By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Popular American author and businessman, Mr Stephen Richards Covey, once said, “Always treat your employees exactly as you want them to treat your best customers.”
Also, the late American businessman and entrepreneur best known for founding the retailers, Walmart and Sam’s Club, Mr Samuel Moore Walton, once said, “Appreciate everything your associates do for the business. Nothing else can quite substitute for a few well-chosen, well-timed, sincere words of praise. They’re absolutely free and worth a fortune.”
With these key words in mind, Chain Reactions Nigeria, one of Nigeria’s leading Public Relations/Reputation Management and Integrated Communications Consulting Firms and the Exclusive Nigeria’s Affiliate and the Preferred West Africa’s Partner of Edelman, the world’s largest marketing communications firm, on Monday, March 12, 2018, celebrated its Senior Fleet Officer on his 40th birthday and 10th year work anniversary.
The Senior Fleet Officer, Mr Lanre Ogunshola, who turned 40 on Wednesday, March 7, was awarded a befitting plaque and commendation for long service and unwavering loyalty to the company at a birthday celebration in his honour.
The surprise moment of the day was the announcement by the Managing Director/Chief Strategist of Chain Reactions Nigeria, Mr Israel Jaiye Opayemi, of all-expense paid scholarship award covering primary to secondary school for Mr Ogunshola’s first child, Miss Oluwadarasimi Ogunshola.
The cheering news overwhelmed the celebrant, a father of two, as he betrayed emotions with tear-soaked eyes amidst the outpouring eulogies and even as he stepped forward to collect the plaque.
It was indeed a moment of honour for Mr Ogunshola as all friends and colleagues across the management, senior, middle and junior levels left their desks and converged on the CRN’s expansive Board Room at Chain Reactions Nigeria’s corporate office on 72A, Oduduwa Way, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos office to honour the double celebrant.
Chain Reactions’ MD, in his memorable speech, celebrated Mr Ogunshola with kind words amidst intermittent applause by all the team members present.
He said, “Lanre has been with Chain Reactions Nigeria through thick, thin, thunder, test, trial, trouble and temptations in the last 10 years.
“In the year 2009, Lanre and I were on the road at 2am in a thunder storm driving to the Lagos Marina where we had set up a Fan Park for the FIFA U-17 with very poor visibility that kept us moving at snail speed. Countless times, we got home from official assignments at 1am.
“Is he perfect? No. But we have travelled the same path together for 10 years now and in those 10 years I have come to realise what a blessing he is to the company.”
On the significance of the long service award, the MD/Chief Strategist stated that it spoke to the DNA of Chain Reactions Nigeria as a business with a soul, and a responsible institution that values the sacrifice of its employees. “We are a business with a soul. We are building a purposeful brand and we will continue to honour those who have contributed in building our business brand,” he affirmed.
Mr Opayemi added, “We are presenting this award and celebrating Lanre today because we believe he is a good ambassador of his family to Chain Reactions Nigeria.
“We deemed it fit to extend this appreciation to his lovely family that has stood by him all these years by offering his first child a scholarship up to the secondary school.
“This scholarship will not end even if Lanre decides to leave Chain Reactions Nigeria to work elsewhere because Chain Reactions is a corporate family.”
Another highpoint of the day was the atmosphere of jollity including handshakes and a photo session with the celebrant.
Aduragbemi Omiyale