Vice-Admiral Augustus Alkhomu, the esteemed chief of general staff in Nigeria, engaged in a series of meaningful activities during his visit to Jamaica. A momentous occasion, he was humbly bestowed with the Keys to the City of Kingston. During the ceremony, he graciously expressed his gratitude and shared a light-hearted remark, jokingly mentioning that he now had the privilege to visit Jamaica at his leisure.

Published Wednesday, August 2, 1989

Aikhomu gets Keys to Kingston

Wishes ‘more grease to your elbows’

VICE admiral Augustus Alkhomu, chief of general staff in Nigeria, was yesterday presented with the Keys to the City of Kingston at a special sitting of the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation Council (KSAC).

Earlier, he went to National Heroes Park where he laid a wreath at the War Memorial.

At the KSAC, Councillor Marie Atkins, mayor of Kingston, said he was the fifth distinguished African national to be presented with the Keys to the City of Kingston.

Other recipients were Ethiopian emperor, the late Haile Selassie; the president of Zambia, Dr Kenneth Kaunda; singer Miriam Makeba of South Africa, and President William Talbert of Liberia.

The mayor said Nigeria was very dear to Jamaicans, as many had lived and worked in that great country.

In his acceptance speech, Vice Admiral Alkhomu said he felt a great sense of gratitude for the honour and said that, although Nigeria no longer retained the concept of mayor, its government strongly believed in leadership at the grassroots level.

He wished for the councillors and the KSAC Council “more grease to your elbows”, a Nigerian expression of goodwill.

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