Abia Governor, Alex Otti was last weekend, named winner of the 2024 edition of Michael Okpara Leadership award, popularly called the Premier’s Prize, for demonstrating leadership integrity and excellence in governance in the first one year he was in saddle of leadership as executive governor.
The announcement is contained in a press statement dated August 4, 2024, by the Organizing Committee for this year’s Michael Okpara Annual Leadership Lecture and Awards, scheduled for August 22, in Abuja, in honour of Rt. Honourable Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara, the late Premier of the Eastern Region of Nigeria whose reign spanned 1959-1966 and was famous for industrial and agricultural revolution in the region.
In the press statement signed by Chairman of Okpara Foundation, Chief Uzodinma Okpara who is one of the sons of the late premier, and Tobs Agbaegbu, Publisher of Verbatim Media Group, the organizers, announced that Governor Otti will deliver a Keynote address, sharing his ideas and experience in office, at the historic event to be chaired by former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim.
The event organizers explained also that Governors of the states in the South-East and South-South geo-political zones in Nigeria, formerly, the eastern region of Nigeria’s first republic, as well as other bigwigs and professionals drawn from the legislature and multi-dimensional businesses, will also receive leadership awards, and participate in raising funds for the building of Okpara Leadership Institute in Umuahia, Abia State.
Those lined up to receive the Premiers’ Prize include incumbent Governors of Abia, Imo, Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, Cross River and Akwa Ibom States as well as the former Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency, Clement Ebiri.
Others are: Senators
Enyinnaya Abaribe, Austin Akobundu; Barrister Ned Nwoko; Hajiya Ireti Kingibe, Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, as well as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt.Hon. Benjamin Kalu; Athan Achonu, former Labour Party governorship candidate in Imo State as well as two renowned women leaders in Nigeria: former First Lady of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Dame Patience Jonathan, and Her Excellency, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu.
Captains of industry and professionals of various categories who will also receive the Okpara Leadership award include the Vice Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Professor Maduebibisi, Iwe; Frank Ihekwoaba, PhD, the CEO of Winds Exploration and Production (an oil and gas firm); Barr. Emma Njoku, Chairman, Prezzo Shed Group; Dr. Charles Omini, Director, International Human Rights Commission (West Africa); Felix Chidi Idiga, Chairman, Jafac Group and Dr. Chris Odinaka Igwe, Chairman, Chrisnaka Group of Companies.
Others include Chief Duke Enyinnaya Atuloma, Hon.Mayor Victor Ikeji, PhD, Apostle Chibuzor Gift Chinyere, Founder, Omega Power Ministries, and two renowned Journalists who are television program anchors: Charles Aniagolu of Arise News and Amaechi Anakwue, PhD, of African Independent Television (AIT).
A number of Nigerians in the diaspora were also listed among those to be honoured with the Premier’s Prize on August 22. These include, Chief Nelly Onyinyechi Okenkpu, a philanthropist and founder of Nelly Onyinyechi Okenkpu foundation; Chief Ezeugo Kensington Chikwendu, a philanthropist and bureaucrat at the Federal Ministry of Petroleum and Hon. Cliff Opara, Deputy Chairman, Board of Delegates, Mbaise USA Inc. Others are: Dr. Maduabuchi Prince Gabriel, RHC Henry Ubi and RHC Ndubuisi Nkemakolam.
In the count-down to the event day, the organizers also announced that special invitations have been sent respectively to His Excellency, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu as Chief Guest of Honour, and His Excellency, former President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as Guest of Honour.
Describing the upcoming August 22, 2024 event as historic, the Organizing Committee expressed optimism that it will usher ‘’a new era of solidarity, not only to the People of the South-East and South-South socio-cultural and political zones in Nigeria’’, but the entire country at large, and also achieve one of the reasons for the program which is ‘’to encourage and promote good governance, integrity in public service and excellence in Service delivery: core attributes and philosophy of His Excellency, the Right Honourable Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara’’.
