News Editor
Peter Jerome
When the sun shines, it does so not just because the galaxy had designed it to, but because it has come to dispel darkness and extol light which is the ultimate need of the universe.
14th day of July as remained a significant day of Sun rising in the face of humanity.
It was on a day like this in 1965 that the American spacecraft became the first to take pictures of another planet and send them back to Earth. putting up a new ray of Sun rising in the world technological niche.
It was also on a day like this in 1957 that the First female parliamentarian in the Arab world was elected to office. Also, the Egyptian Rawya Ateya became the first woman to be elected to the National Assembly. Putting up a new ray of Sun rising in the female emancipation drive.
It was on a day like this in 1789 that the storming of the Bastille, a prison housing only seven prisoners at the time, was stormed by a crowd calling for the closure of the prison. The storming became the central event of the French Revolution, putting up a new ray of Sun rising in the life of an oppressed people.
It was on a day like this somewhere in Mubi, in today’s Adamawa State that a new ray of Sun rise showed up in the house of a former police officer. The rising sun that has grown and blossom for over five decades and whose brightness has radiated from Keana, Nasarawa State where he rose from to every corner of national vitality and global engagement. The rising Sun goes by the name Michael Omeri Agbo-Omeri.
The Nassarawa State Star Boy has enjoyed geographical versatility in educational acquisition in the north. Completing his primary education at St. Patrick’s Primary School, Maiduguri from 1970 to 1977. Between 1977 and 1982, he was at Government Technical College, Gindiri and Government Teacher’s College, Zawan before proceeding to the University of Maiduguri, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communication with Second Class (Honours), Upper Division in 1988.
As a rising Star with a strong drive for excellence, young Mike proceeded to Kenya in 1990 and obtained a Certificate in Information, Education and Communication (IEC) from the Centre for African Family Studies and returned in 1992, and obtained a Master of Arts Degree in Law and Diplomacy from the Faculty of Law, University of Jos.
As a terrestrial cum celestial enunciator of truth through service to humanity, Mike Omeri has served the nation in several capacities. From being a class teacher at Keana South Primary School to being an industrial relations officer at Jos Steel Rolling Company, he rose through the ranks of the Parenthood Federation of Nigeria to become the State Manager of the organization in Plateau State.
As a Director of Press Affairs of old Plateau State, He was appointed Commissioner, Ministry of Social Development, Youths and Sports, Nasarawa State from 1996 to 1997 and later Commissioner, Ministry of Information, Youths and Culture, Nasarawa State in November 1997.
In February 1998, he was appointed Nasarawa State Commissioner of Works, Housing and Transport.
Between 1999 and 2003, he worked for the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria as Public Relations Manager; Nasarawa State Controller; and Secretariat Manager at the Head Office in Abuja.
As a Partner Consultant, Poly/Investment with Gulf of Guinea Consulting Ltd, Abuja from 2005 to 2008 before he was appointed Special Adviser to the Senate President on Political and Governmental Matters in 2008, a position he held till 2011.
When the history of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) will be written in a compendium, one of the commendable and most read pages will be the appointment of Dr. Mike Omeri as the Director General of the agency. It was in recognition of his meritorious service to the nation and his wealth of experience that President Goodluck Jonathan, on the 16th of January 2012 made one of the best decisions in the annals of his administrative history. Dr. Omeri’s zest in repositioning the nation’s socio-cultural orientation agency redefined the mandates and ideals of the government information and communication style.
A holder of the traditional chieftaincy titles of Obowu of Keana and Egben Weda of Ogori Land, Omeri, has modeled out his life as a template for young people who seek genuine mentoring. As a learned teacher of teachers, who has been instituted as the epicenter of solutions to humanity across clans, Omeri has surrendered his life to the Triune God, who has made him a fountain of motivation where thousands of young people and VIPs have drunk from.
As you mark another birthday today, we are confident that your inspired actions will announce Nigeria to the world in many dimensions to the glory of God, benefits to humanity and credit to the black race.
Happy birthday to the Obowu of Keana!
