By Okhide Em’ya David
Phenomenal rewards mechanism as the best form of Motivation drew public attention recently when oil palm giant, the Okomu Oil Palm PLC, presented cash awards of undisclosed amount and doled out expensive gifts to employees who have worked meritoriously from fifteen to twenty five years, at its annual long service award ceremony.
The gifts handed over to the staff in the long service award ceremony were complete set of full cover living room furniture, dining tables and accessories, king and queen size beds, designer wardrobes, 5KVA compound power generators, 29*LG colored Television sets, and huge deep Freezers.
A check of an undisclosed amount was also presented to survivors of a deceased staff, Mr. Martins who also would have clocked 25 years, but for the cold hands of death.
While addressing the awardees and other staff present, the Managing Director, Okomu Oil Palm PLC, Dr. Graham Hefer encouraged them not only to sustain the hard work to justify the huge investment in the awards, but pass their knowledge down to their subordinates to entrench those quintessential and outstanding attributes which made them stand out from others.
Hefer said tutoring the junior staff and exposing them to the exemplary leadership acumen which spurred them to their present status will sustainably make the bedrock of the Company to ensure high productivity, make the Company better and stronger amongst competitors.
The oil palm Executive said above all the practice will complement the Company’s fundamental attention to training and retraining of staff and commended, as well as congratulated the awardees for their passion, commitment and work discipline to put in their best.
He observed that the year 2020 came with grave challenges, occasioned by novel coronavirus and the security threats posed by the #EndSARS riots but that with resilience and doggedness of Management and staff they were able to surmount the problems and remain focused.
Hefer said as a mark of appreciation the Company will award thirty thousand Naira each to staff who will come to work from this period to January outside the usual end of year benefits.
He added that owing to the fact that the Company could not hold its end of year get together following the fresh influence of Covid 19, Management has also decided to give one cartoon of Palm Oil each to staff.
On the deceased staff that was honored, Dr. Hefer said the company highly acknowledges and appreciates hard work, honesty and diligence of staff on duty even if such staff passes on and enjoined his relatives not to despair too much as their father was a gallant mentor to many.
He used the opportunity to appeal to hostile members of host communities to sheath their swords and embrace the good intentions of the Company to contribute their quota to the general well-being of their people, many of whom received the long service awards for 2020 as well as add value to their environment and quality of life.
The Chairman of the local Union at Okomu Palm Oil Company, Comrade Nyesom Kennedy, while responding on behalf of other recipient of the long term awards, asked them to work harder to build more confidence on their ability to take the company to higher heights.
Kennedy told the Management of the Company that the awards will spur them towards better commitment, productivity and excellent service delivery to ensure that the Oil Palm Industry readily occupies its prime place in the nation’s quest to diversify its economy.
Kennedy commended Dr. Graham Hefer and his management team for keeping and fulfilling promises, and executing decisions and agreement reached during negotiations saying their attitude has boosted their overall implicit confidence in the workers towards selfless and excellent dedication to work and service delivery.
On her part, the wife of the late staff, Mrs. Justina Martins expressed deep appreciation to Okomu Oil Palm PLC for their kind support since the demise of her Husband saying life would have been hell for her and their children.
Mrs. Justina Martins prayed Almighty God to continuously prosper the company to an enviable height.
Other Awardees who spoke including the personal assistant to the General manager, Mrs. Ojukwu Pauline, Mrs. Ogbomo Faith and Mrs. Uwagboe Paulina, both of the Education Department, Okomu Oil Palm PLC, and Manager, Estate Department.
All thanked the Management of the Company for recognizing their modest contribution to its growth and rewarding their efforts.
The long Service Award recipients said they have been fired towards sustained selfless service to continuously put in their best.
Other heads of department present at the long service award ceremony included, Mr. Ikponmwosa Osunbor, (HR); Khail Korim (IT); Asbin Anderson (Rubber Factory); Arnaud Arhinix (Finance department) and Chibuike Onwsoro (Secretary to the Company).
Mr. Felix. Odighizuwa, the Chief Accountant was also present at the ceremony.
About eighty-six members of staff received the 2020 long service awards.
Fifteen staff came out in fifteen years long service award category, thirty four in twenty years’ long service, while forty nine came out in twenty five years’ service award category.
Highlights of the ceremony were the official presentation of the certificates of the long service award and gifts to deserving staff.
