Olu of Warri Ogiame Atuwatse III has been awarded the key of Brampton City, Toronto, Canada for his impact and outstanding community contribution and support.
Mayor of Brampton Patrick Brown presented the key to the monarch at a colourful ceremony on Monday, expressing satisfaction with the Olu for his show of love and desire to support community efforts in Brampton.
Mr Brown told the visiting king that despite the fact that the monarch resides in Nigeria he never loses sight of where the Nigerian community goes.
“This may not be known but His Majesty as part of his visit is showing a lot of love to the community. I was asked by His Majesty’s team if there is any local course that he can support in our city. For me, what became most important was the abundant recommendation for a hospital which comes with an enormous price tag of over a billion dollars,” he said.
The key is a symbol that a guest is free to come to the city and go at will.
According to the mayor, “In a city like Brampton, we need to have the best possible health care. We know there are challenges in the health sector and as part of his visit His Majesty has made a substantial contribution to our local hospital.
“So, in honour of that friendship for the hospital in our city I have a token of our city friendship and appreciation. His Majesty’s father was awarded a key to a city in the United States for his generosity and so keeping to that history in the family it is my pleasure today to present the city key of Brampton to honour your contributions. It is one thing to visit a city from abroad and another thing to come and say “how can I help and show love.”
Ogiame also reciprocated the gesture by presenting a replica of his mode of transportation – two red canoes – to Brown and the city.
