Young Achievers’ Award 2012 – 17th Anniversary

The HLF Young Achievers Awards 2012 was a resounding success. People from all walks of life came to witness and participate in this epoch making event held on Wednesday October 17, 2012. Indeed the main  Auditorium of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island Lagos was full to its capacity. It was truly a glorious event.

A comment from one of our guests at the event captures it all: “it was an excellent event! I enjoyed every bit of it and walked away challenged to do more with my God-given talents. Yes, things aren’t well with Nigeria (today) but this is another confirmation that Nigeria will be well again. the accomplishments of the very young PhD holders are mind blowing and discussions by the panel/all was worthwhile and inspiring” he concluded.

The event started with the first set of awards made to the two youngest Ph.d reciepients in Nigeria. Dr. Temitope Adeyemi, now a lecturer at the University of Lagos, who received her plaque from Rtd. Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson, First Governor of Lagos State and Dr. Opeyemi Sodipe, who received her plaque from Professor Grace Alele Williams, first Female Vice Chancellor sub-Saharan Africa.

A speech presentation by H.E. Dame Abimbola Fashola, the First Lady of Lagos State set the tone for a very lively discussion session anchored by the former Director General of the Nigerian Television Authority, Dr.  Tony Iredia on the theme of the day: POSITIONING TOMORROW’S LEADERS TO ACHIEVE THEIR MAXIMUM POTENTIALS. The discussants included Professor Sophie Oluwole, Professor of Philosophy and National President of the Nigerian Philosophical Society, Chief Anthony Idigbe, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Pat Uka Akumabor, Principal Lecturer, Department of Educational Foundation, School of Technology, and Mr. Michael Olowu, former President, Student Union Government, Yaba College of Technology, who represented the voice of the youths.

Other high points of the occasion included more award presentations made to Nigeria’s Best School in WASSCE 2011 presented by Emeritus Professor O.O. Akinkugbe to Lumen Christi International High School, Uromi, Edo State, an all boys institution founded in 1986 by the Catholic Arch diocese of Uromi and has maintained 100% success in WASSCE in the past 20 years. Air force Comprehensive School, Agbani, Enugu State was handed the award for Best Public School in WASSCE, 2011 by Mrs. Francesca Emanuel, Poet and  First Female Federal Permanent Secretary in Nigeria and Barrister Olusegun Odubela, Honorable Commissioner of Education, Ogun state. Both schools were also rewarded with science laboratory equipment and desktop computers.

Miss Christianah Adeloye, Nigeria’s Best Student in WASSCE 2011, received her plaque from by H. E. Rauf Aregbesola, the Executive Governor of Osun State represented by H. E. Otunba Titilayo Laoye – Tomori, the Deputy Governor of Osun State. The announcement of the award of full scholarship to Miss Adeloye by the government of Osun state was greeted with a resounding ovation.

The next award to One of Africa’s Youngest Exhibiting Artists, eight year old, Onarietta Isabella Remet, was presented by Izoma Phillip Asiodu, Former Federal Minister for Petroleum and Mineral Resources who also chaired the Occasion.

Finally the Presentation of awards to the London Based Twins Peter and Paula Imafidon, who made academic history when they became the Youngest Successful Candidates: University of Cambridge Advanced Mathematics Examination at the age of nine was made by H. E. Dame Abimbola Fashola, First Lady of Lagos State and received on their behalf by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs. Omolara Erogbogbo.

Also presented at the occasion were twenty students from the six districts of Lagos State who will now become beneficiaries of Hallmarks of Labour Foundation Scholarship Scheme starting from now, 2012/ 2013 academic session.