The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Honour

  • Honour for The Nation man

    The maritime correspondent of The Nation Mr Oluwakemi Dauda has bagged the “Sterling Performing Journalist-Print” Award, organised by the management of The Quest Media Group, publishers of Trans Quest, a monthly magazine.

    He receiving the award during the Transport Development Symposium/Lecture/Transport Development ceremony (TDS/TDEA 2016), held penultimate Saturday, at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja.

    The theme of the event was: Transport/Maritime Sector, The pros and cons of the evolving change as it affects the revenue drive of the nation.

    The award letter to Dauda, signed by the organisers’ secretary, Segun Omisakin, said: “You have exemplified yourself in the area of your professional calling, journalism, over the years, especially in various aspects of reportage including the transport/maritime sector.

    “Notably, is your effervescent reporting of activities within the transport/maritime sector, especially as it relates to topical issues in the sector principally in the area of in-depth analysis and factual reporting are worthy of note as they are not only quite insightful, fulfilling and all-encompassing, but have proven your versatility and grasp of the sector. You have, over the years, in different fora demonstrated your vast knowledge in the above mentioned areas, thus, the need for this award by Quest Media Group.”

    The event, the organisers said, was also used to celebrate the consistency of the highly valued publications that have contributed positively to the development of the transport sector in the past nine years.

    The TDEA ceremony is a non-profit making yearly event, aimed at stimulating, encouraging and promoting excellence in the media.

  • Honour for role models

    Honour for role models

    The Hallmarks of Labour Foundation held the 20th anniversary of its Role Model Awards at the Lagos Oriental Hotel on Victoria Island last Sunday. NNEKA NWANERI was there.

    It had all the trappings of a banquet- talk of a classical opera performance, a green lit stage, a dozen or more chandeliers dropping from the ceiling; dinner set table and one eloquent speaker or the other.

    It was all these and more on Sunday evening at the Oriental Hotel on Victoria Island, Lagos, where eminent Nigerians were recognised for their contribution to national development and for blazing trails in their various endeavours.

    Elder statesmen; a hall packed full of octogenarians; politicians; literary giants; legal luminaries and the young ones were not left behind in the ceremony.

    Former Secretary to the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, who chaired the occasion, said the annual award was to project people of the black race who have achieved success through hard work and integrity in their various endeavours, and to also showcase them as role models worthy of emulation by the younger generation.

    This, he added, will allow for a positive attitude among Nigerians and help Nigeria become a decent society that will attract pride in the comity of nations. He thanked HLF for its philanthropic activities that have changed the lives of many over the years.

    Also, Anyaoku said since the inception of the award series in 1996, 43 deserving Nigerians have received the reward and that Prof Ibrahim Gambari is the best candidate for this endowment award.

    Chairman Board of Trustees of the Foundation, Emeritus Prof Umaru Shehu, also added that over the past 20 years, HLF has done well and will keep rewarding the younger generation with worthy recognitions.

    Former Chief Justice of Nigeria Mariam Aloma Mukhtar bagged the Foundation’s Life Time Achievement Award for exemplary leadership in the advancement of the Nigerian legal system while Professor Ibrahim Gambari went home with the Emeka Anyaoku award for Nigeria’s most Outstanding International Icon.

    Others were: former Lagos governor Alhaji Lateef Jakande for Excellence for Leadership and Good Governance; Prof Itse Sagay (SAN) for Exemplary/ Courageous Service to the advancement of Legal Service; Emeritus Prof Njidda Gadzama got the Umaru Shehu award for the most consistent Advocate for Positive Change in the University System; and the Role Model for Business Management, Administration and Accounting in Nigeria went to Mrs Olutoyin Olakunrin. Lumen Christi International School, Uruomi in Edo State got the award for best performing school in the 2014 WASSCE.

    Prof Sagay, in response, described the award as the pinnacle of his writing achievements, while Alhaji Jakande, whose senile voice and structure was no match to his personality pulled the audience to a rousing applaud on their feet.

    In attendance were: Erelu Abiola Dosunmu; former First Ladies of Lagos Dame Abimbola Fashola and Princess Sarah Sosan; Edo Chief Rita Lori Ogbebor; Prof Ben Nwabueze; Mrs Pricilla Kuye; Prof John Pepper Clark; Prof Grace Alele Williams; Vanguard Publisher Sam Amuka Pemu; Prof Umaru Shehu; Isemede of Warri Chief Brown Mene; Prof Oladipo Akinkugbe; Mrs Francesca Emmanuel and Yeye Oge of Lagos Chief Opral Benson among others.

