Adesina, Kwankwaso, Others Honoured

Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, President-elect of the African Development Bank (AFDB) and former Nigerian Minister of Agriculture, Former Governor of Kano State and serving Senator, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and Governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada among others, on Sunday, received the Hall of Grace (HOG) award for meritorious public service and good governance.

Chief Alex Akinyele, the HOG’s grand custodian and a former Minister for Youth and Sports praised the awardees for earning the prestigious award, adding that everyone of them deserved the honour.

Managing Custodian of the award and publisher of HOG Magazine, Mr. Rupert Ojenuwa, said: “The HOG award is inspired by a need to make Nigeria better. That is the driving force. And like you know, some awards, they would ask you to bring money before you come for the award, but you can ask any of the distinguished personalities awarded today, none of them was asked to bring any money for the award. The statement we are trying to make is that once you are doing well, we will encourage you with the awards so you could do more. I believe that if everyone of the 170 million Nigerians do their bit, the country would become much better and we would recover our glory.”

Gov Idris Wada who received the Governor of the Year award for outstanding performance as Kogi State governor amidst paucity of funds, said: “I feel humbled and happy and honoured that a recognition came from someone who we all rever, Dr. Alex Akinyele. For him to recognize me for what we are doing quietly in Kogi State and select me for the award as Governor of the Year is overwhelming, totally unexpected and I’m grateful to God almighty and for the people of Kogi State for this. This is an impetus for me to work harder and better the lot of my people. I will be working harder so as to make sure that we leave behind a worthy legacy for our people.

Senator Kwakwanso, who got garland as Man of the Year also said: “I want to thank the Almighty God for the award. And I also thank all those who contributed towards making the event possible. The HOG award is a reputable one and when I received the letter I was pleasantly surprised. I feel very well honoured with the award and that is why I am present here in Lagos to receive it. It is high time for all of us, the young and old to be committed to the project Nigeria. This is because it is only when we do this that this country can move forward. This has served as an impetus to make us work harder and earn more recognition and also encourage others to work harder for our country. I urge Nigerians not to be impatient with Buhari. His government is just about 70 days old and we know so much is expected from him, and we will do it.”

Another awardee, Dr. Adesina said: “I appreciate Chief Alex Akinyele and Mr. Rupert Ojenuwa for the honour. I feel very honoured to see my friends, the governors, being honoured today. Everything that has been said about distinguished Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso is correct. He is a man that has passion, vision and commitment to his people. Also, Captain Idris Wada is a man that should be greatly honoured because he is one of the leaders who has passion and commitment to the country and his people. I have worked with them closely during my tenure as minister of Agriculture. Kogi State is where we have the staple crop processing zone and Kano State has a vast irrigation area of hundreds of acres graciously named after me by Kwankwaso. When he had an accident and was being hospitalised, with his leg hung on the hospital bed, Governor Wada still found time to send me an e-mail message to notify me of the piece of land he has acquired for the staple crop processing zone. Can you imagine that level of commitment? And even today, I met him at the airport, I took a pen and with him, we were working out some ways on how to improve on agriculture in his state and other parts of the country.”

Adesina added: “I also feel honoured to be here with former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel. It is a great honour to have this recognition. Of course, for whatever I’m being honoured in Nigeria, I did not do it alone. I achieve whatever I achieved because there were people who supported me. First and foremost, I couldn’t have done anything unless I’m invited to Nigeria to come and serve from abroad where I was having a progressive international career. Former President Goodluck Jonatham found and brought me. I didn’t know him, I didn’t talk to him, that was how I became Honourable minister. Everything I did, the President supported me and I am very grateful for that. Many other people played a big role in bringing back to Nigeria, former President Obasanjo, Senator Kwankwaso and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sansi Lamido Sansi. Also, whatever we have done and are getting accolades for was not done alone….”

He appreciated also the contributions of the following people to his progress: President Muhammed Buhari for his tremendous support during his nomination for the post of President of AFDB; Jonathan; Generals Gowon; Abdulsalami Abubakar; former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; former President Obasanjo; former Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Senator Kwankwaso , Dr. Kayode Fayemi, former Governor of Ekiti State and Governor Ibikunle Amosun, and others.