award; Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, Mobolaji Bank, Anthony Award and Zenith Bank, Management Excellence Award.
The Fellows are: Imo State Deputy Governor Eze Madumere; former Governor of Rivers State Sir Celestine Omehia; Special Adviser on Technical Matters to Akwa Ibom State Governor Etido Iyang; Chairman of Danvady Group of Companies Chief Asuquo Ekpenyong; Commodore Adesoji Babalola; former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Deputy Governor in Charge of Corporate Services, Suleiman Barau; Imo State Commissioner for Finance Chike Okafor; Deputy Managing Director, Domestic Bank of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Apollos Ikpobe; Mrs Esther Obijoye of Professional Women's Advisory Board of the American Biographical Institute; Maj Gen Salihu Uba; Publisher Pharmanews, Ifeanyi Atueyi; Ahmed Zaria; Chukwuemeka Eleh; Muiz Oseni; Alhaji Mohammed Dukku; Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Communication Aniekan Umanah; Alhaji Rasak Oyetola; Ahmed Yusuf; Obong Inuaeyen; Mohammed Musa; Chief Godwin Obasuyi; Gabbidon Meheux; Mokikan Femi and Ifiok Umunna.