President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday presented the 2018 ECOWAS Prize of Excellence to the late former UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, and Dr Stella Adadevoh for their contributions to the region’s well being.
The Nigerian leader presented the awards in his capacity as chairman at the 55th Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja.
The award was also presented to Madam Germaine Acogny, a Senegalese dancer and choreographer responsible for developing African Dance and the creation of several dance schools in France and Senegal.
Annan’s wife, Nane Annan, and Adadevoh’s son, Bankole Cardoso, and Acogny received the awards and cash prizes of 20,000, $10,000 and $15,000 each.
Annan, who died on August 18, 2018, was a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from January 1997 to December 2006.
He and the UN were the co-recipients of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize.
Annan joined the UN in 1962, working for the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Geneva office.
He went on to work in several capacities at the UN Headquarters including serving as the Under-Secretary-General for peacekeeping between March 1992 and December 1996.
Adadevoh who was confirmed positive for the Ebola virus disease on August 4, 2014, and was being treated, died on August 19, 2014.
She is renowned for her contributions towards curbing the spread of the virus in Nigeria.
Annan’s wife, who gave an appreciation speech on behalf of the recipients, expressed gratitude to ECOWAS for the award.
“Thank you for this generous recognition of the immense contribution to the objectives of ECOWAS by my husband and dear friend.
“I would also like to thank ECOWAS on behalf of the two other laureates, two outstanding women of West Africa, the late Dr Ameyo Adadevoh her selfless sacrifice to curb the spread of Ebola in Nigeria.
“And Madam Germaine Acogny for the quality and richness of your artistic production,” she said.
