It is well known in the annals of the FCT commissions and flag-offs that I am privileged to have been the Director of Ceremonies for some of the various programmes in the last three years.
Being Director of Ceremonies looks incredibly easy to the uninitiated, but it is very hard work. I should know. I have been in the field for over 40 years now and counting. Last year, I found myself in tears when the Vice President, His Excellency Distinguished Senator Kashim Shettima, decided to put me in his protocol. A most unusual arrangement. Hardly the case that a director of ceremonies would find herself inside the protocol of a lineup of national cognoscenti. The Vice President literally took me out when he read a mini-profile of my person, including schools I went to, and then proceeded to commend me for my work. My eyelids were heavy from just the sheer weight of such a commendation. This was at the maiden African regional Chief of Defence Staff conference hosted by Nigeria, where I was there as director of ceremonies.
Before then, I was invited by the Hon. Minister of Works, Engr. Umahi, to master a presidential commissioning of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway when, out of the blue, I heard my name.
The president, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was on the podium. I was working with my colleague, Mr Ebere Young, so I took a break. As the president began his protocol, I stood behind some directors of the ministry and exchanged pleasantries. Then the big one.
“I want to thank Eugenia Abu for her excellent work in the media space and Ebere Young for his work.”
I was pushed forward to take a bow. It was fairly surreal. I enjoy what I do and do it with much dedication and focus.
I was beside myself. Mr President had mentioned me. Awesome stuff! I was walking on cloud nine for days. A presidential validation in a professional field is as big as they come and I am thankful. That would be the second time Mr President would commend me.
This year, as FCT began its 31 days of commissioning to mark President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 3rd-year anniversary in office, I was again invited to be director of ceremonies for some of the flag-offs and commissionings.
The roads are as smooth as silk, the bridges welcoming, and Abuja is rising as well as an office annexe for the Body of Benchers to enable them to carry out their onerous assignment more efficiently as the apex regulatory body for the legal profession. This is in addition to the yearly jurisdiction of calling Nigerian lawyers to the Bar.
But it was at the commissioning of judges’ quarters in Katampe that I was overwhelmed with kind thoughts and humbling commendations from three of Nigeria’s finest in one day. Truly heartwarming and unbelievable.
A hat trick, I dare say. Starting with my sister and friend, the respected President of the Court of Appeal, my Lord Honourable Justice Monica Dongban-Menson. My ears pricked when she began a testimony, all her own, of my career trajectory ending with how I had grown in leaps and bounds to become one of Nigeria’s most sought-after compères and improved my craft by the day. She ended her comment by saying she is proud of how I have now gone admirably international.
I was flummoxed and wanted to hide behind my colleagues who were at the Director of Ceremonies corner. Such a humbling moment.
But my royal brother, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, whose turn it was to speak after the good justice, decided to further put me on the spot. “My sister,” he said, “I join the President of the Court of Appeal in commending you. You have become a professor in your field. Well done!”
I cowered; I stuttered; I stood up and genuflected. But a hat trick is three strikes, and if I thought it was done, it was not done.
As the event drew to a close, the Hon. Minister of FCT, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, invited the special guest of honour to speak. On this day, His Excellency, Mr President, was represented by His Excellency, Mr Vice President. He made his way to the podium as we all stood to give him his due. He urged us all to be seated. Vice President Kashim Shettima began his protocol in a slow roll. His colleagues in the Senate, the Minister of FCT and the Minister of State, FCT, and just when I thought he would begin the presidential speech, he called my name.
The woman who has continued to do well in the media space – then he added my degrees and, for good measure, reminded everyone who was present that he was wearing knickers in secondary school while I was already at university. A third strike in one day by no less a person than Nigeria’s affable vice president, politician, book aficionado, financial expert, and chairman of the Nigerian Economic Council. There was nowhere to hide. All eyes were on me.
To be so celebrated, to be so elevated – as they say in Nigeria, “It can only be God.” I am thankful to all those who give me the opportunity to ply my trade, and I am particularly thankful to the FCT administration under the leadership of the minister, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, for this moment frozen in time.
