It was Jim Collins who once said "Greatness is not a function of circumstances. Greatness, it turns, is largely a matter of conscious choice". Jim Collins in the above quote emphasized that greatness is not solely determined by external factors such as luck, privilege or circumstances. Instead, it is a result of deliberate decisions, actions and mindset. It means that greatness is within reach for anyone who makes a conscious choice to pursue it.
Humanity is replete with history of men and women who reached for their inner strength, ignore negative vibes and discouragement from naysayers to achieve genuine greatness. In the final analysis, these people become great leaders and protagonists of global brands. Yet these same people were yesterday reviled as nincompoops and wrongly labelled with unprintable adjectives.
The value of real greatness therefore, does not lie in the inheritance of stupendous wealth and estates from parents, but it is the ability or capacity of men to smarsh the bars of limitations and contentions to become what they set out to become. Real greatness consist of when peasants, through perseverance and hard work chiseled their ways to the palace, when ordinary folks assume extraordinary strength and wisdom to achieve exceptional results and above all, real greatness is when the despised, through diligence and hard work becomes the desired.
To celebrate men with high drive and passion and greatness is worthwhile. It is in the light of the forgoing that this spotlight is brought to focus and x-ray the rising of a humble, resourceful and passionate leader, who in his early life left no one in doubt about a future that was to be coloured by hard work and excellence. A real outlier who did not allow the circumstances of his aspiration to manacle him to the stump of oblivion, but defied all known political propaganda, horsetrading, mudslinging and grandstanding to become the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Chairmanship seat of Itu Local Government Area in the October 5 elections in the State. This man, Mr Ubong Wilson Nkutt (aka, Kuti), a well focused, compassionate, and amiable young man who enjoys massive support and unanimous endorsement from critical stakeholders and members of the PDP is a proud son of Ikot Uso Akpan Itam in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Born slightly above 40 years ago and being the last born of the family, his urge for academic excellence saw him cycling through various academic institutions, starting from St James African School, Okopedi Itiam to Community Secondary School, Offot Usung Ifiayong, Ibiaku Offot where he had his primary and secondary education respectively. He was at the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa State where he bagged a National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Marketing. As has become his want in every area of his life, Kuti also sought to achieve the icing on the cake of an excellent academic carrier and to prepare him for the challenges of leadership by enrolling into the University of Uyo for a Masters degree in Political Science and Public Administration. Because of his knack for knowledge, he has also undergone various special trainings and courses.
Mr Nkutt has worked both in public service and well established private organizations as well as establishing a growing business concern of his own. He started his working career in 2013 after his compulsory one year NYSC programme in Cross River State. He has been Supervisor at the Cross River State Waste Management Company, Sales Representative with EXCO Nig. Ltd in Apapa, Lagos State as well as Marketing Officer with AEC Works back here in Akwa Ibom State before establishing his own business, that is involved in the delivery of private and industrial environmental services as well as trucking and haulage of construction materials.
A chronicle of Mr Nkutt's political career reveals that his standing today as the Chairmanship candidate of the PDP for Itu is not by any means a default but by a conscious choice and the fusion of passion, determination, vision, personal conviction and strong will. He started off as Personal Assistant, Office of the Commissioner 1 in the Akwa Ibom State Local Government Service Commission. In October, 2020, he was appointed by the immediate past Governor, His Excellency, Udom Emmanuel as his Special Assistant on Project Monitoring. Preparatory to the 2023 elections and because of his inclination towards youths development, he was appointed by the then Maintain Peace Movement (MPM) as Deputy Director of Youths Mobilization for Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District, a task he diligently executed to the admiration and satisfaction of all.
On the 1st of November, 2023, His Excellency, Governor Umo Eno, having been satisfied with the delivery of his mandate during the campaigns and eventual success at the polls, appointed him as his Special Assistant on Youth Mobilization in charge of Itu Federal Constituency. Pundits and political analysts have said that his five star performance as youth leader and mobilizer has endeared him to the youths of his area and his emergence as the candidate of the Party may not be unconnected with the yearnings of the people for a youth friendly leader in the local government.
With the emergence of Kuti, it is expected that interests will collapse into one big umbrella in support of the PDP to face any opposition that will spring up in the election. The collapse of interests will play a major role in the Party's victory at the October, 2024 polls.
Meanwhile, his emergence as the Itu Local Government Chairmanship standard bearer of the PDP was greeted by wild excitement across political party lines in the local government area and beyond. Youths converged at several locations celebrating and expressing their satisfaction and joy over the news of his emergence. Some were caught chanting "Itu will be great again. Ado joy joy, ado big big ke Itu", in the words of 'Sports Sailor', an Itu son.
Mr Nkutt is a known team player with development and transformational traits. It is believed that his style of leadership as a critical thinker and youth mobilizer couple with his humble, sociable and unassuming nature will offer him a place in the Hall of Fame of leaders who are called to genuinely serve their people.
Married with kids, Kuti has so far demonstrated that he has the capacity to serve and lead the people of Itu as their Chief Servant.
Let us celebrate the humble beginning of this super brand and his journey to real greatness. To God be the Glory!
_George Akpan writes from Ikot Ukap Itam_
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