The Wesley Methodist Church on Sunday in Ibadan honoured Mrs Taminominini Makinde, wife of Oyo State’s Gov. Seyi Makinde, and Princess Iyabode Odulate, a former Ogun Head of Service (HOS).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that duo and some other prominent Nigerians were honoured with the Knight of John Wesley (KJW) awards by the church at Elekuro in Ibadan.
Speaking during the ceremony, Odulate who is presently a Commissioner in charge of Ogun and Lagos at the Federal Civil Service Commission in Abuja described the award as a crowning glory.
“I have received over 250 awards, but this has to do with the church. Once you serve God, you’re serving humanity, and the more you serve the more work you have to do.”
She promised to continue serving God and humanity. “I know my God will give me the strength to forge forward in the service of evangelism and humanity.”
Odulate, a member of the Mellor Methodist Cathedral at Agbowa in Sagamu, charged those of the younger generation to be committed to the service of God and humanity.
“I started early in the service of God. You cannot get to this place by saying you have money or anything. We started from the choir side of the church.
“From there, we were being groomed by the elderly people of the church and I became president of so many societies. Not even in the Methodist church alone, but recognition comes at the God chosen time,” she said.
Odulate charged the church to try to mentor the youths so as to build tomorrow’s leaders, noting that there is still a lot of rot in the society.
“But people still believe in the clergy, and for them (the clerics) to have the opportunity of shaping lives of so many people,
“I want the church to be proactive in moulding the youths, because they will become the elders of tomorrow.
”But if we do not mould them into the right individuals they should be, that is when we will start having all sorts of elders.
“So, I’m appealing to the church not to give up. It should continue to preach the gospel and evangelise, going to the nooks and crannies and bringing worthy ambassadors to the fold of God.”
Mrs Makinde was represented at the occasion by a state government delegation led by the Executive Assistant to Gov. Makinde on Administration, Rev. Idowu Ogedengbe.
He said the award of knighthood to deserving prominent Nigerians was a call to serve humanity.
According to Ogedengbe, the award to Mrs Makinde was a recognition of the roles she is playing not only within the Christian body but among the masses in the state.
“So, we see this as a great award that testifies to the contributions of Gov. Makinde and his wife to the society.”
On lessons derived from such an honour, the Executive Assistant said it was a challenge and encouragement for people to keep helping themselves.
”To deploy their resources and keep supporting the masses, helping the hands of the feeble and encouraging the needy.”
Earlier in his sermon, the Methodist Bishop of Owerri, Rt. Rev. Denis Mark, had charged all the Knighthood award recipients to “do more in the service to the Church and humanity in general.
“The reward is for more work”.
Mark urged them to use themselves for “kingdom business. Remain steadfast even in this present situation of the country and be more dedicated to God”.
He also charged the recipients to provide good leadership anywhere they found themselves and use their position to the glory of God.
“Whatever you do for God is not in vain. The time of reward will come”.
