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Dangote, Danbatta, Sanwo-Olu, Emefiele, Marwa, others shine at Ugbechie’s book presentation and awards

R-L: Mr. Reuben Muoka, Director of Public Affairs, Representing Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, EVC/CEO of NCC; Mr. Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA; Mr. Ken Ugbechie, Author of 'Nigeria Heroes and Sheroes: Diary of a Journalist of Courage' and Publisher of Political Economist NG; and Some Other Awardees at the Event at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, in Lagos

*Organisers of the book presentation and merit awards say some outstanding Nigerians and corporate organisation received laurels, in Lagos, for their nationalism, productivity, and creating ‘an oasis of hope’ in both private and public sectors of the national life, stressing that ‘Nigerians are not failures’

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and President/Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL); Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, were among several other dignitaries that headlined and won laurels Thursday, April 6, 2023, at the public presentation of “Nigeria Heroes and Sheroes: Diary of a Journalist of Courage”, a 644-page book authored by Mr. Ken Ugbechie, Publisher of Political Economist NG.

ConsumerConnect reports the well-attended event held at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja, in Lagos, also featured the presentation of Political Economist Merit Awards to 15 other outstanding Nigerians and corporate organisation in both the public and private sectors of the country’s economy.

Copies of the book presented on the occasion

Governor (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Chairman of the occasion, represented by Hon. Festus Agas, his Chief of Staff (CoS), pledged his support to the author.

He said: “I’m proud of you and we’ll support your great work which comes highly recommended as it chronicles Nigeria’s development across a number of areas/sectors.”

Dangote received the ‘Africa Best Industrialist’ Award, while Prof. Danbatta, represented in the occasion by Mr. Reuben Muoka, Director of Public Affairs at NCC, bagged ‘Africa Best Telecoms Regulator’ Award; Governor Sanwo-Olu received ‘Best Governor (Transportation Infrastructure); and Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), represented by Mr. Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at the agency, who won the ‘Overall Best Publix Servant’ Merit Award.

It’s celebration of national development, rewards for outstanding Nigerians for productivity: Organisers

Earlier in his welcome address at the ceremony, Ugbechie described the event as “an occasion to celebrate development in the country and reward some of the people who, despite all odds, have sustained the spirit of nationalism and productivity at their various stations in life.”

Ugbhechie (l) and Muoka, Director of Public Affairs at NCC, in a tete-a-tete at the event at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos

According to the author of the new book, published by Godson and Godman, publishers of “Political Economist”, the volume chronicles milestones and imprints of development even as it exposes some of the perils that have over the decades slowed down the advancement of the West African country.

“The book periscopes Nigeria’s journey through the decades. It chronicles a people’s march through a forest of hope, faith, triumphs and trials,” stated he.

Ugbechie further noted that the book details the author’s perspectives on every sector of Nigerians’ national existence.

He said: “The choice of title, ‘Heroes and Sheroes’, is deliberate. Regardless of the multitude of challenges tugging at the nation, there are still oasis of hope created by outstanding men and women whose sweat ensured that we still have a country geographically so defined.”

Nigerians are not failures, says Ugbechie

Expatiating on the rationale for his choice of title to reporters on the sidelines of the book presentation and Merit Awards, the author said, “they say journalists are chroniclers of history, when we report or write.

“It will get to a point in life when you look back at what you’ve done. That is why I decided to put together some part of the body of works I’ve done over the years.”

He stated: “I carefully chose the ones I put out, because I wanted to put out a message to the world, that in Nigeria we’re not failures, we have men and women who have risen up, our heroes and sheroes, who will continue to rise and prove to the world that we’re not a country of nonentities.

“In the book I celebrated people who have done many great things, both in Nigeria and outside the country. The essence of the book is to celebrate development in our nation.”

Ugbechie added: “I feel a sense of fulfillment as a journalist, that what you’ve been doing you can curate them into a volume, that generations to come will have a reference material, because this is a historical material and in the next 50 years when you hold it you’ll have an idea of what happened in your country.

Beyond this printed material. We’re launching this in Amazon in coming weeks, it’s actually a global compendium of developments, initiatives and milestones in Nigeria.”

Among other top personalities honoured at the event Thursday are Mr. Godwin Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); Governors Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom State), Nyesom Wike (Rivers State), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna State), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi State) and Governor (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta State).

Other awardees include Mr. Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party; Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited, Malam Mele Kolo Kyari of NNPC Limited, as well as Maj-Gen. Barry Tariye Ndiomu (Rtd), among others.

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