Foreword to Hallmarks of Labour Book 11

My first words in this Foreword must be to congratulate and thank Patricia Otuedon-AraworeExecutive Secretary of the Hallmarks of Labour Foundation for the production of the eleventh in the series of books on the recipients of the Foundation’s Role Model awards. These books serve as didactic records of the career and achievements of the awardees of HLF and as such are to be applauded.

This book is on four Nigerian patriots who have distinguished themselves in public service to our country and in the case of three of them in service to the wider international community. I have had the privilege of knowing the four personalities rather well and so am writing this Foreword as a friend to the four of them who by their lives and careers are true role models for our youth and forthcoming generations. As it happens, the four gentlemen have had two things in common: brilliant scholarship and University lectureship.

Professor Ibrahim Gambari began his memorable national service as a teacher in a University followed by his serving as the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute for International Affairs (NIIA).He succeeded me as Nigeria’s Foreign Minister at the beginning of 1984 and thereafter went on to render outstanding service to the international community as Under Secretary-General of the United Nations in New York. Among his distinctions during his long tenure in that post were his notable efforts to broker peace in serving as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative to Myanmar (Burma) and subsequently in Darfur, Sudan. And he crowned his career with serving as the Chief of Staff to General Muhammadu Buhari, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

By happy coincidence, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi in addition to similarly having been a teacher of politics and international relations in the University, succeeded Professor Gambari both as the Director-General of NIIA and as Nigeria’s Foreign Minister. During his tenure as our country’s Foreign Minister, Professor Akinyemi pioneered a number of visionary concepts and practical initiatives that boosted our country’s standing among the comity of nations and provided service to countries within and beyond the African continent. His concept of a Concert of Medium Powers and his establishment of the Technical Aid Corps from which African and some non-African benefited are among the legacies of Professor Bolaji Akinyemi’s service as Nigeria’s Foreign Minister. And he continues to write and advance views on various global issues in the media and in his regular on-line video series.

Dr Ogbonnaya Onu is an undoubted role model as a politician and public servant. In his service as the first civilian Governor of the old Abia State which included his now native Ebonyi State, and as leader of a political party (ANPP) that was one of the coalition of four parties that brought President Buhari to power in 2015, he demonstrated that politics can be played with integrity, consistency and avoidance of personal abuse. It is widely acknowledged that Dr Ogbonnaya Onu rendered sterling service to Nigeria as the federal Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation from November 2015 to his resignation in 2022.

Finally, I find it sad to be writing this Foreword just days after the passing of Professor Joseph O. Irukwuand so I pray that his soul will rest in perfect peace. Amen.

Joe Irukwu’s career as a guru of the insurance industry, as a lecturer and author of the theory and practice of insurance, and in the service of the people of Nigeria and some other African countries eminently qualified him as a role model for our young and indeed adult citizens. In addition to his distinguished service to, and authorship of books on the insurance industry, Professor Irukwu’s public service included a stint as the head of the government’s Students Loans Board. And he also served prominently as President-General of OhanezeNdigbo Worldwide, an ethno-political organization that represents the interest of Igbos in the Nigerian polity. His tenure as President of Ohaneze Ndigbo was marked by widely acclaimed diplomacy that actively promoted solidarity between the Igbos and Nigeria’s other ethnic groups.

I sum, this is a book on four iconic Nigerian role models. I recommend it to the reading public especially to our young people who, I am sure, will benefit from reading and absorbing it.

Chief Emeka Anyaoku GCON,GCVO,CFR

Commonwealth Secretary-General 1990-2000

Lagos, July 2023.