  • Honour for Lagos lawmaker

    Apostles of Peace Society, St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Isolo, has given a Peace Award to the Deputy Chief Whip of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Omotayo Odutan. She is hence admitted into the League of Awardees of the church.

    The initiator and National President of the society, Siyanbola Oladapo described Odutan, who is the 2016 recipient of the award as a friendly, free-minded and peace-loving woman who, according to him, is a sister and friend to the church. He added that the Deputy Chief Whip beat six other equally important and very influential nominees to bag this year’s award.

    “By this award ma, even as you continue to champion the cause of peace, God shall look mercifully upon you and promote you beyond your expectation such that you shall also serve the nation at the federal level,” he said.

    In his address delivered during the 18th Anniversary Dinner in Lagos, Oladapo said the apostles of peace was a society that champions the course of peace both at homes, the nation and the world in general.

    He said the society was made up of philanthropic professionals.

    He noted that Nigeria and the world at large needed peace at this moment of turbulence, religious intolerance, insurgency, ISIS devilish penetration and dominance, terrorism, Boko Haram nuances, unemployment-induced crimes, religious organisations being influenced by the worldly things instead of things of the spirit, economic catastrophe and other phenomena that point to the emergence of anti-Christ.

    According to him, the society has not folded its hands, adding that apart from spiritual efforts; the national body had set up a committee to organise a peace lecture that would feature a leading Muslim organisation founder and another influential Christian cleric where we shall attempt to proffer solutions to religious intolerance and encourage harmonious living among people of this nation and the world.

    “The Hausa of Mile 12, the Ijaws, the road transport union, politicians, civil organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), religious leaders and student union leaders, among others, shall air their views at the event. Everyone should support the initiative which would come up soon,” he said.

    He said the society was committed to facilitating conflict resolution and it’s guided by what he described as the church’s five way test; which include: will it glory God, is it Christ like, will it bring peace to the body of Christ, will it contribute to the growth of the church and will it bring peace to the body of Christ?

    He said the church undertakes programmes that would cater for the well-being of all retired men of God, ensures food bank for the less-privileged people on monthly basis, life-touching projects for communities, including water.

    Others were medical screening and treatment, peace grant/scholarship to indigent but poor students, tracts and sponsorship of religious pragrammes, care for the elderly, economic empowerment, worship sanctuary projects, peace club; deliberate stabilising initiatives in churches where we have chapters, youth development and write-ups on conflict resolution.

    Responding, Hon. Odutan said she would appreciate award that would bring about the enhancement of God’s work, adding that every award had its significance.

    “I don’t receive award anyhow, but I always appreciate any award that would bring about the enhancement of God’s work. I have been coming for their anniversaries though quietly. Out of the six of us nominated, I emerged the winner. The award is a very significant one, and I really appreciate it,” she said.

    “It gives me joy to give to people and enhance their well-being. Each and every one of us has a role to play too. My own role is to help people and identify with the church it her philanthropic projects,” she said.

    She said she would want to be remembered as somebody that put smiles on the faces of so many people. It is not how many houses you built but when you contribute to the well-being of fellow humankind, the legacy you leave behind lives after you.

    She challenged other women who are interested to join politics, adding that they would be mentored.

    “Women must first of all evaluate themselves to know if they can do it, do I want to do it and am I capable of doing it?” she said.

  • Honour for Afe Babalola

    Honour for Afe Babalola

    The Legislative Black Caucus of the State of Georgia Congress in the United States and African Leadership Magazine have honoured the Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN).

    Babalola was conferred with the Congressional Commendation by the Georgia lawmakers and was also inducted into the African Leadership Magazine Hall of Fame at a ceremony held in the university at the weekend.

    He was honoured for pioneering excellence and innovation in tertiary education in Nigeria and Africa.

    Speaking at the ceremony, Babalola explained that he did not establish the institution as a profit-making venture but to provide affordable education to those who cannot afford high cost of university education overseas.

    Babalola revealed that the challenges he faced as an indigent child in his quest for western education formed part of the factors that compelled him to establish the school.

    The former Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos said his intention was to nurture the university up to a level that it would provide the missing link in the nation’s education industry.

    Former Gambian Ambassador to Nigeria Mrs Angela Colleh and the Publisher of African Leadership Magazine, Dr. Ken Giami, represented by the Managing Editor, Fidelis Okeke, described Babalola as an unusual Nigerian.

