Former vice presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has been awarded at the Nigerian American Awards (NNA) held in Florida, United States.
Also awarded are Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; business magnate, Adedeji Adeleke; and chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
NNA chair, Afolabi Andu, in a statement on Sunday, said the award was instituted by the Nigerian-American Business Forum (NABF), a group of accomplished and influential professionals based in the US.
“The award was instituted by NABF to recognise the contributions of Nigerians who are doing their best to change the narratives of the country,” he said.
Mr Adeleke, chairman of Pacific Holdings and proprietor of Adeleke University, Ede, Osun, was conferred with Business Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 award for outstanding business performance and exemplary entrepreneurial leadership in Nigeria.
Mr Obi bagged Lifetime Achievement Award 2020 for outstanding entrepreneurship, exemplary leadership and visionary excellence for the transformation of Anambra during his tenure as governor of the state.
Mrs Dabiri-Erewa was conferred with the Visionary Leader of the Year 2020 award for exemplary leadership and outstanding success recorded in handling affairs at NIDCOM.
Adeleke, represented by Alani Ogunlade, expressed appreciation to NABF and NAA for the gesture while commending the forum for attracting investments to Nigeria in spite of challenging investment environment.
Speaking, Obi commended the organisers for the award and urged Nigerians in Diaspora to always promote the interest of the country, saying the task of developing Nigeria was for all Nigerians.
Obi, who also received the award on behalf of Makinde, testified that the Oyo governor had been on right track in changing governance and development landscape of the state.
He advised leaders to always save funds, adding that “a country that does not save is not conscious of the future and may likely bequeath anarchy rather than hope.”
Other recipients of the awards included Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Sylvanus Nsofor, and Consul-General of Nigeria in New York, Ben Okoyen, among others.
