…AS ADMIRAL OREDERU OUTLINES ACHIEVEMENTS, MAKE PROJECTIONS FOR 2024
By Okosun Dennis
The Naval Dockyard Limited (NDL), has honoured some staff for their outstanding and invaluable contributions to the organisation.
Some of those staff singled out for commendation and awards were those who have served over 30 and 40 years and are still being productive, supportive and relevant to the objectives and operations while ensuring that the yard is maintained optimally.
The Admiral Superintendent of the Naval Dockyard Limited (ASNDL), Rear Admiral Bolaji Orederu while making presentations to the beneficiaries, said their contributions led to their being celebrated and appreciated in consonance with the leadership of the Nigerian Navy under the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla.
The Special Guests of Honour (SGOH), the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Navy Holdings Limited, Rear Admiral Hamza Kaoje, applauded their activities and encouraged them to do more to surpass present records.
Tagged the “End of the Year Celebration and Awards Night,” was held on Saturday night, 16th July, 2023, at the Admiralty Conference Centre, Naval Dockyard Limited, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The awards categorised as long service awards and staff who have distinguished themselves in their various professions witnessed the honouring of one of the oldest staff, Mr. Kasali Ishola Sarafa; who put in 44 years in service after being employed on the 10th of September, 1979.
In an interview with our correspondent, Rear Admiral Bolaji Orederu disclosed that NDL management selected the beneficiaries for the awards after embarking on an extensive audit of staff and selected them based on individual contribution, productivity and supporting the growth of the organization for several decades.
On what informs the award night for staffers, Rear Admiral Orederu explained that having had an audit of staff and found out that there are staff that have spent over 30 years and above and are still productive, we felt it would not be out of place to celebrate and appreciate them.
Adding that the CNS has continued to support and encourage them wherever they found themselves carrying out the core values of the NN, such lessons have galvanized into organising the awards to honour and appreciate those who have worked over the years.
He explained that “At Naval Dockyard Limited, nobody is left out when it comes to awarding staff that have been outstanding, dutiful and dedicated. It cuts across the strata of all the cadres. There is a general encouragement package for the entire yard which we do yearly with lots of incentives.
“Throughout the week, we have been involved in our end-of-the-year activities in line with the plan of the Naval Headquarters. We had the NDL medical rhapsody, the Admiral Superintendent’s maiden Volleyball Tournament, the Thanksgiving Padre Hour, Jumat Service and the NDL Staff Games and in-house fun games and other activities.
“This is the crescendo of everything we have done for the week. We have to encourage everybody but some people have to be singled out for recognition,” Admiral Orederu reiterated.
On managing deficiencies that might occur in the system, the Admiral Superintendent noted emphatically that in every organization, there are always outstanding people just as you might have areas of deficiencies.
However, “We have been able to manage it as they say that a cord is as strong as the weakest link to the point that the cord is not broken and keep the cord running. What we do at the Naval Dockyard is to manage that weakest link to the point that the cord is not broken.
“For a huge structure and establishment like NDL, the system of the structure must be kept functioning, running continuously; there must be no break. There must be water at all times, power and break and forklift drivers, and these are the people we have honoured and celebrated.”
Explaining NDL’s scorecard in the outgoing year and also making projections into 2024, Read Admiral Orederu described it as “Wonderful and have been privileged to have a change of leadership of the CNS who has paid a lot of attention and given the yard tremendous support – equipment and funding from the Naval Headquarters.
On 2024 projections, he disclosed that with the positive accomplishments in 2023, they are excited and ready for the new year because of the huge task to deliver two Seaward Defence Boats 4 & 5 that the Naval Headquarters has contracted to the yard, whose building process has begun and the world will soon witness its commissioning under the leadership of CNS, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla.
During the unforgettable night of music, dance and awards, the guests had a lot to savour as there were comedy, mimicking, karaoke, eating and dancing competitions with a dancing competition won by a five-year-old, nursery school pupil, Arike Wilson, whose incidentally, was the youngest and the only female among the competitors.
Earlier, Rear Admiral Bolaji Orederu commended friends and partners from within the Service, other government agencies, clients and support partners like Nigerian Ports Authority, NIMASA, Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, Dorman Long Engineering, Westfield, Gulf of Guinea Services and Port Plus among others.
Describing the dinner and award night as “first of its kind in the Naval Dockyard,” added that he drew inspiration from the CNS who strongly believes in the development and nurturing of strategic relationships as well as the recognition and reward of hard work and excellence within an establishment.
Other awardees for the night included Mr. Olaide Adeola Oguntukesi, who has had 43 years in service; Mr. Silas Nwosu, 38 years in service; Donatus Nnanna; Mr. Babatunde Anthony Ojo, 37 years in service.
Also honoured were Mr. Noah Audu; Mr. Samson K. Dosumu, 30 years in service; Mr. Edet David Okon; Ngozi Akor, Safety Officer. The Dock Master, Master Warrant Officer Olushola (retd) was also recognized by the ASNDL who presented the award himself.
However, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), West, NAVTRAC and Doctrine Command as well as the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division, Nigerian Army, were all represented at the awards night.