  • Honour for 10-year accident-free Okada rider

    A commercial motorcyclist in Omole Phase 1 Estate, Ikeja, Lagos, Johnson Ogbu, was honoured on Saturday for riding for 10 years without an accident.

    Ogbu was honoured at the 2016 Omole Phase 1 Residents’ Association (OPRA) Dinner and Awards Night organised to mark the 20th anniversary of the Community Development Association (CDA).

    Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs Alhaji Musiliu Folami said there were over 6,000 registered CDAs in the state, describing OPRA as one of the best.

    Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development Mr. Wasiu Anifowoshe promised to facilitate a new transformer to improve power supply to the estate.

    Awards were given in various categories, including Special Recognition Award, Special Award, Corporate Social Responsibility Award, Best Public School Award and Best Private School Award, among others. But the award that ignited the loudest ovation was that of Johnson Ogbu, who, having riden his commercial motorcycle for 10 years without crashing, was adjudged the estate’s Okada Man of the Year.

  • Honour for industrialist

    Honour for industrialist

    Penultimate weekend, people from all walks of life gathered at Apapa, Lagos State to honour a man they considered a blessing to humanity.  It was not only a moment to be part of the coronation ceremony in honour of Chief Gabby Emeka Dimude, it was also a big occasion when many people across climes and cultures converged on the expansive compound of Dimude to celebrate a man who has deployed his resources for the benefit of humankind; especially the downtrodden and other less-privileged people in the society.

    This informed the diverse cultural displays in Apapa that day, making the area become what some described as cultural splendour.  The Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo and Philippines communities were present en masse to celebrate with the man of honour.

    Dimude was conferred the exalted title of Eze Ndigbo of Apapa.  Before the event, the Igbo community in Apapa and other residents of the area had decided that the cap befits Dimude.  However, the representative of the Arewa community in Apapa, Alhaji Ahmed Barma who came with a retinue of his chiefs, described the occasion as one of the examples people from across tribes and cultures should be involved in to discourage tribalism and sectionalism.

    The event began early in the morning in Dimude’s residence when highly revered traditional leaders from Hausa, Yoruba and other communities joined their Igbo counterparts to witness the coronation ceremony.  The Oba of Ijora, Abdul-Fatai Olayinka Aromire, as the traditional ruler of the host community, sent one of his high chiefs to pay obeisance to Dimude.  It was a moment of joy when people from different cultural backgrounds forgot their differences and ate from the same plate.  The presence of the Ojora went further to prove that the title of Eze Ndigbo of Apapa was duly recognised by those who had the authority to do so.

    The Ojora made it clear that the presence of the Igbo in Apapa has been a blessing to the area over the years.  “The Igbo have helped in the total development and industrialisation of the town.  Today, most important establishments in that part of Lagos were as a result of the efforts of the Igbo.  Therefore, the coronation of Dimude is to further help in the infrastructural development and expansion of Apapa as the commercial hub of the nation,” he said.

    In this regard, Barma said: “We are here today to represent the chairman of the Arewa Council, Alhaji Dogara Yaro.  We represent the Hausa community in order to show that together we can move this nation forward.  This is not the issue of where you come from or which ethnic group you represent.  It is to show that at our level, we can forge unity; true unity for the good of everyone.  This coronation of Chief Dimude as the Eze Ndigbo of Apapa is not strange.  We have Seriki Hausa anywhere we go and where we have our people.  It makes for unity, it helps to cement love and usher in development in the host community.”

    Continuing, Barma said: “I think the primary reason we are here today is to encourage the co-existence of all Nigerians.  Today, we shouldn’t be thinking or behaving as Hausa, Yoruba or Igbo but as Nigerians. So, we have come here to celebrate with the Igbo and with Dimude as worthy brothers and sisters. It is for us to continue to cement the existing bond and love between the Igbo and Hausa not only in Apapa but also in Lagos as a whole.

    “Of course, this shows that when Hausa man sees an Igbo man or vice versa, they should relate as brothers.  You can see how people mingle here today.  We are saying that this should extend to all the states of the federation in order to establish peace and harmony.”

    Almost every guest who spoke poured encomiums on Dimude for his resilience and determination to ensure a successful coronation ceremony.  Chief Debe Odumegwu-Ojukwu reminded guests of the importance of Apapa to the nation.

