Hallmarks of Labour Foundation

Role Models

Be Inspired: Meet Our Role Models

Discover the extraordinary stories of achievement and motivation from inspiring individuals who have overcome challenges and made a difference in the world.

 

Be inspired to chase your dreams today!

Aare Afe Babalola, CON, OFR, SAN

Aare Afe Babalola, CON, OFR, SAN, is one of Nigeria’s foremost legal luminaries, philanthropists, educationists, and institution builders. His life and career have been defined by an unwavering commitment to excellence, nation-building, and the advancement of quality education.

Having attained the highest distinction in legal practice as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Aare Afe Babalola chose to extend his impact beyond the legal profession by investing substantially in human capital development through education. His vision gave birth to Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), widely regarded as one of Africa’s most innovative private universities and a model for academic excellence, research, discipline, and entrepreneurship.

Through his transformational leadership, ABUAD has become a centre of excellence in teaching, learning, character development, and cutting-edge research. The institution has consistently distinguished itself through world-class infrastructure, outstanding academic standards, and the production of graduates equipped to compete globally.

Beyond tertiary education, Aare Afe Babalola has championed educational development through scholarships, infrastructure support, mentorship programmes, and advocacy for reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s educational system. His contributions have expanded access to quality education and inspired a generation of young Nigerians to pursue excellence and self-development.

A visionary whose legacy transcends the courtroom and the classroom, Aare Afe Babalola has demonstrated that education remains the most powerful instrument for national transformation and sustainable development.

Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka

An accomplished Geophysicist and past Vice-Chancellor of Nigeria’s premier university, Abel Idowu Olayinka has been through the mill of academia, research, and development in both the public and private sectors, with in-depth knowledge of the characteristics, prospects, and challenges of higher education in Africa.

As a two-term Head of the Department of Geology, he was involved in fund generation from alumni, corporate institutions, and friends, the proceeds of which were used to upgrade teaching, learning, and research facilities, as well as the environment at large.

In his capacity as Dean of the Postgraduate School, our Celebrant established a Scholarship Scheme and Teaching and Research Assistantships for postgraduate students; Overseas Conference Grants for postgraduate teachers; and co-edited, with 31 professor-colleagues, two editions of Methodology of Basic and Applied Research.

As Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), he facilitated the implementation of the University’s Strategic Plan, establishing enduring structures to deepen good governance, encourage scholarship and research, and improve staff welfare.

Among other strategic appointments, his tenure as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan witnessed the establishment of 21 academic departments and four faculties, namely: Renewable Natural Resources; Economics and Management Sciences; Environmental Design and Management; and Multidisciplinary Studies, as well as the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships).

With fellowships of numerous national and international professional bodies, and many publications to his credit, Professor Abel Olayinka was the Convener of the First International Conference on Research and Innovation Management in West Africa; Foundation President of the West African Research and Innovation Management Association for ten years; Board Chairman of the African Research Universities Alliance; and Member of the Council of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, London.

He is currently the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of West Midlands Open University; a Member of the Council of Adeleke University, Ede; and Board Chairman of Multi-Verse Mining & Exploration Nigeria Plc.

He is happily married with adult children to Dr. Eyiwumi Bolutito Olayinka, a Reader in French and Gender Studies at the University of Ibadan.

Professor Francisca Nneka Okeke, FAS, FTWAS

An accomplished Geophysicist, Teacher, and Author, Professor Francisca Nneka Okeke was educated in Nigeria and abroad, with post-doctoral qualifications from the University of Tokyo, Japan.

Nneka Okeke has a number of “firsts” to her credit. Included here are: First Woman Professor of Physics in Eastern Nigeria; First Female Head, Department of Physics & Astronomy; First Female Dean, Faculty of Physical Sciences; and First Female Professor in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

So far, she has supervised about 40 Ph.D. and M.Sc. graduates apiece in her fields. It goes without saying that many of her former students and mentees now occupy strategic positions in academia, industry, and the public sector.

In the line of duty, some of her articles have enhanced the teaching and learning of Physics at secondary and tertiary levels in Nigeria, encouraging girls and young women in Nigeria and Africa at large to study Physics. Her diligence and determined focus have also earned her many research engagements across the world. These include: University of Natal, Durban, South Africa; University of Tokyo, Japan; CPTEC, Brazil; Harvard-Smithsonian Center, Cambridge, USA; and Morgan State University, Baltimore, USA.

With some 150 published research findings in reputable journals and notable presentations at several national and international fora, our Celebrant is, by all standards, a distinguished Scientist who has made tremendous contributions and impact in her fields of competence. Among others, her findings with her Ph.D. students led to the discovery of a new technique of using solar quiet day current variations (Sq) in mapping upper mantle conductivity in Africa.

Deservedly, she has won acclaim across the board. Asteroid (149831) 2005 NG101 was named “Okeke” in her honour by the International Astronomical Union. She won the L’Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science in the Physical Sciences in 2013, which also placed Nigeria on the world map of honour in science. Nigerian academia, in 2016, celebrated her as one of the 10 most influential Nigerian women in science. She won the UNN Staff Award as one of the Top 10 Most Outstanding Lecturers in Research and Publications, while CNN celebrated her in African Voices for her tremendous achievements in science.

A recipient of the Contemporary Who’s Who Award, USA (2004), and the Great African Merit Award (2006), Professor Nneka Okeke’s professional affiliations are awe-inspiring, mostly as a Fellow. Among these are: The World Academy of Sciences; African Academy of Sciences; Nigerian Academy of Science; Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science; Nigerian Institute of Physics; and Astronomical Society of Nigeria.

She also has active membership of the Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists, African Association of Women Scientists, Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World, American Geophysical Union, Science Association of Nigeria, International Astronomical Union, Society of Geomagnetism and Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences, National Space Council of Nigeria, and African Network for Science and Technological Institutions.

Over the years, this Amazon has proved her mettle as an academic giant, trailblazer, and icon.

H.E. DR. Kofi Annan, GCMG, Busumuru

The world’s number one civil servant for a decade, a quintessential diplomat, highly respected statesman, and advocate for global peace, His Excellency, Dr. Kofi Annan joined the United Nations system in 1962 and rose steadily through the ranks to become its first Sub-Saharan African Chief Executive Officer.

The first two-term incumbent of the position of United Nations Secretary-General, Dr. Kofi Annan’s tenure witnessed tremendous improvements in the promotion and sustenance of global peace and progress. He introduced a comprehensive programme of reform to revitalise the UN, strengthening its capabilities in maintaining international peace and security and fostering sustainable development. In the process, the UN became more transparent, coherent, and accountable to its Member States.

Our Celebrant devoted much effort and resources to restructuring the organisation to make it serve the needs of the global community in a more efficient and sustainable manner. Among other measures, he established the position of Deputy Secretary-General and also endeavoured to reduce excessive bureaucracy within the organisation. Interestingly, the incumbent Deputy Secretary-General of the UN is our own dear Ambassador Amina Mohammed, also a Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award recipient.

Similarly, his focus on human rights advocacy enhanced respect for the rule of law and restoration of public confidence in the UN system. His establishment of the United Nations Human Rights Council is very illustrative, as it carries out investigations across the world regarding violations of human rights and other issues, including LGBT rights, freedom of belief and religion, and the rights of ethnic and racial minorities, among others.

With the launch of the UN Global Compact, our Celebrant played a crucial role in the UN’s efforts to combat the HIV/AIDS scourge, particularly in vulnerable parts of Africa.

One of his unique management styles was collaborating with many civil society and private organisations to contain the spread of HIV/AIDS, promote human rights, end or alleviate hunger, and enhance the rule of law. Our Celebrant was a key factor in the establishment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The foundational Millennium Summit in September 2000 attracted leaders from around the world to ratify about 60 goals structured into 15 major categories pertaining to the promotion of human rights, reduction of extreme hunger and poverty, especially in Africa, advancement of gender equality, peace-building, and sustainable economic development for all countries.

Indeed, a major component of his legacy was his ability to build consensus owing to his multinational and open-dialogue approach to running the organisation. He not only strengthened the relationship between the UN and its Member States, but also boosted ties among Member States.

Working hard to bridge the digital divide, Dr. Kofi Annan helped establish the United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force to extend and create digital opportunities for all, especially people in developing countries.

Such was his role as Secretary-General that in 2001, Dr. Kofi Annan and the United Nations received the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts in promoting peace and human rights.

In his official capacities and personal interventions, his contributions to global peace and diplomacy have left a lasting impact on the world. He established the Kofi Annan Foundation to work on international development and promote lasting peace and inclusive governance.

Honours have literally flowed in. In addition to the Nobel Peace Prize, for promoting unity and peace in Europe, he received the biannual Peace of Westphalia Prize in 2008. He was Chairman of the Prize Committee of the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership for 11 years and Co-Chair of The Elders, an international NGO of renowned former world leaders, statesmen, human rights activists, and peace campaigners.

In 2007, he established the Kofi Annan Foundation, a nonprofit organisation committed to promoting peace, human rights, the rule of law, and sustainable development worldwide. In the same vein, the Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT was established in December 2003—a Ghana–India partnership that seeks to enhance ICT learning and development in Ghana and the West African sub-region at large.

Dr. Kofi Annan passed on August 18, 2018, at the age of 80.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is our privilege to invite the Representative of the Republic of Ghana to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Lifetime Achievement Award in honour of an Icon in Global Leadership, His Excellency, Dr. Kofi Annan.

Hearty Congratulations!

Madiba Dr. Nelson Mandela, OM

A living legend, foremost symbol of the African freedom struggle, one of the most identifiable faces in the world, and a Nobel Laureate, Madiba Dr. Nelson Mandela was a Prince of the Xhosa Royal Family in South Africa.

Trained as a lawyer, he was actively involved in the struggle against the institutionalised racism and brutal racial segregation laws of Apartheid South Africa. Partnering with fellow ANC member Oliver Tambo, they established the first black law firm in the history of South Africa—Mandela & Tambo—in August 1953 in Johannesburg. The firm courageously handled cases involving excessive use of force by the police and other forms of human rights abuses. Threatened by their growing popularity, the authorities withdrew the firm’s licence, compelling them to relocate to a rural area.

Nelson Mandela was one of the founders of the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League, which he subsequently headed. He led the Defiance Campaign in 1952, assembling over 10,000 people in a non-violent protest in Durban. His charisma and speeches drew thousands to the ANC’s cause, for which he and many other ANC members were arrested and sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment. Later, Mandela and his defence team successfully challenged the Treason Trial of 1956.

The bloody Sharpeville Massacre of about 70 peaceful protesters led to the imposition of a State of Emergency, the banning of the ANC and Pan-Africanist Congress, and the arrest of Mandela and his ANC colleagues. Though acquitted on March 29, 1961, there followed the infamous Rivonia Trial, where the Pretoria Supreme Court sentenced him and ten other top ANC members to life imprisonment for “sabotaging the government and intending to overthrow the government.”

Mandela’s famous Speech from the Dock of April 20, 1964, resonates to this day:

“I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

Expectedly, the trial and verdict drew international condemnation.

In all, this celebrated nationalist was imprisoned for some 27 years, mostly at the infamous Robben Island Prison. He remained unbowed and refused to renounce the struggle despite repeated offers of freedom.

Released from prison following the dismantling of Apartheid, our Celebrant was unanimously elected President of the ANC. He is widely credited with helping to end white minority rule and secure universal suffrage in South Africa.

