By SAM EYOBOKA and OLAYINKA LATONA

CONTROVERSIAL Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi caused a stir at the Trinity House in Lagos when he presented an award on Professionalism to 92-year old founder of Nigeria’s oldest indigenous accounting firm, Akintola Williams Deloitte.

Mr. Akintola Williams as part activities marking the nation’s 51st independence anniversary.

Sanusi respectfully stood up to usher the elder statesman to the altar which was specially decor-ated in green-white-green in line with the national mood, where he presented the Trinity House Honour Nigeria Awards in commemoration of the 51st independence anniversary.

Thereafter the Kano prince, born on July 31, 1961, the Sudan-trained Islamic cleric stayed through the church programme barely smiling whenever, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo cracks one of those his infectious jokes. The programme was put together by the Trinity House, a church established by upwardly mobile Pastor Ighodalo who is also a chatered accountant.

The objective, according to him, was to recognize Nigerians of high integrity who have exemplified themselves in different fields of human endeavour and who have contributed to the nation’s growth and development and acknow-ledge them as role models for this present and future generation.

This year’s awards were in the areas of leadership, professionalism, industry, philanthropy, and contrib-ution to society and it was not restricted to Nigeria. Recipients included Chief (Dr.) Chris Ogunbanjo (industry), Chief (Mrs.) Opra Mason Benson (Leadership/female role model); Lt. Gen. Theoph-ilus Danjuma (rtd) (phil-anthropy), Mufutau Isah (contribution to society) and former Zambian presi-dent, Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda who was present-ed the African award.

Former presidential aspirant, Mr. Gamaliel Onosode presented the award to Miss Mosumola Ogunbanjo who represented the father; while Mrs. Opral Benson received her award from Pastor Ighodalo’s wife, Mrs. Ibidunni Ighodalo.

The award for philanthropy was presented to the former Defence Minister, Gen. Danjuma by an Ogun State commissioner, Otunba Ashiru who represented his governor, Dr. Ibikunle Amosun but the entire congregation stood up in acknowledgement of the sterling contribution of the members of Disabled Overhead Bridge Sweepers Association) represent-ed by Mufutau Isah.

The gathering of eminent Nigerians gave a standing ovation when Isah, a 42-year old citizen of Ogun State narrated how he came to Lagos and had taken up the task of making Lagos overhead bridges especially the pedestrian ones clean, saying that they have received assistance from some governmental and church organizations.

The last award was pre-sented to Miss Zikiwe Gogo Peters who represen-ted the Zambian ambassador to Nigeria for onward transmission to the former Zambian president, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda. Speaking on behalf of himself, Gen. Danjuma said he was most humbled to be so honoured for his modest contribution in the area of philanthropy, say-ing that he retired from the Nigeria Army rather early at the age of 41 and dis-covered that there were opportunities in the Niger-ian economy.

“I went into business and after some false starts, I started to make money, good money. So good that it was embarrassing. I then thought of how to give back to the society what the nation had given to me.”

“This accusation, you will agree with me, is not without foundation. The very idea if individual foundation to alleviate poverty among citizens began in Turkey where wealthy army generals started the idea of plowing back to the society what the society had given to them,” he added, stressing that the West actually borrowed the idea from Turkey.

Danjuma then urged Pastor Ighodalo and other Christian leaders in the country to begin to feed the less privileged people in the community, and attempt to rid the nation of derelicts who reduce the unemployment rate in the country.

Pastor Ighodalo, in a brief sermon listed some card-inal ingredients of a good leadership to include, holy living, servant leadership, vision, pointing out that there is too much idolatry, sexual promiscuity, corr-uption and lack of sincerity in the country.

“We must begin to do the right things so that Nigeria can be truly transformed. We must resort to the core values our founding fath-ers canvassed,” he said.