Goronyo honoured for Leadership, Youth development, national service

By Onu Okorie

Minister of State for Works, Rt. Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, has been honoured with an Award of Excellence and inducted as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management and Leadership for his contributions to leadership, youth development, public service and national development.
Goronyo was also decorated as a Youth Vanguard Ambassador under a programme being developed in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to create platforms for young Nigerians to showcase their talents, innovations, research and leadership potential.
The honours were conferred on the minister during a ceremony held on Monday at the Minister’s Conference Hall, Mabushi, Abuja, and led by the Country Director, USA, Chartered Institute of Management and Leadership, Dr. Samuel Ojo.
Receiving the honours, Goronyo described the recognition as a privilege and a renewed challenge to contribute more to humanity and the development of the country.
“It is not something small. I take it as a big thing and as another challenge to serve humanity,” he said.
The minister said his commitment to leadership and youth development had taken him to various national and international platforms, including engagements with the Global Peace Foundation and programmes in the United States and the Philippines.
He stressed that effective leadership must be founded on transparency, honesty, integrity and accountability, urging public office holders to continually strive to make positive contributions to society.
Goronyo said empowering young Nigerians remained critical to the future of the country, while commending the institute for recognising his efforts in youth engagement and development.
He also praised the Minister of Works, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, CON, FNSE, describing him as “a brother and partner in progress.”
According to him, the cordial relationship and partnership between the two ministers since his assumption of office had contributed to advancing the objectives of the Federal Ministry of Works.
Speaking on the Federal Government’s infrastructure agenda, Goronyo said road infrastructure remained strategic to Nigeria’s economic growth, connectivity and national development.
He said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had demonstrated commitment to addressing the country’s infrastructure deficit through major legacy projects and strategic interventions.
He cited the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway and other strategic road corridors as evidence of the administration’s determination to improve connectivity and facilitate economic activities.
The minister also said the adoption of concrete technology on selected major road projects would contribute to the durability and longevity of the country’s road infrastructure.
Goronyo urged Nigerians to continue supporting the administration’s development agenda, particularly its efforts to tackle infrastructure deficits and create an enabling environment for sustainable economic growth.
Earlier, Ojo explained that the ceremony was organised to formally honour and decorate Goronyo, who could not attend an earlier programme of the institute due to a flight delay.
He said the minister was selected as one of the institute’s Youth Vanguard Ambassadors because of his demonstrated commitment to youth development and leadership.
Ojo explained that the Youth Vanguard Programme was being developed in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to engage young Nigerians through intellectual, innovation and research challenges across tertiary institutions, the Federal Capital Territory and the 36 states.
He said the initiative was designed to bridge the gap between young Nigerians possessing talents and the opportunities required to develop and commercialise their ideas.
“We have a lot of talents in the field of innovation and research, but there is no bridge. We are trying to create that bridge through this programme in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development,” he said.
Ojo added that the programme would create opportunities for young Nigerians to develop their talents, create jobs, promote innovation and contribute meaningfully to national development.
He said the initiative would operate at state, zonal and national levels, with plans for a national gathering to be officiated by the President and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development.
In accepting the Fellowship and professional induction, Goronyo pledged to uphold integrity, accountability, professionalism, human rights, inclusion and respect for the dignity of all persons.
He further committed himself to investing in human-capacity development and supporting the advancement of the management profession for sustainable and inclusive development.
The citation presented at the ceremony highlighted Goronyo’s experience in public service, law, politics and youth mobilisation, including his service at the local government level and in political party structures.
It also acknowledged his role in youth mobilisation during the build-up to the 2023 presidential election, as well as his service across different arms and levels of government.
Goronyo previously served as Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation before his deployment to the Federal Ministry of Works.
The citation further noted his membership and fellowship of several national and international professional organisations covering law, management, public relations, engineering, environmental matters, peacebuilding and leadership.
The ceremony was attended by officials and representatives of the Chartered Institute of Management and Leadership, media practitioners and other invited guests.