As the leading candidate in the historic 1994 elections, he exhibited unparalleled statesmanship and magnanimity by partnering with the last head of the Apartheid regime, F.W. de Klerk, as President and Vice-President respectively in a coalition government of the free Republic of South Africa.

As Head of State, he continued to demonstrate unflinching dedication to multiracial democracy, social justice, peace, and reconciliation. The highly acclaimed Truth and Reconciliation Commission, chaired by the revered Archbishop Desmond Tutu, promoted tolerance and reconciliation in a country torn apart by decades of Apartheid and helped create a favourable environment for sustained economic growth.

Similarly, he protected the white minority from vindictive attacks by the majority Black population, ensuring fair representation of all races in the new “Rainbow Nation.” His initiatives to strengthen democracy in South Africa included Land Reforms, Universal Free Education, Reconstruction and Development Programmes, and Free Healthcare for Children under Six Years and Pregnant Women. His liberal economic policies encouraged a steady flow of Foreign Direct Investment into South Africa, the benefits of which were channelled into welfare programmes, old-age pensions, and child maintenance grants for the poor.

He resolutely chose to serve only one term in office, during which he guided South Africa to a place of honour in the comity of nations. During and after his presidency, his pursuit of noble causes across the world was extensive and inspiring. He donated about one-third of his annual presidential income to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund. The Nelson Mandela Rhodes Foundation was established in partnership with Oxford University to create educational opportunities for economically challenged students across Africa, while the Nelson Mandela Foundation focused on rural and community health projects.

Madiba Nelson Mandela received some of the highest recognitions of the 20th and 21st centuries, including the Nobel Peace Prize, jointly awarded with F.W. de Klerk. He also served as Secretary-General of the Non-Aligned Movement and Chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). His autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, has inspired generations of leaders and citizens across the world.

Madiba Dr. Nelson Mandela passed on December 5, 2013, at the age of 95.

Professor Benedict Okey Oramah, GCON

A renowned economist, development banker, and institution builder, Professor Benedict Okey Oramah, GCON, is one of the most influential figures in Africa’s contemporary economic history. Widely respected as a global financial statesman, he has played a transformative role in reshaping Africa’s trade and financial landscape and advancing the continent’s economic integration agenda.

At a time when many African economies remained heavily dependent on external financing, foreign-controlled trade systems, and fragmented regional markets, Professor Oramah emerged as a leading advocate for African-owned solutions to African economic challenges. His vision, leadership, and commitment to self-reliance have helped redefine the continent’s approach to trade, finance, and development.

As President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Professor Oramah transformed the institution into one of Africa’s most impactful development finance organisations. Through strategic leadership, disciplined execution, and an unwavering commitment to Africa’s long-term interests, he significantly expanded the Bank’s capital base, increased its lending capacity, and positioned it as a leading catalyst for industrialisation, trade development, and economic growth across the continent.

Under his stewardship, African businesses gained unprecedented access to trade finance and international markets, governments secured critical support for infrastructure and development projects, and regional economic communities found a dependable financial partner to advance integration and prosperity. The impact of these interventions has contributed to the creation and preservation of millions of jobs across Africa.

One of Professor Oramah’s most enduring achievements has been his pioneering role in laying the financial foundations for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Long before the agreement became operational, he was already building the institutional and financial architecture necessary to support intra-African trade. Under his leadership, Afreximbank became the largest financier and institutional supporter of AfCFTA, providing trade finance facilities, guarantee instruments, market intelligence, and payment infrastructure essential for cross-border commerce.

Among these innovations is the groundbreaking Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), which has significantly reduced Africa’s dependence on external currencies and foreign clearing systems, making trade among African nations faster, easier, and more cost-effective. The strategic significance of this achievement for the continent’s future cannot be overstated.

Beyond trade and finance, Professor Oramah demonstrated exceptional leadership during periods of continental and global crisis. During commodity price shocks, financial disruptions, and the COVID-19 pandemic, Afreximbank became Africa’s financial first responder. Through emergency funding facilities, vaccine financing initiatives, medical supply procurement programmes, and economic stabilisation interventions, the institution provided critical support to governments and businesses across the continent at a time when many international institutions remained hesitant.

What distinguishes Professor Oramah as a true international icon is not merely the scale of resources mobilised under his leadership, but the philosophy that has guided his work—a steadfast belief in African ownership, African institutions, and African solutions.

His influence extends well beyond banking into policy reform, institutional design, economic strategy, and global thought leadership. Governments, central banks, international organisations, and private sector leaders regularly seek his expertise on trade policy, industrial development, export competitiveness, and financial architecture. Through his advocacy and global engagements, he has helped reposition Africa in the global economic conversation—not as a peripheral player, but as a continent of immense opportunity, innovation, and strategic importance.

Across Africa and the international community, Professor Benedict Okey Oramah is synonymous with visionary leadership, institutional excellence, and transformational impact. Through his remarkable achievements, he has demonstrated that when Africa builds and controls strong institutions, it strengthens its capacity to shape its own future.

His legacy continues to inspire a new generation of African economists, bankers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to think boldly, act confidently, and believe deeply in the continent’s potential.

Dr. Pius Okigbo, CON, NNMA

Citation

Dr. Pius Okigbo, CON, NNMA, was an internationally renowned development economist, economic adviser, and public finance expert whose work significantly shaped economic policy in Nigeria and across Africa.

He was educated in Nigeria, Ghana, and the United States, and held an impressive range of academic qualifications, including diplomas in Latin, Greek, History, English Language, and Literature, as well as Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees in Economics.


Academic Excellence and Intellectual Contributions

As a distinguished scholar, Dr. Okigbo made profound contributions to economic thought, particularly in the context of African development. His work focused on:

He was known for his practical, context-driven approach to solving Africa’s economic challenges.


Public Finance and National Service

Dr. Okigbo was an expert in public finance and served in several key advisory roles, including:

He chaired several strategic national and continental committees focused on economic planning and policy direction.


Scholarly Works and Publications

He gained academic recognition for his publication on the National Accounting Standards of Nigeria, along with numerous articles in both national and international journals. His works continue to serve as important references in economic scholarship and policy development.


The Okigbo Report and National Impact

In 1994, Dr. Okigbo chaired a high-level committee to investigate the activities of the Central Bank of Nigeria. The committee produced a landmark report—popularly known as the Okigbo Report—which critically examined the management of approximately $12.4 billion in oil revenues.

His leadership in this inquiry demonstrated exceptional intellectual courage and integrity, reinforcing his reputation as a principled advocate for transparency and accountability in public finance.


Legacy

Dr. Pius Okigbo’s legacy remains deeply embedded in the field of economics and public finance. His contributions continue to influence economic policy formulation, fiscal accountability, and development strategies in Nigeria and beyond.

He was married with children and passed on in the year 2000.


Award Presentation

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are proud to present the Hallmarks of Labour Lifetime Achievement Award to the family of Dr. Pius Okigbo, CON, NNMA, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to economics, fiscal integrity, and national development.


Hearty Congratulations!

Professor Adeyinka Gladys Falusi, FAS

Citation

Professor Adeyinka Gladys Falusi, FAS, is a distinguished Nigerian geneticist and medical researcher whose remarkable contributions have significantly advanced the fields of human genetics and public health in Nigeria and beyond.

Widely recognised for her pioneering work in sickle cell disease research, Professor Falusi has played a transformative role in improving diagnosis, deepening scientific understanding, and expanding public awareness of one of Nigeria’s most pressing genetic health challenges. Her research has contributed meaningfully to the development of improved patient care models and strengthened national responses to genetic disorders.


Research, Scholarship, and National Impact

Through decades of dedicated scientific inquiry, Professor Falusi has consistently demonstrated excellence in medical research and healthcare innovation. Her work has enhanced understanding in the areas of:

Her scholarship has not only enriched scientific knowledge but has also informed healthcare practice and policy awareness, contributing to improved health outcomes across Nigeria.


Mentorship and Capacity Building

Beyond her groundbreaking research, Professor Falusi has made lasting contributions to teaching, mentorship, and institutional development. She has nurtured and inspired generations of:

Her commitment to capacity building has strengthened the foundations of medical research within Nigerian universities and scientific institutions, ensuring that research continues to address critical national and continental health priorities.


Legacy of Excellence

Professor Falusi’s distinguished career reflects a rare combination of scientific excellence, visionary leadership, and unwavering dedication to public service. Through her work, she has continued to elevate the standards of genetic research and healthcare development in Nigeria.


Conclusion

Ladies and Gentlemen,

For her outstanding contributions to science, her dedication to mentoring future generations, and her enduring impact on public health, Professor Adeyinka Gladys Falusi, FAS, is most worthy of this distinguished honour.


Congratulations, Professor Falusi!

Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, GCON

Citation

Chief Abdul-Ganiyu Oyesola Fawehinmi, SAN, GCON, was a distinguished legal practitioner, author, mentor, philanthropist, and fearless human rights activist.

He obtained his formal education in Nigeria and abroad and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1965, beginning what would become one of the most impactful legal careers in the nation’s history.


Legal Practice and Advocacy

After completing his legal training, Chief Fawehinmi established Gani Fawehinmi & Co. in Lagos. Over the years, he built the firm into one of Nigeria’s most prominent legal practices—widely known for defending the rights of disadvantaged individuals and groups against oppression and injustice.

Renowned for his courage and conviction, he frequently took on human and civil rights cases—often pro bono—pursuing justice even to the Supreme Court. His unwavering commitment earned him the enduring title: “Senior Advocate of the Masses.”


Scholarship and Intellectual Contributions

A highly cerebral scholar, Chief Fawehinmi initiated the compilation of comprehensive Law Reports on Nigeria, covering legal developments from the colonial era. These publications have become invaluable and accessible reference materials for:

He also established the Gani Fawehinmi Library, reputed to be one of the largest private libraries in Nigeria, housing over one million volumes and archival materials, including rare newspapers and magazines dating back to the early 1970s.


Courage, Activism, and National Impact

Widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s foremost human rights defenders and social crusaders, Chief Fawehinmi stood firmly against:

Despite facing over 40 detentions, imprisonment, threats to his life, and significant personal losses, he remained steadfast in his pursuit of justice, good governance, and the protection of fundamental human rights.


Philanthropy and Social Commitment

Chief Fawehinmi’s impact extended beyond the courtroom. He was a committed philanthropist who:

These efforts spanned over four decades, positively transforming countless lives.


Honours and Recognition

Chief Fawehinmi received numerous national and international honours, including:

He also held traditional titles such as:

Notably, in his lifetime, he declined the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), reflecting his principled stance on governance and accountability.


Legacy

Chief Gani Fawehinmi’s legacy is one of courage, integrity, and unwavering commitment to justice. His life’s work continues to inspire generations in the legal profession and beyond.

He passed on in September 2009 at the age of 71.


Award Presentation

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are pleased to invite the family of Chief Abdul-Ganiyu Oyesola Fawehinmi, SAN, GCON, to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Lifetime Achievement Award for Exemplary Contributions to the Legal System and Courageous Service to Human Rights Advocacy, in his honour.


Hearty Congratulations!

Professor Chinua Achebe, NNMA

Citation

Professor Albert Chinualumogu Achebe, NNMA, was a world-renowned literary icon, teacher, and cultural visionary widely regarded as the Father of Modern African Literature.

