A Karis Award for boxing legend Nojeem Maiyegun

 

BY OUR EDITOR

Every year the Household of God Church rolls out not only the red carpet but also millions of Naira in cash, to honour that one unique Nigerian who had contributed selflessly to nation building, and in most cases, had not been accorded due recognition.

And 24 years on, the Church has through its Karis Award, the flagship event of the annual GRACE Programme, remained in the fore front of recognising, celebrating and enthroning iconic models of nationalism, individuals who had distinguished themselves in various sectors of national development.

The honours roll is replete with men and women who had put Nigeria first ahead selfish interest or gain; dedicating their talents, creativity, ability and intellect in the service of fatherland. Think of any name that has brought honour and added value to Nigeria: Professor Emeritus, Chike Obi, the famous mathematician; labour leader, Chief Michael Imoudu; late activist Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN); foremost woman leader, Chief Mrs Margret Ekpo and Dr Stella Adadevoh, who literally laid down her life for Nigeria to arrest the spread of the deadly Ebola virus in 2014.

There were also Mallam Aminu Kano, a politician unlike what we have today; Mr Taiwo Akinkunmi who designed the Nigerian national flag; social critic and civil rights activist, Dr Tai Solarin; foremost educationist, Dr Akanu Ibiam; veteran actor, HRH Oba Olufunso Adeolu of the Village Headmaster fame; Mrs Beatrice Ibeneme, the first woman to join the Nigerian Police Force and boxing legend, Hogan ‘Kid’ Bassey, the first Nigerian to become a world boxing champion.

This year, yet another boxing legend, Nojeem Maiyegun, the first Nigerian to win an Olympic medal will mount the dais as he becomes the 24th Karis Award recipient. The event holds Sunday, 15 December at the Villa, the main auditorium of the Household of God Church, Ikeja, Lagos.

Maiyegun is a retired Nigerian boxer, who won the bronze medal in the men’s Light Middleweight category at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. He also won a Bronze medal two years later at the Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica. He lost his sight in 2012.

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The Karis Award was introduced by Rev Chris Okotie of the Household of God Church in 1996, in line with his philosophy that “true greatness does not consist in the abundance of a man’s possession, but in the ability to make others great.”

It was conceived as a nationalist event with the objective to instill the spirit of patriotism, zeal and service to the younger generation of Nigerians. The Award aims at fostering national unity. It is without any religious, political, tribal, or social bias. It is a social charity event to celebrate God’s grace, encourage patriotism and support the needy and the poor.

The identities of the Awardees, show that Nigerians from different walks of life, different faiths, tribes, political leanings, geo-political zones and social backgrounds, have either been conferred with the Karis Award or have chaired or graced the events in the past, confirm this position.

The award recognises and gives a cash reward to a Nigerian citizen, male or female, who must have distinguished himself through contribution to the development of the country in one area or the other, but whose contribution has not been adequately recognised.

The award is the climax of the GRACE – God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense – programme. The GRACE programme is a charity event delivered in a glitzy ceremony with different side attractions, including the Queen Esther Beauty Pageant, an adaptation of the Bible story of the Jewish slave girl, Esther, who became a Queen in the land of her captivity and through whom the Jews of her time were spared from annihilation.

There is also the distribution of financial gifts to four regular charities that Pastor Okotie and the Household of God Church have supported over the years. The charities are: Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted, Spinal Chord Injuries Association, Sunshine Foundation and Strong Tower Mission.

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