By Hassan Hussain
The Head of Communication of Project 774 Network, Okhiria Augustine Agbonsuremi has expressed gratitude to God for His faithfulness throughout his 64 years of life.
Remi stated this in Abuja at a birthday celebration organised by Project 774 Network in his honour.
The veteran journalist, while reflecting on his journey in life, said he grew up from a peasant background with limited resources but was privileged to acquire education and pursue a career in journalism.
He said journalism had given him the opportunity to enlighten the public, contribute to good governance and hold authorities accountable.
According to him, “God has been very, very kind. We grew up not having much from a peasant background, and we were able to grow, fortunately, go to school and choose a career in journalism.”
Remi said he was particularly fulfilled whenever people told him that his work had positively impacted their lives.
“It gives me a lot of happiness to know that the little we are able to do to enlighten the people, to assist the government to implement its programmes and hold it accountable, has been part of what we celebrate as we grow older,” he said.
The Head of Communication also appreciated the organisation for celebrating him, noting that the gesture went beyond a birthday celebration.
He explained that Project 774 Network is focused on encouraging Nigerians, particularly at the local government level, to take responsibility for the development of their communities.
Remi stressed that the organisation was not affiliated with any political party, but was committed to supporting good governance and improving the lives of Nigerians.
He said, “It is not about supporting any government. It is not about supporting any political party. It is that this country is ours, and that we must all work to support whoever is in authority to make our lives better.”
He identified security, proper utilisation of local government funds, rural roads, electricity, water supply and access to markets as some of the critical areas requiring attention at the grassroots.
According to Agbonsuremi, the development of rural communities is essential to reducing pressure on cities and improving the livelihood of farmers and other residents.
He said Nigerians should not always wait for the Federal Government to address challenges at the local level, stressing that elected officials at the local government level must be held accountable for the resources entrusted to them.
“We want to hold them accountable. We want to also support them. We want to educate them. We want to enlighten them. We want to tell them what to do,” Remi said.
He added that Project 774 Network was prepared to partner with local government authorities to identify practical measures that could improve the lives of people in rural communities.
Agbonsuremi expressed optimism that if all the 774 local government areas in the country embraced the development-oriented vision of the network, Nigeria would become a better place for all.
He also acknowledged the contributions of individuals who had positively influenced his life, saying, “So many people have also touched my life. I give praise to God.”
In his contribution, the Secretary of Project 774 Network and retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, DIG Muhammad Hussain Gumel, congratulated Agbonsuremi on his birthday and described him as a dedicated and resourceful member of the team.
He said Project 774 would not be complete without the contributions of the Director of Communication, noting that his commitment and service had benefited the organisation.
The retired DIG prayed to Almighty Allah to continue to strengthen Agbonsuremi and make his life more beneficial to humanity. He also prayed that God would multiply the good he has done for others and grant him continued success throughout his life.
On the recently held maiden Project 774 National Summit on Security, Gumel expressed appreciation to all participants who attended the event, including those who travelled from different parts of the country.
He said it was gratifying that all participants had returned safely, adding that the organisation had commenced follow-up advocacy activities in line with the resolutions reached at the summit.
According to him, relevant information, including the summit declaration and other outcomes, has been shared with participating agencies and strategic partners.
Gumel expressed optimism that the maiden summit would lead to further engagements and follow-up activities.
He also commended members of the Project 774 team, from the leadership to the grassroots, for their contributions towards making the inaugural summit successful and productive.
In his remark, the National Coordinator of Project 774, Alhaji Muhammed Ibrahim, described veteran journalist, Agbonsuremi, as a seasoned and vibrant professional who has consistently advocated a better Nigeria for all.
Alhaji Ibrahim said while celebrating Agbonsuremi for his contributions to journalism and the success of Project 774, the project also seeks to strengthen the relationship between government and citizens at the grassroots.
He said the project involves extensive travels across the 774 Local Government Areas of the country to collect data, gather information and interact with citizens in an effort to bridge the gap between the people and government.
According to him, government cannot achieve its development objectives alone, stressing the need for citizens to be mobilised to serve as ambassadors between the government and the people.
Alhaji Ibrahim explained that the Federal Government’s ambition of building a trillion-dollar economy cannot be achieved without effective coordination and development at the local government level.
He noted that Project 774 is therefore working to ensure that grassroots communities are properly engaged and their needs and contributions captured in the nation’s development process.
The National Coordinator commended Agbonsuremi for his dedication to journalism and his advocacy for a better Nigeria, describing him as one of the fine journalists committed to national development.
He said celebrating Agbonsuremi was also a way of recognising individuals who have continued to contribute to the success of Project 774 and the broader effort to bring government closer to the people.
The birthday celebration brought together colleagues, friends, associates and members of Project 774 Network to honour the journalist and celebrate his contributions to society.