He studied English, History, and Theology at the University College, Ibadan, laying the foundation for an extraordinary career in literature and academia.


Early Career and Academic Influence

After a distinguished stint in broadcasting—serving as Director of External Broadcasting at the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, Lagos (1961–1966)—Professor Achebe devoted himself fully to writing, research, and teaching.

He held academic positions at several prestigious institutions, including:

Across these institutions, he mentored and inspired generations of writers from around the world.


Literary Excellence and Global Impact

Professor Achebe’s debut novel, “Things Fall Apart” (1958), published when he was just 28 years old, became a global masterpiece:

Interestingly, the manuscript was initially rejected by several publishers before being accepted by Heinemann, which later launched the celebrated African Writers Series.

He went on to author numerous critically acclaimed works, including:


Cultural Advocacy and Thought Leadership

Professor Achebe was a powerful voice in redefining how Africa was represented in global literature. He challenged stereotypical portrayals and offered rich, nuanced depictions of African societies, cultures, and traditions.

Deeply engaged in political and social discourse, he was an advocate for:

His principled stance led him to reject national honours on two occasions, citing concerns over corruption and governance.


Honours and Recognition

His immense contributions earned him numerous prestigious awards, including:


Legacy

Professor Chinua Achebe’s legacy endures as that of a storyteller, historian, and cultural icon whose works continue to inspire readers and writers across the globe.

He passed on in March 2013 at the age of 83, leaving behind a monumental body of work and an enduring intellectual heritage.


Award Presentation

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are pleased to invite the family of Professor Albert Chinualumogu Achebe to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Lifetime Achievement Award in honour of an African Literary Giant.


Hearty Congratulations!

Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi, SAN, CON

Citation

Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi, SAN, CON, is one of the most respected and enduring figures in Nigeria’s legal profession—a distinguished Senior Advocate of Nigeria whose life has been devoted to the advancement of justice, the strengthening of legal institutions, and the promotion of the rule of law in a democratic society.

Excellence in Legal Practice

From the early stages of his career, Chief Olujinmi demonstrated exceptional brilliance, discipline, and a deep understanding of the law. He quickly earned recognition not only for his advocacy but for his mastery of legal interpretation and his ability to connect complex legal principles to real societal issues.

His practice has spanned a wide range of legal matters, including:

He is widely known for his meticulous preparation, strategic insight, and unwavering commitment to justice—approaching the law not as a tool for manipulation, but as an instrument for fairness and equity.

Professional Recognition

His elevation to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) stands as a testament to decades of excellence and dedication to legal practice at the highest level.


Public Service and National Impact

Chief Olujinmi’s national influence was further solidified when he served as the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice of the Federation.

In this role, he provided critical guidance on:

During a period of significant political and economic transition in Nigeria, his leadership helped ensure that government actions aligned with constitutional principles and global best practices.

He established a strong record of:


Mentorship and Institutional Development

Beyond government service, Chief Olujinmi has remained actively involved in:

His impact is reflected in the many professionals he has guided, many of whom now occupy key positions across the legal sector and broader society.


Contribution to National Development

Through his work in clarifying legal frameworks, facilitating fair dispute resolution, and strengthening confidence in Nigeria’s judicial and regulatory systems, Chief Olujinmi has contributed significantly to:

His career exemplifies the vital role strong legal institutions play in nation-building.


Legacy of Integrity and Service

Throughout his distinguished career, Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi has embodied integrity, intellectual depth, and a steadfast commitment to justice. His journey reflects not only personal success but a profound dedication to the principles that sustain democracy—fairness, accountability, and respect for the rule of law.


Award Presentation

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are delighted to invite Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi, SAN, CON, to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Exemplary and Courageous Service to the Advancement of the Legal System.


Hearty Congratulations, Sir.

Professor Isaac Folorunso Adewole, FAS, FRCOG

Citation

Professor Isaac Folorunso Adewole, FAS, FRCOG, is a distinguished medical professional, academic leader, and former Honourable Minister of Health, widely regarded as a driving force in healthcare development in Nigeria

Clinical and Academic Excellence

Professor Adewole’s clinical experience spans several reputable institutions, including:

His work has largely focused on cancer research and clinical care, shaping his lifelong commitment to cancer prevention and treatment.

A Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, since 1997, he has built a distinguished academic career, rising through the ranks as:


Transformational Leadership at University of Ibadan

During his tenure as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Adewole championed:

These efforts significantly enhanced academic quality and strengthened the university’s global standing.

Notable achievements include:


Public Service and Health Sector Reforms

In 2015, Professor Adewole was appointed Minister of Health of Nigeria, where he led critical reforms aimed at revitalising the nation’s Primary Health Care (PHC) system.

His flagship initiative focused on upgrading 10,000 Primary Healthcare Centres—one in each political ward across Nigeria. This integrated approach addressed:

He has also served in several key roles, including:


Global Impact and Scholarly Contributions

Professor Adewole’s global academic engagements include:

His contributions to reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, HPV research, and oncology are reflected in over 250 publications, policy reports, and training manuals widely referenced by global medical institutions and policymakers.

Professional Affiliations and Honours

He holds numerous prestigious fellowships and memberships, including:

Among several recognitions, he is a recipient of:

He has also served as:

Personal Life and Legacy

Professor Adewole’s legacy extends far beyond his titles—reflected in the countless lives he has impacted through mentorship, policy reforms, and healthcare innovation.

He is married with children.

Award Presentation

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with great pleasure that we invite Professor Isaac Folorunso Adewole, FAS, FRCOG, to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Medicine.

Hearty Congratulations, Sir!

Professor Friday Ebhodaghe Okonofua, FAAS

Citation

Professor Friday Ebhodaghe Okonofua, FAAS, is a distinguished medical scholar, research pioneer, and healthcare leader, renowned for his dedication to clinical excellence, research innovation, and transformative public health management.

Widely acknowledged as the “Doyen of Reproductive Health in Africa,” Professor Okonofua has devoted over four decades to strengthening healthcare delivery, training medical professionals, and advancing evidence-based health policies. From the early stages of his career, he demonstrated exceptional expertise in clinical practice, research design, and programme implementation—ensuring that healthcare services remain effective, accessible, and responsive to community needs.

Leadership in Research and Healthcare Innovation

Over the years, Professor Okonofua has led groundbreaking initiatives in:

Through innovative community-based programmes and the integration of scientific research into practical healthcare delivery, he has consistently driven evidence-based outcomes with lasting and sustainable impact.

Capacity Building and Mentorship

Beyond his research achievements, Professor Okonofua has played a pivotal role in developing and directing comprehensive training programmes for medical professionals. His work has significantly enhanced the capacity of:

across Nigeria and beyond.

As a mentor to generations of healthcare professionals, his influence continues to extend far beyond the institutions he has served, ensuring that high standards of care and clinical excellence are sustained across communities.

Policy Influence and Global Engagement

Professor Okonofua has provided critical advisory support to:

Through evidence-based policy recommendations, programme evaluations, and strategic guidance, he has shaped national health policies and contributed significantly to maternal and child health programmes, as well as reproductive health interventions.

His work has helped foster a culture where:

Academic and Professional Distinction

Professor Okonofua is:

He is also a Fellow of several prestigious medical professional bodies.

Recognition and Legacy

Professor Okonofua’s exceptional contributions to medicine, research, and healthcare leadership have earned him numerous national and international recognitions—reflecting decades of excellence, measurable impact, and enduring influence across Nigeria and the African continent.

Award Presentation

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with great pleasure that we invite Professor Friday Ebhodaghe Okonofua, FAAS, to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Medicine.

Congratulations, Sir!

Honourable Justice James Ogenyi Ogebe, JSC, CON (Rtd.)

Citation

Honourable Justice James Ogenyi Ogebe, JSC, CON (Rtd.), is a distinguished Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, an Officer of the Federal Republic, and a Commander of the Order of the Niger.

His early career began as a secondary school teacher before he gained admission to study Law at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria in 1964. He graduated in June 1967 with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1968 as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Early Legal Career and Rise in the Judiciary

Justice Ogebe began his legal career in 1968 as a Pupil State Counsel with the Ministry of Justice of the then Benue-Plateau State. Under the mentorship of notable legal luminaries such as Justice Mustapha Akanbi and Chief Morgan Ogbole, he quickly distinguished himself and later became a mentor to younger legal practitioners.

Through diligence and excellence, he rose through the ranks, serving as:

His contributions were instrumental in transforming the State Judiciary from its formative stage to one of commendable standards. He was subsequently appointed as the first indigenous High Court Judge in Benue State.

Judicial Excellence and National Impact

Justice Ogebe served twice as Acting Chief Judge of Benue State before his elevation to the Court of Appeal in 1991, where he served in:

His tenure at the Court of Appeal was marked by landmark judgments that significantly shaped and strengthened the Nigerian legal system.

In 2008, he attained the pinnacle of his judicial career with his appointment to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, where his contributions remain a lasting reference in Nigerian jurisprudence.

Leadership, Service, and Mentorship

A natural leader from an early age, Justice Ogebe has served in several notable capacities, including:

Over the years, he has remained a role model and mentor to many young professionals in the legal field and beyond.

Honours and Recognition

In recognition of his outstanding service, Justice Ogebe has received numerous honours, including:

He is widely regarded as a man of integrity, courage, and unwavering commitment to justice, earning a reputation as one of the most principled and exemplary judges in Nigeria.

Personal Life

A devout Christian, preacher, and dedicated family man, Justice Ogebe is married to Dr. Mrs. Mary Ogebe, a medical doctor, and they are blessed with children.

Award Presentation

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is our honour to invite Honourable Justice James Ogenyi Ogebe, JSC (Rtd.), to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Exemplary and Courageous Service to the Advancement of the Legal System.

Hearty Congratulations, Sir!

Professor Oseyemi Olurotimi Akinbamijo

Citation

Professor Oseyemi Olurotimi Akinbamijo is a Senior Policy Officer at the African Union (AU) Commission and a distinguished Professor of Agricultural Systems. He is a globally respected agricultural research-for-development expert with over four decades of impactful work across Africa, Europe, and the Americas.

Academic and Research Contributions

In the first two decades of his career, Professor Akinbamijo’s research focused on:

  • Ruminant nutrition physiology in health and disease
  • Urban and peri-urban agricultural production systems
  • Climate-smart agricultural technologies
  • Agricultural innovation systems
  • Organisational development

His work during this period laid critical foundations for sustainable livestock production and urban agriculture across West Africa.

Over the past two decades, he transitioned into systems innovation, policy development, and agricultural technologies, contributing significantly to frameworks shaping the transformation of African agriculture.

Strategic Leadership and Policy Impact

Professor Akinbamijo has held several high-level strategic roles within the African Union system, including:

  • Head, Agriculture & Food Security Division, Addis Ababa
  • Chief Animal Resources Officer, Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (Nairobi, Kenya)
  • Director, Inter-African Phyto-Sanitary Council (Yaoundé, Cameroon)
  • Executive Director & Head of Mission, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Accra, Ghana

During his decade-long leadership at FARA, he spearheaded major institutional reforms, aligning the organisation’s strategy with science-based decision-making to advance agricultural innovation, climate resilience, and economic growth across Africa.

Development Impact Across Africa

Professor Akinbamijo served for eleven years at the International Trypanotolerance Centre, working across West Africa on ruminant nutrition biochemistry, particularly in relation to trypanosomiasis and tick-borne diseases.

