By Kunle SHONUGA
Mr Bayo Onanuga, the Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), has commended Mrs Nkechi Okoronkwo, who retired as Managing Editor in the agency for her kindness, mentorship, competence and hard work.
TBI Africa said Onanuga gave the commendation at the send-off party organised by NAN management in honour of Okoronkwo on Monday in Abuja.
“She is very competent in her job, she understands what she needs to do and does it well. She is also a core mentor,” he said.
He particularly commended Okoronkwo for her leadership style when she acted as the Editor-in-Chief, saying she was very efficient and made far-reaching contributions during the period.
“Unfortunately people of competence are leaving at a time when their services are needed more.
Onanuga described her retirement and leaving at this time as “painful’’ and urged Okoronkwo not to hesitate to offer her advice to the agency when needed.
He, however, encouraged her to keep the good virtues and to always make herself accessible for further development of the agency.
NAN MD prayed that she excelled to greater heights in her future endeavours like she did in the agency during her service years.
The Editor-in-Chief of NAN, Mr Idris Abdulraham also extolled Okoronkwo as being a source of inspiration and a good mentor to the younger ones, especially the ladies.
Abdulraham spoke when the Editorial Department of NAN later had a farewell party for Okoronkwo.
He prayed for God’s guidance in her future endevours, adding that she achieved a lot while in NAN.
Mrs Grace Yusuf, a Deputy Editor-in-Chief, while appreciating Okoronkwo’s contributions as an editorial staff, said she was a good leader and was always ready to assist the younger ones to grow.
According to her, part of her success on the job is attributable to Okorokwo’s willingness to assist and give her motherly advice anytime she has the opportunity to do so.
Yussuf joined others to wish her well in her future endeavour, saying “aunty Nkechi has finished well and strong’’.
Responding, Okoronkwo advised young reporters, who are mothers to learn to balance the home front and the job as journalists to enable them perform their functions optimally.
She also urged the reporters to take their job seriously and not rely on connections in the office to get to the top, saying such scheming might fail them in the future.
“Don’t rely on connections in the office, do yourself good, bend down and do your work properly because hard work pays.
“If you have challenges, talk to your bosses make your subordinates your friends, do not shy away from working hard, because it will make you stand out everywhere,” she said.
Okoronkwo, who retired at 60 as a Director and Managing Editor, was retained as a staff after her National Youth Service Corps.
