By Stanley Bawonda
In a country where everything is monetized even in the religious arena, it is refreshing to see a church chart a different path; a road of genuine love and compassion that is generally less travelled by our compatriots.
Shakespear’s maxim–“nothing comes of nothing,” accurately defines the motive of the average Nigerian, who always expects something from anything in which he’s involved. Thus, the heart for real charity, unconditional love and compassion – the core issues in the teachings of Jesus Christ, has little consideration in our moral ethos.
These days, Awards have become the latest product to be proliferated in our society. Trust Nigerians, the financial rewards that recipients of such phoney Awards are obliged to give to organizers is the underlining motive for conferments of most awards. In plain language, when people get awards, they are expected to pay for them – yes, in cash. Invariably that nullifies the integrity of such awards. That is why most people have little regard for chieftaincy titles, doctoral degrees (honoris causa), titled religious honours conferred on mostly wealthy adherents of such faiths as Christianity and Islam.
However, an award earns value and respect if given on merit, and without any ulterior motive. If the giver benefits nothing and the recipient enjoys all the accolades, recognition and financial rewards, the exercise becomes worthwhile, and therefore, deserving of respect. The KARIS Award given by Rev. Chris Okotie’s Church, Household of God, Lagos, to Nigerian achievers whose exemplary services to our country is either undervalued or unappreciated, is an exercise well applauding.
The story of the KARIS award is part of the church’s GRACE programme – a larger love feast that ministers every year since 1995, to four Lagos – based charities – the Pachelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted, Spinal Cord Injuries Association, Sunshine Foundation and the Little Saints Orphanage. Each of these organizations received N 2 million naira at the GRACE event, held at the church’s glittering auditorium in Lagos, on Sunday December 18, 2016.
Host, Rev. Okotie said GRACE, the acronym for God’s Riches as Christ’s Expense, is a practical demonstration of Christ’s compassion and love for the poor. The pastor himself is renowned for his generosity right from his days as music star. Back in the 80s a former Commonwealth Light Weight boxing champion, Dele Jonathan, who needed financial help when he became sick, was given five thousand naira by Okotie. In response to an appeal fund published by the Daily Times, the then music star responded with the donation which stunned an appreciative public.
He came into ministry in 1987 with the same heart of cheerful giving. He quietly donated substantially to the late First Lady, Stella Obasanjo’s Child Care Trust, and continues to support the Gideon’s Bible ministry annually, among other charitable activities. Most of Okoties philanthropic activities are done outside the glare of the media kleiglights. When he conceived the GRACE programme 26 years ago, it became his church’s major outreach by which he ministers to the poor at a corporate level.
Every year, GRACE which holds the Sunday before Christmas, attracts movers and shakers of society from all walks of life. He expanded the GRACE vision with the introduction of KARIS award in 1996, as an award to unsung heroes and heroines, whose contributions to society are not well appreciated in their generation.
Thus, KARIS, first given posthumously to famed mathematician, Prof. Chike Obi, has been awarded to other achievers across Nigeria.
The roll call of past awards reflects the nation’s ethnic, religious and gender diversities, without sacrificing merit. This is a lesson to the organizers of the National Honours given by the federal government, which has become controversial because of the perceived degrading of the exalted honours when some folks with questionable credentials benefitted. Some Prominent honoraries even rejected the honours for same reasons.
The past Karis Award Recipients (some of who being posthumous their awards were received on their behalf) were Prof. Chike Obi (Prof Emeritus) (1996), for the full list of all the past awardees, visit the church website at www.householdofGod.ng. A former Principal of Queen’s College, Lagos, Mrs. Efunjoke Coker, was given the 2016 KARIS award on Sunday, December 18, 2016 at the church’s auditorium.
The Karis Award had not only recognized the contributions of these great Nigerians but had also succeeded in drawing the attention of Nigerians and the Government to the Recipients’ achievements, and in some cases, the governments and other Nigerians had followed suit in honouring the Karis Award Recipients. For instance, after Mrs. Margaret Ekpo was given the Karis Award in 2001, the Government named the Calabar Airport after her.
Likewise after the Karis Award was given to Mr. Taiwo Akinkunmi in 2003, he was given a national honour. Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN, Karis Awardee 2010, had gardens and monuments named after him by the Lagos and Ondo State Governments and some former members of Rangers Football Club were honoured by the Anambra State Governor after the Church nominated Mr. Emmanuel Okala as the 2011 Karis Awardee.
The Pan Nigerian coverage of the KARIS is in tandem with the spirit of federal character, even if that was not one of the criteria of the award. Few years down the line, Okotie again introduced the Queen Esther, bible costume pageant. This is a contest that involves the display of the costumes worn by women in the bible era. A contestant whose costume best reflects a female bible character is adjudged the winner of the Queen Esther pageant. This year, the crown was won by Akpobaro Ejiroghene.
Bawonda, a public Affairs Analyst, wrote from Lagos.