Ekiti State - Zik Prize Acceptance Speech By Dr Kayode Fayemi

[EkitiState]

Being the acceptance speech by

His Excellency Dr. Kayode FAYEMI

Governor, Ekiti State, Nigeria

At the Zik Prize in Leadership Award Ceremony

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Protocols

Ladies and gentlemen. Once again I stand on yet another hallowed platform to be recognized for the transformative work we are doing with, and for our people. I stand here today, not of myself but representative of my people whose sacred mandate I bear.

No doubt, I and every member of my team (popularly known as Team JKF) are hardworking toilers. I would not be fair to the legion of young people in our society today seeking role models in the public sector, if in making my point, I trivialise the amount of hard-work and sacrifice that we as arrowheads of our collective struggle, have put into achieving what we have so far. Nevertheless, I would be disingenuous to take the credit alone for our collective exertions; indeed this award is in recognition of the collective accomplishments of the honourable people of Ekiti State, Nigeria. It is therefore on behalf of my people that I humbly accept this prestigious award.

In accepting this award, I am conscious on one hand, of the increased burden of expectations on me as I join the distinguished cadre of past winners of the Zik awards across the continent. On the other hand, I am cognisant of the weight of responsibility that comes with being a recipient of an award that was inspired and named after the Rt. Hon. Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first President of Nigeria, of blessed memory.

The Great Zik of Africa remains one of the greatest icons in our nation's history. His legacy shines brighter today even as the dark cloud of ethno-religious conflict threatens the vibrancy of our national unity. When one considers the foresight that such a visionary leader had in identifying Nigeria's major challenges early into our independence, as well as his body of work in concert with other patriots pursuant of Nigeria's greatness, there is the tendency to despair when you reflect on the trajectory that our country has come through, due to extenuating circumstances. I am a student of Zik's philosophy of nationalism, and I am glad that though I did not have the privilege of meeting him while he was alive, I am now, in a sense, intimately connected to his ideals through my acceptance of this award.

Therefore, I use this opportunity to re-dedicate myself to the struggle for a just and prosperous Nigeria. I would also continue to work with and for my people to make the land of honour, Ekiti State, Nigeria greater. I encourage everyone here present to use this opportunity to renew hope in the Nigeria project; for it is in our hearts beating together in patriotic rhythm, that we find the zeal and impetus to trust each other, dream together, work together, and succeed together in building the Nigeria of our aspirations. In the words of our Great Zik of Africa in his autobiography titled "My Odyssey", "There is plenty of room at the top because very few people care to travel beyond the average route. And so most of us seem satisfied to remain within the confines of mediocrity".

I would like to conclude by dedicating this award to the glory of God and the blessed memory of our late Former Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka.

I thank you for listening.

 

Dr. Kayode Fayemi

Governor, Ekiti State, Nigeria

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Lagos, Nigeria

 

 

Via: Ekiti State Government - Official Press Release