By Angela Atabo
The Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) has honoured Dr Kayode Fayemi, former Governor of Ekiti State, by naming one of its office building after him.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the recognition is a testament to Fayemi’s significant contributions to democratic development in Nigeria.
The Chair ,CDD International Governing Council, John Odah,made this known at the official ceremony of the naming of one its office buildings as Dr Kayode Fayemi House on Friday in Abuja.
According to Odah, as a champion of democracy and good governance, Fayemi has consistently demonstrated his commitment to promoting the principles of democratic governance.
“On the contribution of Fayemi on the basis of which we decided to name this building after him,is his dedication to democracy right form his days in the UK.
“As a doctorate student, he mobilised other postgraduate students and activists in London to look at the declining state of democratic practice in the West African sub-region.
“That led to the formation of the Centre for Democracy and Development, and he returned back to Nigeria after the Abacha era.”
Odah said Fayemi worked with a number of civil society organisations in Nigeria and West African to support and put pressure on the economic community of West African states to make it more people oriented.
Dr Kole Shettima, One of the Trustees of CDD, said naming the building after Fayemi ,the first founding member of CDD, is a joyous occasion to see how the organisation has grown.
“For those of us who were there at the very beginning and trying to see how from the first director we are now up to the fourth director, is a proof of the culture of succession and democratic participation that we preach.
“The lessons learned is that we do not have to impose ourselves as leaders. But to create opportunity for people to succeed.
“So that the younger generation can also succeed from older generations as well,”he said
Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim, Democracy Advocate,CDD ,said Fayemi exhibited the qualities of a good leader which included the capacity to build a working system and processes to strengthen the entire institution and make it sustainable.
Ibrahim added that Fayemi exhibited the capacity to identify an approach that would produce results which he used in developing CDD and by extension Nigeria .
He said that Fayemi had the capacity to identify an approach that would produce results .
He said Fayemi was able to use a knowledge based approach to produce solutions that are efficacious, that are workable and that can sustain that organisation.
Dr Dauda Garuba,Director,CDD, said Fayemi founded CDD with a group of like-minds from West Africa to champion democratic development and over 28 year after ,Fayemi’s work was able to deepen democracy , development, peace and security.
Garuba said that he provided space for younger generations to grow by way of getting them involved in the work that would help deepen democracy in the sub-region.
He said today ,CDD is about the only surviving organisation that fought for democracy in Nigeria and in the sub-region.
Dr Kayode Fayemi,former Governor of Ekiti,commended CDD for honouring him by naming the building after him.
Fayemi said that the act was a testament that when people build institutions, it outlives them but when they build self, it disappears with them.
He emphasised the need for leaders to build stronger institutions that would outlive them adding that ” CDD was able to build an institution driven by core values, principles and by appreciating the importance of all from the lowest level of staff to the director and founders.
” it is that spirit that has kept us going. Almost 30 years, we have had four directors, and they have averaged about eight or nine years in office, it gave people opportunity to grow .
“I have not been here since 2005, and the organisation has continued to thrive. That is how we build a successful generation of leaders.
” I think that is the central message from this humbling naming of the building, the first building of CDD, after me,’he said
