By Favour Nnabugwu

Many Nigerians are desperate for awards.What is not clear is the essence of honouring people  who cannot pass the test  for  even community award, not to talk of  titles like Ambassador of Peace, chief, doctor, reverend, bishop.

The most common award  now is the ‘Ambassador of Peace’. It is also the most incrative and, therefore, the most abused.. Men and women who, for reasons of missed opportunities, inadequacy or absence of the vital push in life, failed to pursue education to its logical conclusion yet want to be recognised for some cerebral qualities, literally crave for  titles through the back door.

Chamber Dictionary defines honour as “the esteem due or paid to a worthy person, body etc. respect; high estimation; veneration; that which right fully attracts esteem; that which confers distinction or does credit; integrity; a fine and scrupulous sense of what is right (without being bought or paid for)”.

But money seems to be the bottom line, to some organisers,  for the ‘Ambassador of Peace’honour among other awards. When a man strongly desires to stand tall above his neighbours  by all means, he resorts to lobbying to “get  there.” A lobby that is backed by ‘gold’ is likely to be more effective, considering the peculiarities of the socio-economic milieu of Nigeria.

The highest bidders have proved to be more qualified than those who, ordinarily, should have no problems being recognised for their noble contributions to the development of a society in dire need of heroes. The currency, at times, may not be only money. Influence, especially in this age of the politicians, has also gone a long way in determining who gets what.

Many are vulnerable to portfolio non-governmental organisations (NGOs), individuals who parade themselves as agents to awarding institutions while they charge their victims between N200,000 and N2million depending on the weight of the  awards.

One effect of this  is that persons qualified for the awards have had to turn them down as they would not want to spend time explaining to people that theirs are with a difference.

The Secretary-General of the UN, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, at the International Day of Families during which the UN gave Ambassador of Peace to some recipients in Abuja, stated that an equitable social and economic development depends on fair legal frameworks and social norms that support the rights of women and children.

Moon, at the UN’s Family Day, held under the theme, ‘Men in Charge? Gender equality and children’s rights in contemporary societies’, emphasised the need for countries to prevent discriminatory practices against women and children.

Represented by Mr. Babatunde Adegbesan, an official of the Universal Peace Federation in Nigeria, the UN  Scribe said, “On this international day, let us resolve to change legal and social norms that support male control over women, reinforce discrimination and prevent the elimination of violence against vulnerable family members”.

As part of the activities to  mark  the day, the UN and the UPF presented the award of Ambassador of Peace to some  individuals.

One of the recipients, Mr. Kelvin Ebhohime, Chief Executive Officer, Usunobun Nigeria Limited, a construction firm, said the award is in recognition  of his  contributions to the community, families and Nigeria, especially in the area of primary healthcare.

Ebhohimen, in an interview with Sunday Vanguard, said, “For a very long time, we have been acting in a quiet form. We have been supportive of people living with HIV, people with kidney problems; we also have this small and medium scale programme, where we support women to start up small scale business.

“We also go a long way to help provide drugs for primary health centres. We were doing it on a very small scale, not knowing people were also observing what we were doing. That has been our little contribution to society.

“There is also this core value for family, I have always practiced, both in my community, in the church and where ever I have worked.”

Even our universities are not left out in the crave to milk Nigerians in the name of awards.

A  university would only provide an avenue for a man in search of completeness to satisfy his sense of self. That is what makes the Nigerian situation pathetic. There was a time when  tact was exhibited in deciding who deserved  honour. But now, the gown could go to just about anybody who can promise to build hostels, laboratories, facility buildings or libraries. Integrity takes the second or third place.

Commanding dignity or the respect of others and using mercantile methods to obtain awards are two different things. At the end of the day, the whole idea of standing up in ovation of hard work and service to humanity becomes a victim of diminished value. It is not surprising that several holders of academic doctor of philosophy now prefer to drop the “Dr.” prefix and adopt the “Ph.D.” suffix. And even then, the abuse of this style by some of those with honorary degrees has begun – although not in a large, noticeable number.

In Nigeria, the quest for titles almost has the same underlying factors as those of doctorate degrees. In the league of this dance of shame are the major modes of worship: Islam and Christianity.

They are eager to take a bite, damn the consequences of what may be interpreted as syncretism. In some cases, the complex that propels the quest for these titles rubs in to the extent that a holder could become blind to decency or modesty.

‘I am an Ambassador of Peace, so put the prefix ‘Ambassador’ when addressing me next time’. ‘Don’t you ever call me chief. I am a high chief’. ‘I am not an ordinary Otunba’. The extraordinary prefix seekers desperately want their awed or disdainful listeners to believe them.

Some universities, especially in America, have since cashed in on this hunger for recognition by awarding honours  to many Nigerians. Pastors, business men, politicians and others who need degrees to enhance their standing in society, their capacities to influence and a feeling of importance have benefitted greatly from the gesture. The irony of the situation is that back in the US, the people there are not crazy about titles but they know that some people in a part of the globe do not only care for them, they could also go to any extent to acquire them. Many of the institutions that dish them out have agents in Nigeria who market these ‘honours’.

Amb Patrick Nimdam, Managing Director of Mansel Motors Ltd, is another Ambassador of Peace award receipient  from Centre for Career Development and Youth Empowerment Advocacy.

Nimdam, in his acceptance speech, said, “Indeed, I am most flattered by this award from a reputable and highly recognised institution for peace and unity, Centre for Career Development and Youth Advocacy. I am happy that the little humble contributions i have made towards the process of peace and unity for our nation in the past  have appreciated by an organisation that is pursuing  a similar project for peace and unity.

“It is my position and l strongly believe that the threat to peace and unity can only be contained if only all stakeholders, religious leaders of all persuasions, community leaders, and government and public functionaries will genuinely have the fear of God and be totally honest to one another.

“The usual adult hypocrisy of clamouring for peace and unity with one side of the mouth and supporting and preaching a violent war against non-members of their faith with the other side of the mouth must stop, if we are to enjoy any reasonable peace on this planet earth.”

While explaining her reason for nominating Nimdam for the award, the Director-General of Centre for Career Development and Youth Empowerment Advocacy,   Amb Stella Bernard, said the award was a boost for recipients to continue in their peace strides.