He also played a key role in one of West Africa’s first urban and peri-urban agriculture programmes, through which over 10,000 urban women horticultural farmers were empowered and lifted out of poverty across:

  • The Gambia
  • Senegal
  • Guinea
  • Mali
  • Côte d’Ivoire
  • Guinea-Bissau

This was achieved through innovative cross-bred peri-urban dairy production systems.

Scientific Excellence and Innovation

As a research scientist, Professor Akinbamijo has made outstanding contributions to:

  • Understanding metabolic costs and immunological responses in ruminants
  • Developing low-input agricultural systems
  • Advancing environmentally sustainable farming practices

His farmer-centered approach has enabled thousands of households to improve livelihoods through practical, scalable agricultural solutions.

He also contributed to national policy by helping establish and coordinate the Expert Working Group of the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS) under Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.

Global Collaboration and Capacity Building

Professor Akinbamijo collaborated with TETFund to design and implement the African Research & Innovation Fellowship in Agriculture (ARIFA) initiative.

Through this programme, in partnership with the University of Viçosa, Brazil, he facilitated postgraduate training for over 120 Nigerian university mid-career academics, strengthening Africa–Brazil collaboration in agricultural innovation.

Current Roles and Professional Recognition

He currently serves as:

  • Adjunct Professor, Agricultural Systems and Organisational Development, Bayero University, Kano
  • Vice-President, Capital Worth Inc., Fairfax, Virginia, USA

Professor Akinbamijo is widely published across multiple disciplines, including:

  • Animal Production
  • Crop Production
  • Ecological and Organic Farming
  • Climate-Smart Agriculture

A polyglot fluent in seven languages—including English, French, Dutch, and Amharic—he is also deeply engaged in community development, mentoring young leaders and teaching integrity and leadership values.

He is happily married to Mrs. Olajumoke Akinbamijo, and they are blessed with children.

Award Presentation

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with great pleasure that we invite Professor Oseyemi Olurotimi Akinbamijo to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Award of Excellence for Outstanding Contributions to Research, Innovation, and Value-Chain Development towards Food Security.

Congratulations, Sir!

Malam Kabiru Abdullahi Yusuf, OON

Citation

Malam Kabiru Abdullahi Yusuf, OON, is a veteran journalist, accomplished entrepreneur, and the Founder of Media Trust Publishing Group.

He began his journalism career at the New Nigerian Newspapers, where he distinguished himself through investigative reporting and analytical writing on issues of national importance, earning widespread recognition early in his career.

Pioneering Media Leadership

The founding of Media Trust Limited in 1998 marked a major milestone in Nigeria’s media landscape. Under his leadership, its flagship publications—Daily Trust, Weekly Trust, and Sunday Trust—have grown to become some of the nation’s most influential newspapers, shaping public policy, governance, and national discourse.

In addition, the organisation’s digital platforms have expanded its reach and impact, reinforcing its position as a leading voice in modern journalism.

Industry Influence and Institutional Contributions

Malam Kabiru Yusuf has served on several national and international media and policy platforms. He has been actively involved with the Nigerian Press Organisation, contributing to initiatives that promote:

Demonstrating his commitment to the future of journalism, he established the Daily Trust Foundation, which supports:

Recognition and Honours

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to journalism and national development, Malam Kabiru Abdullahi Yusuf was conferred with the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Award Presentation

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are pleased to invite Malam Kabiru Abdullahi Yusuf, OON, to receive the Hallmarks of Labour–Christopher Kolade Award for Excellence in Leadership and Professionalism in the Media.

Hearty Congratulations, Sir!

His Excellency, Professor Placid Chike Njoku

Citation: His Excellency, Professor Placid Chike Njoku

His Excellency, Professor Placid Chike Njoku, is a distinguished academic, animal scientist, educationalist, agricultural and environmental expert, and accomplished administrator.

He obtained his first degree in Nigeria and went on to earn both his Master’s and Doctorate degrees in the United States. During a sabbatical at the AFRC Rolin Research Institute in the United Kingdom, he advanced the study of Vitamin C supplementation in heat-stressed poultry—a practice that is now globally adopted in animal husbandry.

For over 16 years, Professor Njoku was actively engaged in teaching, research, and extension services at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi. He later became the Foundation Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike (now Michael Okpara University of Agriculture), where he established governance structures, academic frameworks, research policies, and administrative systems that earned national recognition for excellence.

Leadership in Higher Education and Policy Development

Professor Njoku further served as:

at the National Universities Commission (NUC), where he implemented accreditation standards and strengthened quality assurance mechanisms across Nigerian universities.

As the Founding President of the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science, he played a pivotal role in:

He has also made significant contributions to national education reforms, including:

 

Contributions to Institutional Development

Professor Njoku has been instrumental in:

With numerous publications to his credit, he has remained at the forefront of:

 

Public Service and Governance

As Deputy Governor of Imo State (2020–2024), Professor Njoku managed critical governance challenges, including:

He also oversaw major developmental milestones, including:

 

Professional Recognition and Global Engagement

Professor Njoku’s contributions extend globally through:

He holds numerous professional honors, including:

Conclusion

Professor Placid Chike Njoku is a man of visionary leadership whose pioneering contributions to education, agriculture, governance, and national development have left an enduring legacy.

Award Presentation

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are honoured to invite His Excellency, Professor Placid Chike Njoku, to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Education.

Congratulations, Sir!

Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, CFR

CITATION

A seasoned Public Administrator, Institution Builder, Community Developer, and Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic, Alhaji Yayale Mahmud Ahmed is widely acknowledged as one of Nigeria’s most accomplished civil servants.

With a strong academic foundation in Economics and Public Administration, he devoted over three decades to the Federal Civil Service, attaining the pinnacle through merit, competence, and dedication. From the outset of his career, he demonstrated exceptional skill in policy coordination, capacity building, and institutional development, ensuring that government business is accountable and results-oriented. He demonstrated that effective leadership in public service is measured not by position, but by the capacity to transform institutions, instil discipline, and promote ethical standards that endure beyond one’s tenure.

As Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed presided over one of the most consequential periods of administrative reform in Nigeria’s history. Under his leadership, performance management systems were strengthened across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), ensuring that civil servants were aligned with national objectives and accountable for outcomes. Expanding structured training programmes and capacity-building initiatives for leadership at all levels, he championed merit-based promotion policies, thus raising the bar of professionalism in the Civil Service. His approach was not merely administrative, but transformational, aimed at re-invigorating a workforce that could operate efficiently, transparently, and in service of the citizenry.

There came a tenure as Secretary to the Government of the Federation, in which capacity he ably coordinated national policy, facilitated inter-ministerial collaboration, and supported the Presidency in executing key government policies, programmes, and projects. His leadership style, marked by stability, clarity of purpose, and adherence to due process, ensured the smooth operation of government machinery, even in the face of complex political and economic challenges. His ability to balance competing interests, harmonise processes, and maintain institutional coherence set a benchmark for leadership in government administration.

Indeed, all through his career, his efforts to institutionalise performance management, reinforce ethical standards, and expand capacity-building for civil servants have had a lasting impact on the governance framework in Nigeria.

Post-full-time service, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed remains a reference point in public sector governance and national policy dialogue. His advisory roles, policy engagements, and mentorship continue to influence reforms aimed at strengthening transparency, institutional efficiency, and accountability. His contributions have helped shape the standards for ethical leadership in Nigeria, and many public sector leaders attribute their professional growth to the guidance and example he provided.

In recognition of his exceptional service to the nation, he has been honoured with the national award of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), reflecting decades of principled leadership, measurable impact on governance, and the highest standards of public service.

Lieutenant General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma

A fulfilled Soldier-Statesman, Entrepreneur & Philanthropist, Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma [Rtd.] obtained his professional education in Nigeria and overseas. He was a pioneer Cadet Officer of the Nigerian Military Training College, Kaduna, and subsequently earned his commission as a Second Lieutenant of the Nigerian Army in 1961. He holds qualifications from Mons Officer Cadet School, Aldershot, UK; The School of Infantry, Hythe & Warminster, UK; Special Warfare Centre, Fort Bragg, USA; and Army Staff College, Camberly, UK.

General TY Danjuma saw action from his early years as an Officer. Between 1961 and 1962, he served two tours – in Katanga and Kasai Provinces — with the United Nations Peace-Keeping Forces in the Congo.  During the Nigerian Civil War, he was initially posted to the Nsukka Front as 1 Sector Commander of the 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, where he excelled as a model front-line Officer reputed for professionalism and effectiveness.

Posted to 1 Division Headquarters as Chief of Staff until the end of the War, our Celebrant held several other strategic appointments for the Armed forces and for Nigeria. He was Chairman, Special Military Tribunal in Trinidad & Tobago; and General Officer Commanding, 3 Infantry Division [where he systematically tackled the endemic corrupt practice of padding the pay-roll with names of dead soldiers and sharing the extra money between Commanders and pay officers].

Appointed Chief of Army Staff in 1975, General TY Danjuma, in his four-year tenure, bravely and squarely took on the challenging issue of post-War Demobilisation. With the Army’s wartime size of 250,000 personnel, there was a need for rejuvenation through fresh recruitments and concomitant demobilisation of those who no longer fit it, particularly the World War 2 veterans still in service in old age. Thus, some 50,000 personnel had to go.

It was also during his tenure as Chief of Army Staff that Command Secondary Schools were established in each of the Army Divisions. Then came the Army Command & Staff College, which ensured that officers of the rank of Major attended compressed two courses to enhance their academic and professional competencies. In his adjunct capacity as Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, General TY Danjuma not only encouraged the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force to enrol their officers in the College, but also laid the foundation to upgrade the Nigerian Defence Academy to a degree-awarding institution.

Our Celebrant formally retired from the Army in October 1979 at the age of 41; following the military handover of political power to the newly elected civilian government under President Shehu Shagari.

Still on Public Service, General TY Danjuma was to serve as Minister of Defence in the first term of the administration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who was his Commander-in-Chief under the military regime.  Under the administration of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who had become indisposed, the Presidential Advisory Council was set up with our Celebrant as Chairman. Working with the National Assembly, the “Doctrine of Necessity” was invoked to confer on the then Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan the title of Acting President, thus enabling him to reconstitute the Federal Cabinet and his staff.  

In private life, our Celebrant has been actively involved in entrepreneurship and business. Aside from Board memberships of some publicly-quoted companies, his direct investments included a shipping line with an Italian businessman as a partner, a bank, an insurance company and stocks. Though nearly all his investments in companies run by Nigerians were mismanaged and totally lost, he biggest break was the acquisition of a crude oil mining lease, part of which he sold to pay for his own share of the production cost.  

As a Philanthropist and Community Developer, our Celebrant has made waves. He initially endowed the sum of 100 million United States Dollars to the TY Danjuma Foundation, which he established to cater to the rural population in terms of education, primary healthcare, income-generation as well as eradication of neglected tropical diseases like leprosy, river blindness, elephantiasis and the like. To date, the Foundation has disbursed over US$41 million in grants to support 340 projects impacting over 10 million lives across Nigeria. Among others, he also made a personal donation of US$10 million to the Victims Support Fund, which he chairs.

Deservedly, General TY Danjuma has been variously acknowledged. These include the Nigerian National Honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger [GCON]; National Honours from the Republic of Somalia, Benin Republic, Poland and France; Honorary Doctorate Degrees from 15 Universities in Nigeria as well as from the University of Liberia and Lincoln University in the USA; and many Traditional Chieftaincy titles.

