A presidential commendation

My spirit has been pretty much at its lowest ebb, and I have been doing my best to climb out of it. I had lost my younger sister and was quite gutted by her passing. There are bad days and good days as grief goes. Maryanne Oiza Asuku was my plug. Always a vibe. It was as if our tightly closed family net had broken.

But in the daily move of life, you hold her memory dear, her laughter, her stories, and her very essence. While holding on to God’s grace, knowing it’s the pathway of everyone, I have stilled myself, and with each passing day, I manage to keep moving. Thanks to my family, who say returning to work was the best way to heal rather than moping through a whole day, not remembering what day of the week it is in between unannounced tears streaming down my face.

“About two weeks ago, I received a massive blessing from no less a person than President Tinubu. It was the second time this would happen.”

I therefore returned to work as advised. I am distracted from my grief by work and lighter from being amongst other human beings. Those who encouraged me were right. The grind of daily living helps one to keep going.

My life is returning slowly to normal after nearly three weeks of sitting on my black couch, totally demobilised. My faith leaders have provided spiritual healing and soaked in prayers and advice. I have indeed returned to work. Paperwork of proposals, notes for my moderation duties, teaching at university, and training across cities. My feet are quickened, my body is much better, and my voice has found the strength of its character, a gift that God has gifted me with.

The moderating assignments kicked off with an event that involved spouses of heads of foreign missions in Abuja, which was a gala dinner and fundraiser for Polly Alakija’s Five Cowries Arts Education Initiative – using art to improve learning across Nigeria. It was a beautiful event, and the First Lady, Her Excellency Oluremi Tinubu, was a special guest of honour. I wore an army green tunic, keeping with my sombre mood and barely-there makeup. After that, there were several other events, and I would wear black and show up. All events were professionally anchored, but those who know me saw that there was something off. A little bit of my spark was missing. Slowly, the clouds are lifting, and I can now have a hearty laugh and remember something funny my sister would say or do. Her memory would always remain.

Lately, I have been able to wear maroon, navy blue, and a bit of brown. I have also worn a bit of light gold and some light green.

I have worked for nearly five decades, both in the broadcast space and in the talking department, as a facilitator, master of ceremonies, moderator, and keynote speaker. For the time I have spent in those spaces and the work I have done therein over the years, I am often described as a veteran in the field. I am blessed to have been in the presence of presidents, kings and queens and the upper crust of society. I have polished my skills, and now I am sought after by many. I have also been in the presence of technocrats, the international community, the challenged and ordinary people. It has been such a privileged position to have served seven presidents and heads of state and nine presidential cycles, including two terms of President Obasanjo and two terms of President Buhari. From General Abacha to President Tinubu, it has to be the grace of God. Truly humbling.

About two weeks ago, I received a massive blessing from no less a person than President Tinubu. It was the second time this would happen. The first time was at the end of a ten-day presidential project flag-off ceremony within the FCT that I was honoured to moderate. On the last day, His Excellency President Tinubu thanked me for putting in the work to make the events seamless. I was talking to a friend at the opposite end of the podium when I heard my name. I was gobsmacked. I ran forward and took a bow. This time around two weeks ago in Lagos, at the commissioning of parts of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, Mr President took time to celebrate with my colleague, Ebere Young, and me. It was a defining moment. We both stood up and bowed. This was in the middle of my grief, and unbeknownst to the president, my spirits were lifted, and I also felt especially appreciated. People celebrate you from time to time, but it is not every day that you hear your name mentioned by the No. 1 citizen of your country. It’s a huge honour.

Then just a few days ago, Mr President uttered these words….

“I thank all of you, Eugenia Abu. I thank you too for being a reflection of quality in the media space.”

I was totally bowled over. For all the effort one puts into ensuring a seamless event flow over the last four and a half decades, one sentence from one president made it all worth it.

Thank you, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I am over the moon. Thank you, Your Excellency.