    “My grandfather was instrumental to the opening of this wharf.  He did so because he saw the need then to do so.  Today, all of us are beneficiaries of his foresight and wisdom.  Therefore, we have no choice but to continue to ensure that Apapa does not lose its glory,” Debe, a lawyer and a scion of the Ojukwu dynasty, said.

    Responding, Dimude, an engineer and the owner of Kabayan Shipping Group, described the Eze Ndigbo title as an avenue to bring the people together for further developmental strides.  “It is time to do more for the people under a united front.  Leadership is about giving vision to the people.  Even here now, all the different communities in Lagos and beyond are fully represented.  What we are doing is for the good of Apapa and if most of us can give back to the communities in which we live, then there will be room for expansion, industrialisation and mutual interaction. This will, indeed, help to make Nigeria a better place for all.”

    Dimude was born in 1960 and had his tertiary education in the Philippines where he took a degree in Engineering.  In 1994, he formed the Kabayan Shipping Group with branches in Port Harcourt, Cotonou, Warri-Onne, Okirika and Calabar.

    To date, his scholarship scheme has empowered over 50 students. It was as a result of his numerous philanthropic gestures that the Ojora of Ijora land once conferred on him with the title of Kabayan 1 of Apapa Kingdom.

    The occasion attracted masquerades and cultural dancers from far and near.  The Ijele masquerade, highly revered in Igbo tradition and only seen in public when the highest Igbo celebration is on, came all the way from Achina, Anambra State; home town of the celebrator. Indeed the presence of the Ijele excited most people who had never witnessed such a colourful masquerade before.

    As it moved into the arena majestically in its multi-coloured paraphernalia, the drums beat, the instruments sounded to a madly frenzy to herald its arrival. It was indeed time to see Ijele as it really is–the king of all masquerades.

  • Honour for ex-lawmaker in Kaduna

    Honour for ex-lawmaker in Kaduna

    A FORMER member of the House of Representatives Hon Sani Sha’aban has been honoured in Zaria with the traditional title of Danburan Zazzau.

    The honour was bestowed by the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris.

    Sha’aban, chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State, is also a philanthropist and businessman. He is reputed to contributed immensely to the development of his community.

    Sha’aban is equally a blue blood, being related to two of the four Ruling Houses in the Zazzau emirate. A direct descendant of the Mallawa Ruling House, he has a maternal relationship with the Katsinawa Ruling House that has ruled the emirate for the last 41 years.

    There was much fanfare at the conferment of the title, which made Sha’aban one of the highest title holders and a member of the inner caucus of the Emir’s council. The event drew a large crowd of supporters from across the world to Zaria town with all the hotels fully booked one week before the event. The Emir’s palace was filled to capacity as early as 7am with dignitaries which included former Defence Minister, General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, former Permanent Secretary of Defence, Alhaji Ismaila Aliyu, the Dallatun Zazzau, Ramalan Yero, former Kaduna State Governor and former governor of Benue State Gabriel Suswam, and members of the diplomatic corps.

    Speaking at the event, the Emir, who was represented by the Wazirin Zazzau, Alhaji Ibrahim Aminu, said the decision to make Sha’aban the  Danburam Zazzau was in recognition of his selfless contribution to the development of the emirate as well as his genuine concern for the people. He described the former lawmaker as an illustrious son, and a worthy ambassador of the emirate whose immense contributions to the community over the years are invaluable.

    One of his friends who attended the ceremony, former Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Alhaji Gimba Yau Kumo, said the event proved to Nigerians that Sha’aban has both national and international connections.

    He said: “I hope with this title bestowed on him by His Royal Highness, the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, another responsibility has been placed on Sha’aban to take not only the people of Zazzau, but the people of Kaduna in particular and Nigeria in general to the next pedestal in terms of securing employment for the teeming youths: in terms of getting job opportunities for the people of Kaduna and Nigeria; in terms of bringing foreign investors to Nigeria.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Buhari receives highest honour in Equatorial Guinea

    Buhari receives highest honour in Equatorial Guinea

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday night received in Malabo Equatorial Guinea’s highest national honour, the Grand Collar of the Order of the Independence.

    He has dedicated it to the people of Nigeria, who, he said, have worked tirelessly for peace in the country and Africa.

    Buhari in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said: “I will like to express profound gratitude for the honour given to me and my people.

    “There has never been a time for greater neighbourliness on our continent in the interest of peace, security and economic stability than now,” President Buhari said at the investiture ceremony.