He is married with children.

HE, Ms. Amina Jane Mohammed

A Distinguished International Civil Servant, Her Excellency, Amb. Amina Jane Mohammed was born in Liverpool, England, where she also obtained her tertiary education.

For about ten years, our Celebrant worked with an architectural design firm, ArchconNigeria, in association with Norman & Dawbarn, United Kingdom. She later established the Afri-Projects Consortium, serving as its Director from 1991 to 2001. A lot of her work was on the design of schools and hospitals in the country, even as she was focused on advocacy for increased access to education and other social services.

In the Nigerian public service, Amb. Amina Mohammed served as an Adviser to four successive Presidents on Poverty, Public Sector Reform, and Sustainable Development. As the Senior Special Assistant to the President on the Millennium Development Goals [MDGs], she co-ordinated the Task Force on Gender and Education for the United Nations Millennium Project, from 2002 to 2005. She was also charged with the management of Nigeria’s debt relief funds toward the achievement of the MDGs. This mandate included designing a Virtual Poverty Fund with innovative approaches to poverty reduction, budget coordination, and monitoring.

Appointed Nigeria’s Minister of Environment in 2015, she directed the country’s efforts on climate action and protection of the natural environment. She also represented the country on the African Union Reform Steering Committee, chaired by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda.

On the global stage, our Celebrant first joined the United Nations in 2012 as Special Adviser to the then Secretary-General, Amb. Ban Ki-Moon has the responsibility for post-2015 Development Planning. She led the process that resulted in global agreement on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the creation of the Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs].  

She returned to the United Nations System in early 2017 to take up her current position as the world body’s Deputy Secretary-General and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group. She is also a Member of the UN Inter-Agency Co-ordination Group on Anti-Microbial Resistance.

Active in the High-Level Group of Personalities on Africa-Europe Relations since 2020, and in Africa Europe Foundation, Amb. Amina Mohammed’s involvement in other worthy causes includes: Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data, ActionAid, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, International Development Research Centre, International Gender Champions, Institute of Scientific & Technical Information of China, and World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders.

Our Celebrant is also the Founding Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Development Policy Solutions, and an Adjunct Professor for the Master’s degree programme in Development Practice at Columbia University, USA. She has also served on numerous global Advisory Boards, including chairing the Advisory Board of UNESCO Global Monitoring Report on Education.

A recipient of several recognitions, including an honorary Doctorate and awards, our Celebrant is a Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger [GCON] – Nigeria’s second-highest national honour usually accorded to Vice-Presidents, Presidents of Senate and Chief Justices of Nigeria. Other honours include: Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic [OFR], Nigerian Women’s Hall of Fame, Ford Family Notre Dame Award for International Development & Solidarity, Diplomat of the Year, BBC 100 Women, and Global Citizen Prize World Leader.

There is also the Amina J. Mohammed Skills Acquisition Centre, located in Gombe State, which was built by the SDGs in partnership with the Government of Gombe State to honour our Celebrant for her contributions to social, political & cultural development across boundaries.

Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu

A distinguished Academic, Veterinary Doctor & Administrator, Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu obtained his formal education and professional training in Nigeria and abroad. Among many qualifications, he holds a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine [DVM], a Master of Science in Theriogenology, Ph.D. in Veterinary Reproduction and a Post-Doctoral Fellowship of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science [JSPS].

Our Celebrant’s full-time career spans about 4 decades to date. In 1985, he joined the Department of Veterinary Surgery & Reproduction at the University of Maiduguri as an Assistant Lecturer and progressively attained the ranks of Lecturer II, Lecturer I, Senior Lecturer, Reader and Professor. During his tenure in Maiduguri, he was actively involved in teaching, research, curricula development, supervision of projects & dissertations, and performing clinical duties, the last mentioned being at the unique University of Maiduguri Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Additionally, he acquired considerable experience gained in reproductive ultrasonography and radioimmunoassay of reproductive hormones.

Such is the stature of Professor Abdullahi Ribadu that he has a rare distinction of having served as Chief Executive Officer of three Tertiary educational institutions in Nigeria — Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Yola [2004-2009]; Pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Sule Lamido University, KafinHausa, Jigawa State [2013-2018], and Incumbent Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission [NUC] — during which tenure tremendous developments have been recorded in the institutions.  

Previously, he had been Visiting Professor to the NUC [and Chairman, Committee on Monitoring of Private Universities – COMPU — & Chief Examiner, Senior Staff Promotion Examinations] and on Sabbatical Leave since 2020.

In the same vein, our Celebrant has served as a Professor, Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Abuja, Abuja; also on Leave of Absence.

To his credit, Professor Abdullahi Ribadu has several published works and presentations delivered at several national and global fora.

A former Secretary-General, Association of West Africa Universities [2016-2019], his professional affiliations include: Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association; Society for the Study of Reproduction, Cambridge, UK; British Medical Ultrasound Society, London; Society for the Study of Animal Breeding, England; Japanese Society of Veterinary Science, Tokyo, Japan; Japanese Society of Animal Reproduction, Tokyo; and Liverpool Veterinary Alumni Association, Liverpool, UK.  

A worthy Recipient of many Scholarships and Fellowships, Professor Abdullahi Ribadu is a Fellow, College of Veterinary Surgeons Nigeria [FCVSN]; Member, Nigerian Institute of Management [MNIM]; Honorary Fellow, Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers [FNIAE]; Fellow, Global e-policy and e-Government Institute, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, South Korea; Fellow, Institute of Government Research & Leadership Technology; and Honorary Doctor of Letters of Commonwealth University, London.

Active in community development and welfare, our Celebrant is happily married with children.

Oyedapo Oyekunle Olorunyomi

A Veteran Journalist, Teacher & Rights Advocate, Oyedapo Oyekunle Olorunyomi obtained his post-secondary education in Nigeria and abroad. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Studies, a Master’s in Literature, a Certificate in Natural Resource Management, and a Certificate in Human Rights & Humanitarian Law.

Dapo Olorunyomi worked with a number of media establishments prior to setting up his own outfits. He served as an Editor at Radio Nigeria and The African Guardian magazine as well as Enterprise Editor & Head of the Investigative Reporting Team for Timbuktu Media Limited [Publishers of 234Next.

The Founding Editor of The News, PM News and Tempo Magazine – some of the publications that took on the military juntas head-on; his avowed commitment to Press Freedom had the ultimate goal to ensure accountability and good governance. Over the years, his relentless struggles against agents of misrule and barriers to a Free Press – on his initiative and with colleagues – have demonstrated that indeed, “The Pen Is Mightier Than The Sword”. Like many others, this “Pen Warrior” paid a huge price as a victim of State-sponsored intimidation, harassment, incarceration, threat to life and imposed exile. Even when he managed to escape abroad, his dear wife, Ladi – also a Journalist and women’s right activist — was clamped into the cells of the brutal military dictators for nearly 70 days, and without trial.

On his return from compelled exile in 2004, Dapo Olorunyomi worked as the Project Director of Freedom House, and later, Policy Director and Chief-of-Staff to the then Executive Director of the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC], Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, acknowledged as one of the nation’s finest anti-corruption fighters.

As Chief-of-Staff and Policy Director, Dapo Olorunyomi led the Agency’s prevention and education policy development initiatives on corruption. In that influential office, our Celebrant held his head high; shunning the disheartening apparent public allure of silver & gold through mortgaging his conscience and self-worth. It is instructive to note that that era knew no sacred cows. Though he and his boss were removed from office by entrenched corrupt interests, it is also a testimony to the sterling qualities of that tenure that Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is the incumbent National Security Adviser.

It is, however, a sad commentary that the return to civil rule in 1999 ushered in perhaps the biggest threat to democracy and good governance, as electoral malpractices and official impunity seem to have become the norm rather than the exception to the rule.

Dapo Olorunyomi is on the Boards of many organisations, including the Norbert Zongo Cell for Investigative Journalism [an initiative of the UN Office on Drugs & Crime]; and CENOZO — the trans-national investigative body for West Africa with headquarters in Burkina Faso.

From 1999 to 2001, he served on the International Jury for the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists Award and is the Chief Judge for the Zimeo Award of the African Media Initiative. In 2005, he instituted the Wole Soyinka Investigative Reporting Award, which metamorphosed into Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism. The Centre is engaged in social justice and investigative journalism to expose corruption, regulatory failures and human rights abuses as well as annually recognises journalists involved in investigative journalism.

The West Africa Analyst for the Global Survey of Media Independence in 2004, Dapo Olorunyomi, recorded another mile-stone in 2011 when he founded Premium Times – a celebrated Nigeria-based and globally acknowledged multi-media news platform devoted to Politics, Health, Investigative Reporting and Development Journalism. He serves as the outfit’s Publisher & Editor-in-Chief; and is also the CEO of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development.

Widely recognised for his achievements in media practice, pursuit of good governance and management, our Celebrant is the Recipient of several honours. They include: World Press Review International Editor of the Year Award; PEN Centre (West) Freedom to Write Award; National Association of Black Journalists, New York, USA Press Freedom Award; Human Rights Watch Hellman Hemmett Grant; Diamond Publications Life-Time Achievement Award for Media Excellence; and CPJ International Press Freedom Award.

As an individual, Dapo Olorunyomi’s exposure across Nigeria and abroad has helped shape his world-view, enabling him to shirk the constraints of ethno-geographic and religious sentiments that have ruined the leadership stature of many bright Nigerian stars.

He is married to Ladi Olorunyomi, with children.

Emeritus Professor Olufunmilayo Ayoka Adebambo

Nigeria’s First Female Professor of Animal Breeding, Genetics & Biotechnology, Olufunmilayo Ayoka Adebambo is also the first PhD degree holder in Animal Breeding & Genetics.

With over forty years of value-added service in her specialities, our Celebrant is the first to introduce Animal Biotechnology application into University Students’ Curriculum in 1998. In her first 16 years at the Institute of Agricultural Research & Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, she successfully developed improved Indigenous Pig Breeds for Nigeria.

With her transfer of service to the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta [FUNAAB], Professor Olufunmilayo Adebambo initiated the establishment of Nigeria’s first Department of Animal Breeding & Genetics, serving as its pioneer Head for seven years. She also made history as the first female Dean of the College of Animal Science & Livestock Production for 6 years, and was among the first women to represent the Senate on the University Council.

Her research, supported by institutions such as FUNAAB, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the International Livestock Research Institute, led to the official registration of the first improved indigenous livestock breed in Nigeria; by the Nigerian Crop Varieties, Livestock & Fishes Registration Council, in 2018.  Further Fellowship awards have come from the Association of Commonwealth Universities, Royal Society of England, and Indian Technical Co-operation, among others.

Despite her formal retirement at the mandatory age of 70 years, our Celebrant continues to serve in advisory capacities, including the African Union-Inter-African Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources and Nigeria’s National Animal Genetic Resources Advisory Group. In the same vein, she is the Principal Investigator for the Indigenous Poultry Breeds Development for Nigeria and Co-Principal Investigator for the African Chicken Genetic Gain Project, Nigeria.

Credited with over 200 research publications on Animal Breeds Development and Biotechnology Application to Livestock Research & Development, our Celebrant has mentored more than 50 Animal Breeders at the Master’s and Doctorate levels in Nigeria, a number of whom are gainfully engaged and recognised globally.  

