Assistant Politics Editor, DANIEL KANU, writes on recognition extended to outstanding Igbo sons and daughters by Ndigbo Lagos, last week.
The prestigious hall of Oriental Hotels located on Victoria Island, Lagos, was filled to capacity, as Ndigbo Lagos, on Saturday, May 10, in a grand reception, honoured some of her deserving sons and a daughter, who recently left office after distinguishing themselves from the public and private sectors.
The awardees and officials of Nidgbo Lagos at the award night
The ambassadors that were honoured had left indelible marks on some aspects of Nigeria’s life. The gathering, to an extent, was a shift from a situation where individuals were honoured while in service, perhaps for political or pecuniary considerations.
It was an evening of stars, majorly from the Igbo extraction, as well as other guests from other sections of the country that came to share the joy of the occasion with their friends and well-wishers being celebrated.
Some of the dignitaries included Rear Admiral Allison Madueke (rtd.), Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd.), Funso Kupolokun, Mrs. Josephine Anenih, Guy Ikokwu, Kalu Idika Kalu, Prof. George Obiozor, Prof. Green Nwankwo, Paschal Dozie, Emeka Ugwu-Oju, Amb. Jerry Ugokwe, Raymond Obieri and Emma Anyadike.
The meritorious awardees were nine in number and were all present viz: Peter Obi (former Governor of Anambra State), Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (former Chief of Army Staff), Admiral Dele Ezeoba (former Chief of Naval Staff), Prof. Barth Nnaji (former Minister of Power), Stella Oduah (former Minister of Aviation), Reginald Chika Stanley (former Executive Secretary, PPPRA).
Others included: Rejinald Ihejiahi (former Managing Director/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc), Chima Ibeneche (former Managing Director, NLNG) and Ken Igbokwe (former Managing Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers West Africa).
Curiously, all the five South East governors, including the governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who were expected to be in attendance were absent. Abia, Anambra and Delta states, however, sent representatives.
Former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Emeka Anyaoku, was the chairman of the occasion, while Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, was Royal Father of the Day. President-General of Ndigbo Lagos and former chairman of Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), Prof Anya O. Anya, was Chief Host.
The reason for the award was disclosed by Anya.
His words: “Peter Obi not only brought the discipline and prudence of corporate governance in public service, but simplicity of lifestyle that removed domineering arrogance identified with such positions.
“Gen. Ihejirika and Admiral Ezeoba are proud officers and gentlemen who, even as they respectfully commanded the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Navy over the last few years, brought humility, loyalty and dignity to the service of their fatherland.
“Princess Stella Oduah remained a unique example of a visionary, organiser and implementer of the first order.
“Nnaji was not only a trailblazer in appreciating the lead role of the private sector in power development in Nigeria. As the founder of Geometric Power Company and former Minister of Power, Nnaji, more than any other person, has re-defined the power industry.
“Stanley, in his role as the Executive Secretary of PPPRA, brought integrity, due process and managerial panache to the sensitive downstream of the petroleum industry.
“Ibeneche’s stint as the Chief Executive of NLNG was celebrated as outstanding by industry peers, while Ihejiahi and Igbokwe’s tenures as chief executives of Fidelity Bank and PriceWaterhouseCoopers were highly acclaimed.”
The occasion provided unique opportunity for speakers to not only dissect the challenge of Ndigbo but raise frank talks on the nature of the Nigerian federation and the way forward.
Speakers were critical of the corporate existence of Nigeria as it is today, arguing that despite the myriad socio-economic, political and security challenges the country is currently facing, it could be great if our leaders and the citizenry did the needful.
For Anyaoku, the needful entails restructuring Nigeria into true fiscal federation with powers devolved to the federating units as was practised in the First Republic.
He said: “We are facing serious crises now. Nigeria cannot achieve peace, stability and development without a far-reaching change to the existing order.
“The challenge of the National Conference is to produce a consensus for restructuring the present architecture of the country. The conference will be a monumental failure if it fails to reach a consensus on restructuring Nigeria into a true federation.
“Nigeria should ideally be restructured into a federation of six regions based on the six geo-political zones, with most of the powers devolved to the zones to enable each region develop at its own pace.”
Anya had expressed optimism that the country will emerge from the prevailing challenges a better and more prosperous nation with ‘responsible politicking’ by the political class.
The renowned professor of Biology who is distinguished for his work in Parasitology observed: “If truth be told, the future for Nigeria has never looked as bright as it can be now, if more creative leadership were deployed. Despite our failings and failures, the world can see what we Nigerians cannot see – an emerging economy and the foundations of a global medium power.”
Director of Songhai Centre of Excellence, Rev. Fr. Godfrey Nzamujo, who delivered a paper entitled ‘KAIROS in the Igbo nation: The time has come for the ANABIOSIS of the Igbo people’, advised Ndigbo to rise to the challenge before them if they must be relevant in today’s Nigeria, insisting that the time is now.
He said: “What will define who we (Ndigbo) really are is not only how we perceive the multiple challenges we are experiencing today and how they affect us as a people, but also how we face and react to them.
“Instead of the shallow and piecemeal solutions we are used to, the seriousness of this crisis obliges us to see the urgent need to embark on the road of doing the hard work of growing up and stop copying ready-made or other people’s solutions. Business-as-usual is no longer acceptable, if we are to survive as a people. It should be new wine in a new wineskin.”
The awardees expressed joy at the honour done them, just as they vowed to continue to live a life of excellence, integrity to achieve more in their future endeavours.
