I am delighted to welcome you all to this celebration of the 27th anniversary of the Hallmarks of Labour Foundation (HLF) and Awards to our citizens whose character and achievements have made them role models for our young and upcoming Nigerians.
But first, I would like us to stand up and observe one-minute silence in tribute to the memory of our recently departed role models: Prof Nimi Briggs in April 2023, Otunba Subomi Balogun in May 2023, Prof Jo Irukwu in July 2023, Emeritus Prof Umaru Shehu on October 2023, and Dr Ogbonnaya Onu in April 2024. May their souls rest in peace.
HLF founded 27 years ago and driven by its indefatigable Executive Secretary Mrs Patricia Otuedon=Arawore, has without any doubt become one of Nigeria’s most highly respected not-for-profit organizations because of its remarkable work.
The crux of its activities embraces a unique service to our young generation by identifying and honouring citizens who by their character and careers are considered to be role models for our young people. The role models are conferred with the prestigious award of HLF.
The Foundation as you will see from the video to be presented shortly, also carries out very valuable charitable activities in support of schools, indigent students, widows and women in general.
The recipients of the HLF award over the years have included to name just a few, such outstanding Nigerians as the late Chief Rotimi Williams SAN, Supreme Court Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, Pof Adeoye Lambo of WHO, Emeritus Prof Umaru Shehu, the Super Permanent Secretary Chief Philip Asiodu, the outstanding International diplomat Prof Ibrahim Gambari, the foreign policy intellectual and former Foreign Minister Prof Bolaji Akinyemi, and the current President of the African Development Bank Dr Akinwunmi Adesina.
In the Nigerian society of today where ethical values have generally disappeared, the significance of recognizing and honouring individuals whose character and achievements are worth emulating by our young people cannot be overstated.
In my young days, we were taught that success both in academic and every other undertaking came only from hard work; that integrity and character was the most important personal possession, as was succinctly expressed by the American evangelist, Billy Graham, who said: when wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; but when character is lost, everything is lost.
For example, in those days, conducts such as examination malpractice, forgery of educational certificates and many other fraudulent activities that are reported every day in our media today were virtually non-existent. There was no place then like today’s “Oluwole Street” in Lagos.
We should therefore applaud and heartily congratulate the Hallmarks of Labour Foundation, and especially its visionary Executive Secretary Patricia Otuedon-Arawore, for sustaining over the last 27 years its remarkable didactic activities for the benefit of our young people, and I may add for the benefit of even many of our adult population.
Fnally, I would like to end my remarks by congratulating in advance the indisputably deserving individuals who will be receiving the awards of HLF at this event.
Chief Emeka Anyaoku GCON,GCVO,CFR
Lagos, 20 April 2024.