She is a Life-Member, Genetics Society of Great Britain; Fellow, Genetics Society of Nigeria; Fellow, Animal Science Association of Nigeria; Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Animal Science; and Member, Nigerian Society for Animal Production.

Severally acknowledged for her feats, our Celebrant is a Recipient of the Distinguished Animal Scientist Award of the Animal Science Association of Nigeria; Distinguished Achiever Award of the Biotechnology Society of Nigeria; and Excellent Research Award by the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science; Research Productivity Award of FUNAAB two times.

With a lifelong dedication to scientific advancement, her legacies as a pioneer and mentor remain an inspiration in the fields of animal science and genetics.

She is married with children.

Emeritus Professor Kalu Mosto Onuoha

A renowned Chartered Geophysicist, Teacher-of-Teachers, Administrator & immediate Past President of the Nigerian Academy of Science; Emeritus Professor Kalu Mosto Onuoha obtained his tertiary education in Hungary and Germany. Among other qualifications, he holds the M.Sc. in Geophysics [with Distinction]; Ph.D. degree [summa cum laude] in Geophysics and a Post-Doctorate Fellowship, also in Geophysics.

Our Celebrant joined the Department of Geology at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka [UNN] in September 1980; attaining the position of a Full Professor in 1988. In his several decades of service to the Academia, he fulfilled several roles as a Teacher, Researcher and Administrator. He also has a rare record of having variously occupied three endowed Professorial Chairs: ExxonMobil’s Chair of Petroleum Geology at the University of Calabar [1991-1992], Shell/NNPC Chair in Geology [UNN, 2003-2012], and the Petroleum Technology Development Fund’s Chair of Petroleum Geology also at the UNN [2013-2017].

Over the years, Professor Most Onuoha sustained a very active research profile, grooming several post-graduate students; a good number of them now holding top positions in the oil and gas industry as well as in academia within and outside the country. His research interests include the characterisation of petroleum reservoirs, tectono-physics, and the mitigation of natural and man-made hazards in Nigeria and West & Central Africa.    

He formally retired from full-time service at the UNN in July 2017; and was deservedly honoured with the status of Emeritus Professor of that great institution a few months later.

Professor Mosto Onuoha has made tremendous impact on-&-off-campus, as it were. He was engaged as the pioneer Vice-Chairman [Scientific Innovation] of the African Scientific Research & Innovation Council — an agency of the African Union established in 2018. On leave of absence between 1996 and 2002, he served as Technology Development Adviser [Sub-Surface Development Services] at the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited in Port Harcourt.  

Similarly, our Celebrant has been active on Boards of many national & international professional organisations; Governing Councils of several Nigerian Universities, and quite a number of Ministerial & other Federal Government Ad-Hoc and Standing Committees.

Co-Author of the classic — Basic Science Development in Nigeria — Professor Mosto Onuoha has to his credit, numerous other researched papers; including academic & scholarly publications, special public lectures & keynote addresses.

Our Celebrant’s services to academia and societal development have attracted recognitions. Among these are: Fellow [& President], Nigerian Academy of Science; Fellow, Nigerian Mining & Geosciences Society; and Fellow [& Member — Board of Trustees and Advisory Council], Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists. He is also a Member — American Association of Petroleum Geologists; and Society of Exploration Geophysicists, USA.  

Aside from his induction into the special class of “Emeritus Professor”, his many other awards include: “Chief M.O. Feyide Medal” for “excellent and consistent contribution to the Field of Petroleum Geology in Africa”, and “Dr.  Nnamdi Azikiwe Prize” for “consistently advancing and promoting the study of the Earth Sciences” – both from the Mining & Geosciences Society.  

He is married with children.

Ladies & Gentlemen, we respectfully invite Emeritus Professor Kalu Mosto Onuoha to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for For Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Science.

Accept our Congratulations, Sir!

Ambassador Mariam Yalwaji Katagum

An Educationist, Diplomat & Administrator, Her Excellency, Amb. Mariam Yalwaji Katagum was born to two eminent Royal families. Her father, Alhaji Umar Farouq was the 10th Emir of Katagum, while her mother, Fulani Ulu Binta Bayero was the daughter of the Alhaji Abdullahi Bayero, the 10th Emir of Kano.

Our Celebrant obtained her post-secondary education in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. She holds the Bachelor’s degree in English, Graduate Certificate in Education, M.Ed. in Administration & Planning, and Certificate in Social Development Policy, Planning & Practice.

Amb. Mariam Katagum has varied management experience in the Nigerian public service and within the United Nations System.  She joined the Federal Civil Service in 1977 as an Education Officer II and rose to the rank of Director; retiring from service in 2012. Among other postings, she has worked as an English Language Teacher, Federal Scholarship Board, where she sharpened her skills and developed great interest in multi-lateral co-operation in education.

Other critical assignments she undertook include: NATCOM-UNESCO Section in the International Education Branch of the Federal Ministry of Education; Director, Special Projects, National Primary Education Commission/Universal Basic Education Commission [UBEC]; Secretary-General, Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO; Head of Division for National and International Partnerships, Policy Planning, Management and Research Department of the Ministry. In the last-stated capacity, she was extensively involved in several World Bank, UNESCO, UNICEF and Japan International Co-operation Agency [JICA] projects.

In 2009, our Celebrant was appointed Nigeria’s Ambassador, Permanent Delegate to the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France where she had two terms – up to 2014 — based on her sterling performance.  Significant developments recorded during her tenure included: establishment of the UNESCO Multi-sectoral Regional Office in Abuja; establishment of UNESCO Regional Centre for Integrated River Basin Management in Kaduna and International Centre for Biotechnology at Nsukka; inscription of the Argungu Fishing Festival on the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List; Financial and Technical Support from the Commonwealth of Learning [COL] to many teacher training Institutions; and Hosting of the Pan-Commonwealth Forum (PCF 7) in Nigeria.

Amb. Mariam Katagum was appointed Nigeria’s Minister of State for Industry, Trade & Investment in 2019. In that capacity, she and her counterpart led the promotion of government’s policies of Ease-of-Doing-Business, job creation, poverty eradication and industrialisation. Furthermore, she championed the cause of Halal Certification in Nigeria to harness the opportunities therein as well as chaired the Halal Policy Implementation Committee and that of Tomato Policy.

She also ensured Nigeria’s effective participation in the Dubai 2020 World Exposition; and chaired the Campaign Committee for the election of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Director-General, World Trade Organisation.

Versed in international and multi-lateral negotiations, inter-governmental and policy processes; our Celebrant is the Author of the book Ten Years of Stewardship at UNESCO Headquarters, which documents a decade of multi-lateral co-operation, achievements and personal policy recommendations for the future of collaboration between Nigeria and UNESCO in all its fields of mandate.

A Champion of gender equality, girl-child education, and youth empowerment, Amb. Mariam Katagumhas left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s socio-economic and educational landscapes. Recognition has come from within and outside Nigeria, which include National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger [CON] and Honorary Fellowship of the Commonwealth of Learning — the first Nigerian woman to be so honoured – and Nigeria’s Vice-President’s Commendation for Outstanding Contributions to the MSME Sector.

She is married with children.

Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, CON

A consummate Physician, Educator, Administrator, International Expert on Health Policy, and Community Developer. Professor Muhammad Ali Pate obtained his tertiary and professional training in Nigeria and overseas. Among other qualifications, he holds the MBBS from Ahmadu Bello University [ABU], Zaria; Residency and Fellowship at the University of Rochester, New York, USA; American Board Certification in Internal Medicine & Infectious Diseases; and a Master’s degree in Health System Management from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK.

In his over three decades’ cognate experience, Professor Muhammad Pate has made impressive marks on the domestic and international scenes.

His postings have taken him to ABU Teaching Hospital; British Medical Research Council Laboratories in Fajara, The Gambia; the World Bank Group — successively Health Specialist for Africa Region and later East Asia & Pacific Region, as Global Director, Health, Nutrition & Population Global Practice and Director, Global Financing Facility. In the latter capacities, he led some 390 international development professionals in six regions of the world to respond to the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic in over 100 countries.

Between 2019 and 2023, Muhammad Ali Pate was a Professor of the Practice of Public Health Leadership at Harvard Chan School and Co-Chair, Future of Health & Economic Resilience in Africa.

Back home in Nigeria, he served as Chief Executive, National Primary Health Care Development Agency from 2008 to 2011. His stellar performance in that strategic assignment got him elevated to be appointed Minister of State for Health during which tenure he and his team developed a reform agenda for unlocking the market potential of the private sector in health to deliver demographic dividends.

Still in the focus of the Nigerian Government, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate was, in 2023, appointed the nation’s first Coordinating Minister of Health & Social Welfare: in which capacitv he is steadily implementing a far-reaching and comprehensive National Health Sector Renewal Investment Programme.

There have been several other national & alobal assianments which our Celebrant undertook creditably. These include: Chair, Global Agenda Council on Population Growth of the World
Economic Forum.

Professor Muhammad Ali Pate has dedicated his adult life to making Nigeria and the world safer and healthier especially for children, women & adolescents. He is the founding CEO of Big Win Philanthropy [which provides philanthropic leadership, management and investment portfolio in sustainable health outcomes for loping developing countries] and the Founder of Chigari Foundation [an NGO that collaborates with Nigerian community leaders to mobilise for routine immunization and primary health care services].

Happily married with children, Professor Muhammad Pate is widely recognized. He was conferred with the title of Dan lyan Ibbi of Taraba by traditional leaders in northern Nigeria, and the National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger [CON] by the Federal Government of Nigeria. He is also a recipient of the prestigious Geneva Health Forum Award [for outstanding contributions to global health and development] and Harvard Health Leadership Award.

Ladies & Gentlemen, we are privileged to invite Professor Muhammad Ali Pate to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Medicine.

Please accept our Hearty Congratulations, Sir!

Ambassador Barrister Geoffrey Onyeama, CON

A quintessential Diplomat, Legal Luminary and International Civil Servant, His Excellency, Barr. Geoffrey Jideofor Kwusike Onyeama was born some 68 years ago on February 2, 1956. He obtained his post-secondary education from some of the best institutions in the world, namely: Columbia University, New York, USA; St. John’s College, Cambridge University, UK; and London School of Economics & Political Science [LSE], University of London.

Among others, he holds a degree in Political Science [majoring in International Relations], Bachelor’s & Master’s in Law degrees from Cambridge University and LSE; and qualified as a Barrister in England and as a Barrister & Solicitor in Nigeria.

Geoffrey Onyeama spent 29 years and 9 months at WIPO.

He started as an Assistant Program Officer and ended as Deputy Director-General, which is equivalent to Under Secretary-General of the United Nations.

At WIPO, Geoffrey Onyeama worked for many years in the Africa Bureau where he implemented programs promoting the use of intellectual property as a tool for economic, social, technological and cultural development in Africa, through policy development, strategic planning, legislative advice, institution strengthening and capacity building. In particular he played a crucial role in the elaboration of a road map for the development of a responsive intellectual property system in Nigeria. Nollywood and the music industry are direct beneficiaries and stakeholders of that intellectual property system and of course the Nigerian economy has grown substantially as a result.

Geoffrey Onyeama, as an Assistant Director-General worked to promote the use of intellectual property as a tool for development in Asia, Arab Countries, Latin America and the Caribbean and worked to strengthen cooperation with industry and non-governmental organizations in Europe and North America and also to strengthen cooperation with the United Nations and United Nations agencies.

