Okowa/National Award
Delta State Governor and Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi OKowa; Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege; Director-General of World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, were among illustrious Deltans honoured at the National Honours Award Investiture for 2022.
Also honoured are Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III; Dein of Agbor, Dr Benjamin Ikenchukwu, Kiagborekuzi I; Ovie of Agbon Kingdom, Ogurimerime Ukori I; Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor; Chairman, Zenith Bank, Mr Jim Ovia and Chairman, UBA, Mr Tony Elumelu.
Others are Chairman, ThisDay and Arise Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena; Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu; Chairman, RainOil, Mr Gabriel Ogbechie and Kenneth Gbagi.
They also include Professor Itse Sagay, Julius Dediare Rone, AVM Charles Owho, Professor Emmanuel Nwanze, Elton Edorhe, Deputy Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Mr Victor Etuokwu and Mr Dike Chigbue.
The ceremony which held on Tuesday at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in attendance.
In his remarks shortly after the ceremony, Governor Okowa said that the award was for Nigerians who had contributed to nation-building and thanked God that he met the criteria to receive the award.
He expressed gratitude to President Buhari and the National Honours Awards Committee for the investiture and congratulated other Deltans and Nigerians on their well-deserved honours.
Okowa pledged to continue his contribution to nation-building to make Nigeria realize its full potential.
Okowa also affirmed that the award would spur him to do more for Delta in the years ahead, adding that the award is a call to duty for him and thanked God that he has the opportunity of being the Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.
While saying that there is no doubt that the challenges are truly numerous and frightening in terms of disunity, insecurity and economic downturn which is affecting human capital development, he expressed belief that they will work with all sections of this country to begin to restore hope and to rebuild the cracked foundations of this country,
On her part, Director-General of World Trade Organisation Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said no award could be more gratifying than the one from one's country and lauded President Buhari for the honour.
She said the honour was a call to do more in her endeavours and expressed satisfaction with Governor Okowa’s human capital and infrastructural transformation in Delta in the last seven years.
She urged him to do more in the remaining months of his administration.
Responding on behalf of the award recipients, President of the Senate, Dr Ahmed Lawan, pledged their readiness to work with the President in surmounting the nation's challenges in the remaining period in his tenure.
He described the recipients of the awards as patriotic Nigerians that had impacted positively on the nation in all sectors.
A total of 447 Nigerians were invested with award in various categories by the Federal Government.
