Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) Abike Dabiri-Erewa has hosted Lt. Victor Agunbiade who was last year given a medal of commendation for his meritorious service in the United States’ Navy.
Agunbiade emigrated to southern Minnesota from Nigeria.
He was awarded the medal for judiciously managing the US Navy’s largest oversea disbursement. The US Navy said Agunbiade effectively managed its largest cash disbursing office handling $45 million (N17 billion) in a cash transaction.
Mrs Dabiri-Erewa expressed delight at hosting him in a tweet on Sunday.
She said: “Such a pleasure hosting Lt Victor Agunbiade of the US Navy . He was given the highest honor in the US Navy for meritorious service , being in charge of 45 million dollars and expending every dollar judiciously, with integrity.”
The NIDCOM boss further revealed Agunbiade was “investing heavily in Agriculture back home and contributing to the education of the less privileged.”
In 2018, Agunbiade was named the US Navy’s 2018 Officer Recruiter of the Year, alongside 17 others, and honoured at the annual Recruiter of the Year ceremony in Washington D.C.
Agunbiade enlisted in the US Navy as a storekeeper in 2008 and was commissioned as an officer in 2013.
During an interview with DVIDS earlier in 2020, Agunbiade acknowledged his success in the navy to the lessons he learned in Nigeria and his adopted hometown of Lake Crystal.
“While I didn’t join for that reason, becoming a citizen has been a blessing and a bonus and I’m proud to have given back to the Navy,” he said.
Being the first member of his family to serve in the military, he hopes that his son would consider choosing the navy.