Geoffrey Onyeama spent almost 30 years in WIPO promoting in our world, creativity, innovation, trade, culture and access to medicines through a flexible and responsive intellectual property system.

After leaving WIPO in 2014, Geoffrey Onyeama returned to Nigeria and was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2015.

He served in that position until 2023 and was this one of the longest Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Nigeria’s history.

As a Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama pursued a policy of constructive engagement with all countries. In particular, he promoted democracy in West Africa and during his tenure, Nigeria played a crucial role in saving democracy in The Gambia and in guiding the successful democratic transition in Guinea Bissau as well as strengthening cooperation within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). He also played an important role in preventing African countries from withdrawing en masse from the International Criminal Court (ICC), in the framework of the African Union. He also oversaw the successful evacuation of Nigerians from several trouble spots around the world including the successful evacuations during the Covid pandemic.

In the framework of a dynamic economic diplomacy initiative, Geoffrey Onyeama oversaw the signing of numerous memorandums of understanding on trade with several countries around the world and also managed successful campaigns to have Nigerians appointed on top positions in major international organizations.

He intervened robustly and decisively to defend the human rights of Nigerians in various countries around the world whenever those rights were threatened or violated. He also successfully organized and managed several Presidential state visits to major countries around the world as well as visits to Nigeria of major world leaders, thereby cementing Nigeria’s position as a respected partner on the international scene.

He ensured that Nigeria played an active and influential role in addressing global issues and challenges at the multilateral level of the United Nations and other international organizations.

Throughout his almost 40 years of service at the international level, Geoffrey Onyeama has always acted with utmost integrity, dedication and loyalty and fought passionately for peace, justice and human development and prosperity everywhere in the world.

He is married with children.

Ladies & Gentlemen, we are proud to invite His Excellency, Amb. Geoffrey Jideofor Kwusike Onyeama to receive the Hallmarks of Labour-Emeka Anyaoku Lifetime Achievement Award to Nigeria’s Outstanding International Icon.

Hearty Congratulations, Sir!

Barrister Henry Odein Ajumogobia, SAN, OFR

An accomplished Legal Luminary, Diplomat & a two-time Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Barr. Henry Odein Ajumogobia obtained his professional training at University of Lagos, Lagos; Nigerian Law School, Lagos; and Harvard Law School, Cambridge-Massachusetts, USA.

Among other qualifications, he holds the LL.B.

Honours, BL, & LL.M. – specializing in International Commercial Arbitration; International Business Transactions; Conflict of Laws, International Law;

Energy & Natural Resource Law.

He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1979, and has held critical appointments in the public and private sectors. Among others, he served as a Teaching Assistant in the University of Lagos Faculty of Law and Associate, Fred Egbe & Co. for three years.

After a four-year stint as Rivers State Attorney-General & Commissioner of Justice, he was duly elevated to national and international limelight where he held strategic portfolios of Minister of State for Petroleum Resources [2007-20101 and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2010 to 2011. These ministerial appointments also came with several other national and global assignments, including Membership of the National Economic Management Team, Privatisation Council, Independent Power Programme, National Security Council, United Nations Security Council, and Council of Ministers of ECOWAS States.

Between 1983-1984 he served as legal consultants, Nigeria LNG consultant where in conjuction with international financial consultants including ADL Inc, First Boston Corp and Legal Consultants SHERMAN & STERLING and Wilmer cutler and Pickering, New York developed PROJECT STRATEGY for the NIGERIAN LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS PROJECT.

Our Celebrant is a Founding/Senior Partner of the legal firm, Ajumogobia & Okeke; and has for over decades been actively involved with multi-faceted briefs in strategic sectors of the national economy and on the international scene; variously as Arbitrator/Mediator, Counsel and Consultant.

Indeed, his extensive experience as a Negotiator and Litigator of commercial disputes has given him a cutting edge as a Solicitor and Advocate; and with tremendous outcomes for his wide range of clientele.

A recipient of the National Honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic [OFR], Barr. Henry Ajumogobia is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London and Senior Advocate of Nigeria [SAN] since 2003. He is also the incumbent Chairman of the Nigeria Natural Resource Charter; an Honorary Member of the International Arbitration Court, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and previously served for two terms as a Member of the IC International Court of Arbitration, Paris, France.

His other impressive professional affiliations include Membership of the Nigerian Bar Association, Nigerian Society of International Law, International Bar Association, American Society of International Law, and American Bar Association.

With Special Mention in Chambers International Law Directory & Listing in Who’s Who Legal – International Who’s Who of Oil & Gas Lawyers, 2004, he has made informed presentations at various fora across the world; and is the Author of a number of published works.

Happily married to Mrs. Awuneba Ajumogobia,

FCA, they are proud parents of a son and three daughters.

Ladies & Gentlemen, it is with tremendous pleasure that we invite Barr. Henry Odein Ajumogobia, SAN to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Outstanding Contributions in Leadership & Good Governance.

Hearty Congratulations, Sir!

Emeritus Professor Akinjide Osuntokun, OON

A Celebrated Historian, Teacher, Author & Administrator, Emeritus Professor Akinjide Osuntokun was educated in Nigeria and abroad.

Among other academic & professional qualifications, he holds the Bachelor’s degree in History for University of Ibadan and a straight Ph.D. from Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. He undertook further studies at the London School of Oriental & African Studies, University of London; The Sorbonne University, Paris, France; and University of Hamburg, Germany; also acquiring mastery of French and German languages.

A Professor Emeritus of History & International

Relations at the University of Lagos [UniLag] since 2012 and in the same rank at Redeemer’s University from 2017, he was a full Professor at UniLag for about two decades.

Our Celebrant’s resume shows that he has been around. He has been an Assistant Professor, University of Western Ontario, Canada; Lecturer, University of Ibadan [UI] and University of West Indies; Professor of History, University of Maiduguri; and Professor of History, Redeemer’s University for 12 years. At UI, he was one of the young lecturers sent to establish the Jos Campus, which metamorphosed into the University of Jos.

In the West Indies, he taught Commonwealth and African History which helped to project the contribution of Africa to that Anglo-African country without over-stressing the cultural legacy of the British.

Beyond the classroom, Professor Jide Osuntokun has been pressed into service on national global assignments. He was variously Director, Nigerian Universities Commission Office in Washington, D.C. USA, and Ottawa, Ontario, Canada’ during which assignments he helped to broaden the scope of tertiary education in Nigeria. Among others, he helped to recruit and train staff, source equipment and provide international academic linkages for Nigerian universities.

He also served as Nigeria’s Ambassador, Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary to Germany; a Member, Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) on International Relations: and Pro-Chancellor & Chairman of Council of Ekiti State University which transformation he led to attract better funding and facilities.

Widely-published and on the Editorial Boards of many journals and learned publications, Professor Jide Osuntokun has over 100 publications to his credit and has maintained regular newspaper columns for many years.

Our Celebrant is a recipient of the Nigerian National Honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger [OON] & Presidential Honour of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea; and holds the distinguished Fellowships of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, Historical Society of Nigeria, Redeemer’s University, and University of Lagos.

His varied roles in his professional affiliations include: President, Nigeria-Canada Chamber of Commerce & Industry since 199; Chairman, Environmental Protection Society of Nigeria since

1993; President, Nigerian Society of International Affairs; and President, Historical Society of Nigeria.

He is happily married with children.

Ladies & Gentlemen, we respectfully invite Professor Akiniide Osuntokun to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Education.

Hearty Congratulations, Sir!

Barr. Louis Nnamdi Mbanefo, SAN

Barr. Louis Mbanefo SAN was born in Onitsha, Anambra State of Nigeria on 23rd September 1944, and studied law at Queens’ College, Cambridge University – B.A. Hons 1967; LL.M

1968; M.A. 1970. He was called to the English Bar (Middle Temple) in November 1968, and served pupillages in Essex Court and other Chambers in the Middle Temple. The young Louis Mbanefo joined the British Civil Service and served from

1970-1972 as Legal Assistant to H.M. Treasury Solicitor, Whitehall, London.

Mbanefo was called to the Nigerian Bar in June 1973, whereupon he set up the law partnership Mbanefo & Mbanefo in 1974 with his cousin Patrick Mbanefo (deceased). Since 1984 he has run the law firm Louis Mbanefo & Co., in Lagos.

He has appeared as counsel in many of the leading Nigerian shipping and commercial cases which have set major judicial precedents in Nigerian maritime law. In recognition of his significant contributions to the development of law, he was appointed a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in May 1988.

A founder member of the Nigerian Maritime Law Association, he was successively the Hon.

Secretary, Vice-President and the President

(2010-2016). He is currently a Patron of the Association.

He is a past Chairman of the Board of directors of the Nigerian National Shipping Line. He was appointed Chairman of a Ministerial Committee set up to review and update the Nigerian Shipping Laws by the Minister of Transport and was responsible for the preparation of the Admiralty Jurisdiction Act 1991 and Admiralty Jurisdiction Procedure Rules 1993 as well as the Merchant Shipping Act 2007 for the Nigerian Government.

He is the Author of the Nigerian Shipping laws and Shipping Practice and procedure. He also authored the sixteen volumes of Nigerian Shipping Cases, Nigeria’s pioneer law maritime reports used by judges, practitioners and students. These reports for many maritime lawyers, are the foundation of their training, and continue to serve as a key reference material for adiudication of maritime disputes in Nigeria and beyond.

In year 2000, he was appointed by the Minister of Transport Chairman of a Task Force which successfully achieved the admission of Nigeria into the “White List” of the IMO.

Together with Professor Francesco Berlingieri, Dr. Thomas Mensah and Professor David Attard, he was appointed by Secretary General Srivastava of the International Maritime Organisation as a visiting Professor tasked with the preparation of the Modules for the then proposed International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) in Malta in 1988. He has been a visiting Fellow of the Institute since its inception in 1989 and is currently a member of its Governing Council.

He was elected a member of the Executive Council of the Committee of Maritime International, the global body for the unification and promotion of international maritime law in October 2008, and served a term of six years. He was the first African to be appointed and was Chairman of the Standing Committee on the Implementation of International Conventions.

Outside the law, he is the current Chairman of the Boards of Trustees of both the Musical Society of Nigeria and St. Saviour’s Schools in Lagos and is a Patron of the Sickle Cell Foundation of Nigeria.

He is married to Monica Mbanefo who served as a Director of the IMO from 1991 until her retirement in 2010.

Ladies & Gentlemen, permit me to invite our Distinguished Barr. Louis Nnamdi Mbanefo, SAN to receive the Hallmarks of Labour-Life-Time Achievement Award for Exemplary/Courageous Service to the Advancement of our Legal System.

Hearty Congratulations, Sir.

Professor Adesola Ogunniyi

A distinguished Clinician, Teacher, Mentor, Author & Administrator, Professor Adesola Ogunniyiwas in the First Set of Undergraduate Medical students at the then University of Ife, Ile-Ife [graduating in 19781 and a Pioneer Recipient of the Doctor of Medicine degree of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria [NPMCNI based on his research contributions.

