Maybe, I should start by expressing my appreciation to Community Service oriented Umu Aro, who  have served, or are still serving in diverse capacities in our Kingdom. One may not be wrong to say that Aro is a place where community service is taken as a personal project. Put in another way, the volume  of zeal and commitment Umu Aro invest in community service is so overwhelming, that one wonders if it is a paid job. They put in their resources, time, and energy, whenever they are called upon. I must say this is highly commendable .

In commending the dexterity of Umu Aro in Community service, let us take a tour to what Community service entails, in terms of stewardship, and accountability. 

What Is Stewardship?

Stewardship is said to be the responsible  management of resources to benefit others and create a lasting impact.

In community service, it is about leaving a lasting impact that benefits future generations. It is a call to action, to manage Communal  resources, and initiatives responsibly, ensuring a positive legacy. Put in a simpler way, Stewardship in community service is – just being accountable and making a positive difference in the lives of ones people. 

The Importance Of Stewardship In Community Service

Stewardship is very crucial in Community service for the following reasons:

1. It Ensures Sustainability, and Long Term Impact

Good stewards, thinks  about the future of their community, making sure that the service they have agreed to render,  will outlive them. Anglican Abu 239 ” Nani olu anyi, k’aga eji echeta anyi”, says it all. This means putting structures, and systems in place, mentoring, and training others rightly,  and making smart decisions that will have a positive lasting impact, even when they are gone. 

Sustainability and long term effect is likened to planting a tree, that one want to keep growing and providing fruits and shield for  generations to come.

2. Encourages Accountability and Transparency

Stewardship means being answerable to the, Nzuko/ group/ organization , whether at the branch, or National levels, and the community, at large. But most importantly, to oneself because, conscience is the worst tormentor; unless it is a seared one.  It is not only being   transparent about your doings, it’s also about being willing to be held accountable for your actions. 

It entails submitting your score card for branch / group scrutiny, after service. This builds trust and credibility, and remains essential tool for making a real change. A leader who leaves office, and evades audit, is not worthy to hold a higher office. To aspire for a higher office in any organization, or group, a financial clearance from a past office, should be a prerequisite. This way, people who are allergic to accountability will  stay away from the corridors of community service.

Imagine a group, where as a team, members are free to ask pertinent questions without being branded ” disloyal “, every member knows about the income, and expenditure of the organization, and all members are working together towards a common goal, there is no challenge they wou not be able to surmount.

3. Builds Trust and Credibility

Good stewardship engenders trust. When members know that  their leaders are financially accountable, they are  more likely to support their  efforts. But when leaders use propaganda, and divide- and- rule as a weapon to cover their up their inefficiency , it breeds mistrust and division in a group/ organization. Note the words of Bob Procto- ” Accountability is the glue that holds organization together”. 

4. Creates a legacy that inspires future generations

Stewardship is about leaving a lasting  impact, as stated earlier. When one does a good  work, and  inspire others to do the same, it creates  a lasting legacy that will continue  giving back to the community. It is like building a bridge; which remain there for generations to come, and people will keep benefiting from it.

Leaving A Legacy In Stewardship

It is all  about making a difference that keeps on giving. It is about integrity- honesty, and strong moral principles . It is about your service, your values, and your contributions outliving you, and inspiring others . It is about, ” Ezi ava ka ola ocha, na olaedo”.

Creating a Ripple Effect

Accountable stewardship is like creating a ripple effect. When the right leadership structure is put in place, those coming in after will have no choice but  to align to the structure. Even committees will naturally align to accounting for responsibilities assigned to them. That is what happens when a leader makes positive impact. It spreads seamlessly.

Posterity and Stewardship

The consequences of unaccounted stewardship can be severe and far reaching. It can lead to a breakdown in trust, damage of reputation and credibility, and  a loss of faith in leadership, ultimately undermining the effectiveness of community initiatives and programs. 

Conclusion

As the election of Nzuko Aro Women’n Wing beacons, as it is with every secular election, very soon Campaigns will kick off, with fliers, banners and all  electioneering  paraphernalia, adorning our platforms, Status, even as DMs, and all Social Media Spaces. 

In all these displays, some clichés that will confront us in their myriads are: 

– Integrity

– ⁠Transparency

– ⁠Accountability 

– ⁠Diligent 

– ⁠Humility

– ⁠Organized, etc. 

While I may not have any issue with any contestant using as many of these clichés as she wants, after all, they are words, and words, they say are cheap ; my concern is to let these words come to reality, when the contestant eventually  wins the election.

We are not oblivious of the fact that, there are those who have used these words, both in secular politics, and community service as only a bait to secure positions of service. It is neither news also, that many politicians, who promised to be accountable, transparent and diligent when  voted to power, are no where to be seen around these words .

My sincere 2 penny piece of advice to all the contestants, aspiring for different offices in the upcoming election are:

– CAMPAIGN WITH QUALITIES  THAT YOU KNOW YOU TRUELY POSSES.

– ⁠DO NOT PRESENT A PAINTED SEPULCHER MANIFESTO ( Do not  promise what you know ab initio that you do not intend to do).

On a final Note, I want to believe that Aro Kingdom will  not be carried away by your beautiful photos adorning your fliers, videos, and all well packaged Campaign rhetorics; they are looking beyond that. Aro is only interested in your Agwa- Character- embodied in integrity,  because, AGWABUMMA!