    As African countries faced common challenges, he said, they must strive to cooperate more to find workable solutions that will facilitate rapid socio-economic development on the continent.

    Buhari pledged that under his leadership, Nigeria will continue to make significant contributions to peace, political stability and progress in Africa.

    President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea said that the honour was conferred on President Buhari for his “personal integrity, exemplary leadership style and courage to fight terrorism in order to ensure peace and safety in Africa”.

    “We deemed it fit and appropriate to honour this son of Africa for the great work he is doing, which includes tackling Boko Haram, a great menace to the continent,” President Mbasogo said.
     

  • BJAN to honour Mohammed, Ayorinde, others

    The Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria (BJAN) plans to honour the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed for his contributions to the growth of communication and integrated marketing communication industry.

    The association will also honour some eminent individuals for contributing their quota to the development of the industry.

    Those to be honoured at the Fourth BJAN World Consumer Rights Day in Lagos on March 15, this year include:  Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde; Group Managing Director, Insight Communications, Mr. Jimi Awosika and Group Managing Director of SO&U Limited/former Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Udeme Ufot.

    Others are: Registrar, APCON, Garba Bello Kankarofi; Managing Director 141 Worldwide, Mrs. Bunmi Oke and Managing Director Executive Options Limited/Publisher Billboard World Magazine, Mrs. Maureen Umanah.

    The BJAN Chairman, Goddie Ofose, said it is essential to honour those who have contributed to the growth of the Integrated Marketing Communication industry.

  • Honour your word

    •National Assembly must pass Budget on March 17 as promised. It is getting too late.

    Stasis. That perhaps best describes the national economy as indeed the activities of the Federal Government at the moment. A third month into the fiscal year, nothing really significant is going on. At a time of grave emergency marked by plunging oil prices, of foreign exchange market running riot, and a collapsing national infrastructure, a Federal Government that ought to be calling the shots has practically gone missing in action. If we expected both the executive and the legislature to move swiftly to arrest the drift in the political economy, to demonstrate their understanding of the nature of the emergency, and to match the pace of action with the demand of the moment, it has been disappointment all the way.

    Nearly three months into the year, the 2016 Budget – the fiscal instrument on which the Buhari administration’s promised change is anchored – remains largely hung. We are not even talking of implementation yet, but rather the procedural matters of its passage into law.

    Right from the time it was presented to the National Assembly on November 22, 2015, it has been one controversy or another. First, it was the story of missing budget documents; soon after, the civil servants were alleged to have tampered with the subheads to such a degree as to make nonsense of the administration’s original fiscal projections. As a result, a budget initially projected for passage for February had to be shifted to the end of March.

    Now, the signal from the joint committees of the National Assembly on appropriation is that the budget would be passed on March 17. Considering that this is only a few days from now, Nigerians will hold the lawmakers to their words.

    Of course, were these to be normal times, the sloppiness and the inexplicable tardiness that it gave rise to would not have mattered much. After all, the budgetary process has never been known to be anything different in the last 16 years of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration.

    But then, these are extraordinary times. No thanks to the collapse in oil prices, the nation currently earns a fraction of what it earned two years ago. And this at a time of record unemployment, of yawning infrastructure gap, of shrinking industrial capacity, and reduced disposable incomes across board and of declining rate of accretion into our foreign reserves, etc.

    Unfortunately, if we expected a matching response to the looming emergency, the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government, by its snail-speed approach to the budget business, appears oblivious of the urgency required to turn the tide.

    We think it’s high time the administration sat up.

    Passing of the fiscal instrument on March 17 as promised would certainly be a significant step forward. To the extent that the budget constitutes the pivot of the government’s activities in the current year, its passage will certainly go a long way to douse the continuing apprehensions about the general economic direction of the Federal Government. It would give reassurances to the private sector that has largely maintained a wait-and–see attitude while the current delays lasted, that the government is finally poised for action.

    The greater and more compelling reason for its speedy passage however lies in the volume of the work to be done. We understand that at the best of times, our bureaucracy has been known to implement a fraction of the budget as passed. So, the earlier it is passed, the better the prospects of implementation. The second reason derives from the limited time for implementation. With the rains already set upon us, we wonder how much of road construction can be done with the remaining time left in the year. Would the latter not bring back that recurring alibi that has been recycled year to year?

    Bottom-line is  – Nigerians expect more from an administration that promised change; they want to see real, meaningful action in the coming days.