Among other professional trainings, there were a Residency in Internal Medicine at the University College Hospital [UCH], Ibadan and a Neuro-Epidemiology Fellowship at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders, Stroke & Communicative Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

His full-time career progression has taken him through quite a number of strategic appointments.
These include: Professor of Neurology, Director, Institute for Advanced Medical Research Training, and Pioneer Chairman, College Research & Innovation Management Unit — College of Medicine, University of Ibadan; Consultant Neurologist to the University College Hospital, Ibadan [UCH]; and VC’s Representative on the Board of Management of UCH.

Other special assignments include:

His rather intimidating array of professional affiliations include: Fellowship of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria in Internal Medicine, West African College of Physicians, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Royal College of Physicians of London, Nigerian Academy of Science, Nigerian Academy of Medicine, and Academy of Medicine Specialties of Nigeria.

To the credit of Professor Adesola Ogunniyi are some 300 Journal Articles and over 100 Abstracts. His research focus is analytic neuroepidemiology with special interests in neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, and stroke. He received numerous research and training grants from the National Institute of Aging, USA and Grand Challenges Canada and was the Principal Investigator of many of these studies. He was appointed a member of the Lancet Commission on Dementia in October 2018 in recognition of his contributions in the field of dementia. There have also been several editorial appointments on African Journal of Medicine & Medical Sciences, Journal of Clinical & Applied Neurosciences, and European Journal of Neurology.

The Mellon Fellow of the University of Cape Town for Mentoring PG Students in Neurosciences, our Celebrant also earned the Bruce S. Schoenberg Award of the American Academy of Neurology for his work on the

“Epidemioloqic Studies of Dementia of the Elderly in a Developing Country, Nigeria”.

He is happily married with children.

Ladies & Gentlemen, we are pleased to invite Professor Adesola Ogunniyi to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Medicine.

Hearty Congratulations, Sir!

Bashorun JK Randle, OFR

A highly-respected Chartered Accountant, prolific Writer, Public Affairs Analyst & Philanthropist, Bashorun Jaiye Kofolaran Randle is the 3rd generation of the eminent Randle Family with the initials ‘J.K.’.

Educated in Nigeria and abroad, he qualified as a Chartered Accountant [England and Wales] in

1969. As a matter of fact, his father, also J.K.

Randle, had told his son that what he owed the younger man was a First Class Education, Not Inheritance.

In professional practice for over five decades to date, Bashorun J.K. Randle has been engaged in the audit and provision of accounting, taxation and management consulting services, including training to Nigerian and multi-national clients across the economic spectrum.

He started off in the Volunteer Services Overseas in the West African region, with deployments to The Gambia, the then Ivory Coast [now Cote D’Ivoire, and Dahomey [now Benin Republic].

He joined the London office of the renowned accounting-auditing firm, Peat Marwick Mitchell [KPMG] in 1970; and was transferred to the Lagos Office the next year. He progressively became a Partner in 1977, Chief Executive in 1992, and Chairman/CEO of KPMG Nigeria in 1993. During this period he variously served as Chairman of KPMG West Africa, Chairman of KPMG Africa, and a Member of the Council of KPMG International.

He retired from KPMG in 2004 on attaining the mandatory age of 60.

Currently, he is the Chairman of a conglomerate incorporating: J.K. Randle International, J.K.

Randle International, Sloane, Burford & Fullbright International, J.K. Randle & Co., J.K. Randle Professional Services, and Grant Advertising Nigeria Limited.

Beyond his primary constituency, our Celebrant has served as Chairman, Eko Hotels Limited; Pro-Chancellor & Chairman of Governing Council of Lagos State University; Member, Governing Council of University of Benin; and Trustee/Treasurer of Musical Society of Nigeria [MUSON].

An Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic [OFR], Bashorun J.K. Randle is a distinguished Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria [ICAN], which he also served as President.

He is a Member of the Nigerian Institute of Management [Chartered], and Member, Professional Accountants in Business Committee of The International Federation of Accountants.

Bashorun J.K. Randle had authored several articles and books, among which are the acclaimed The Godfather Never Sleeps, God Does Not Live in Los Angeles Anymore, Who Is Fooling Who?. The Natives Are Friendly? and The Duke And The Soul Princess.

Happily married with children, our Celebrant typifies the saying that ‘A Good Name is Better than Riches’, and has maintained a dignified presence in his official and social conducts. He is a Philanthropist of note, and among others, sponsors the Dr. J.K. Randle Swimming Competition – established in 1928 by his grandfather, Dr. JK. Randle and is the oldest Sporting Competition in Nigeria.

Ladies & Gentlemen, we heartily invite Bashorun Jaiye Kofolaran Randle to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Outstanding Contributions in Financial Auditing Services.

Please accept our Congratulations, Sir!

Professor Baba Yusuf Abubakar

An accomplished Scientist, Teacher, Administrator & Specialist in Quantitative Genetics and Animal Breeding, Professor Baba Yusuf Abubakar holds the Bachelor’s degree from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and M.Sc. & Ph.D. from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA. Given his extensive resume, our Celebrant has gone through an enriching working experience to date. He joined the services of the National Animal Production Research Institute [NAPRI], Shika-Zaria in 1978 as a Graduate Assistant – attaining the rank of Professor of Animal Science 17 years later.

Meanwhile, he led the team of researchers that developed the Shika-Brown Poultry Layer Parent Stock- the first of its kind in Nigeria.

For three years, Professor Baba Abubakar also served as Director [Finance & Supply], Family Economic Advancement Programme; Director [Public Service Office], Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation; and Director [Policy Implementation & Monitoring], Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

An appreciative Government appointed him pioneer Executive Secretary/CEO, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria [ARCN in 2012.

Among other developments, his two terms witnessed the reform of the agency culminating in the more effective ARCN (Amendment) Act, 2021; re-integration of Nigeria into the global International Agricultural Research System; initiation & co-ordination of the establishment of a National Centre for Crop and Animal Improvement; professional capacity-building for best practices; and introduction of a world-class periodical, Journal of Applied Agricultural Research.

There have been several other assignments for our Celebrant – locally and internationally. These include: Consultancies and Committee tasks at the Federal and State levels. He has also served in the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research Council representing Sub-Saharan Africa; as Chairman, Governing Board of the West & Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development, Liaison officer, Centre for Agricultural Biosciences International as well as Member — Governing Board of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa and Expert Panel on the Development of Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa.

Professor Baba Abubakar’s current schedules include: Visiting Professor at University of Abuja, Abuja & Chairman of the institution’s Research Council as well as Advisory Board Member for the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Science Prize. He is also the incumbent & First African to chair the Board of Trustees, International Centre for Living Aquatic Resources Management.

Our Celebrant’s professional affiliations speak volumes: Fellow — Agricultural Society of Nigeria, Nigerian Institute of Animal Science, Horticultural Society of Nigeria, and Institute of Public Administration. His roles in these bodies include:

President of the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science, Advisory Board Member for the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas Science Prize, and Member, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research [CGIAR] Council representing Sub-Saharan Africa.

With several publications in international and national journals to his credit. Professor Baba Abubakar has been honoured at home and abroad for his value-added contributions to societal development. The recognitions include: Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic [OFR] and CORAF/WECARD Award for invaluable contribution to Agricultural Research and Development in West and Central Africa.

He is happily married with children.

Ladies & Gentlemen, we joyfully Professor Baba Yusuf Abubakar to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award of Excellence for the Outstanding Contributions to Research, Innovation and Value Chain Development Towards Food Security.

Congratulations, Sir!

Professor Umaru Pate

An accomplished Media Practitioner, Teacher & University Administrator, Professor Umaru Pate holds an impressive array of academic and professional qualifications, which include:

Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication, Master of Philosophy in Communication Studies, and a Doctorate in Media Studies.

At the age of 24, the Song, Adamawa State-born Communication Expert commenced his full-time professional experience in 1988 as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Maiduguri, where he had undertaken the National Youth Service. With a combination of outstanding performances in his schedules and pursuit of higher studies, he attained the rank of a full Professor in 2007.

Thereafter, he was at Bayero University, Kano variously as Founding Dean, Faculty of Communication, Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies and University Orator.

A past Vice-Chairman of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund [TETFUND] Advisory Group, Professor Umaru Pate also served as Director for Africa, in the prestigious International Network of UNESCO Professors in Communication. His past and current Consultancies include UN Development Programme, UN Fund for Population Activities, UN Food & Agriculture Organization, US Agency for International Development, UK Department of International Development, Ford Foundation, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Friedrich Ebert Foundation of Germany as well as a number of public and private corporate bodies in Nigeria.

Professor Umaru Pate is a regular feature on academic and media circuits locally and internationally – variously as Assessor, Supervisor, External Examiner, Author, Columnist & Editorial Adviser. Among his professional affiliations are: incumbent National President, Association of Communication Scholars & Professionals of Nigeria, Nigerian Union of Journalists, and Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.

Right from his secondary school days, he has been earning and receiving awards & recognitions for excellent performance in his studies and schedules. These have come from, among others, University of Maiduguri, BBC World Service, Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, Society for Peace Studies & Practice, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalists, Lagos, Nigerian Union of Journalists and the Federal University, Duse, Jigawa State.

In 2019, he received a US$ 800,000 extension grant he won from the MacArthur Foundation of Chicago (USA) after successfully managing the first part of the grant of US700,000 for strengthening investigative and data driven journalism in the Faculty of Communication awarded in 2017. The grant enabled him to successfully work with the NUC and other stakeholders to unbundle the discipline of Mass Communication in Nigeria into eight new degree programmes and establish a digital FM Radio station and 150 computer laboratories in addition to instituting a scholarship from which about 150 female students are benefitting with each receiving N100,000 annually. In June 19, 2022, he won another grant for his Faculty of Communication in BUK another grant of $1.350 Million to promote the teaching and research of journalism in Nigerian Universities.

In 2020, Professor Umaru Pate was deservedly appointed Vice-Chancellor, Federal University, Kashere, in Gombe State; a position in which he has made tremendous impact to date.

Happily married with children, the highly-respected Kaigamma of Adamawa enjoys tremendous goodwill with several individuals and organisations across theworld.

Ladies & Gentlemen, we proudly invite Professor Umaru A. Pate to receive the HLF-Christopher Kolade Award for Excellence in Leadership and Professionalism in the Media.

Hearty Congratulations, Respected Professor!

Professor Jibrila Dahiru Amin, OON

A well-rounded Teacher, Mentor, Author & Administrator, Professor Jibrila Dahiru Amin obtained his tertiary education from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, University of London and University of Maiduguri, Nigeria. His inspiring array of qualifications include: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Master’s degree in Animal Health, Ph.D. in Veterinary Reproduction, and Post-Graduate Diploma in Management.

In his full-time career to date, Professor Jibrila Amin has literally traversed the world of academia in several critical capacities. A Professor of Veterinary Theriogenology at University of Maiduguri since 1998, he has been a Head of Department, Faculty Dean, Dean of Post-Graduate Studies and Member of several other Committees on Campus.

He also served successively as Deputy Vice-Chancellor Central Administration] and Vice-Chancellor of that University and his tenure witness tremendous developments. He improved access by establishing the Faculty of Pharmacy, created four programmes in the College of Medical Sciences, two in the Faculty of Science, and established the Centre for Distance Learning.

Today, the University of Maiduguri, is among the top three largest universities in the country despite the Boko Haram insurgency. There was also no serious industrial dispute in the University during his tenure that necessitated the truncating of the academic calendar. In the last year of his tenure (2007-2008) he served as the Chairman of, the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities and concurrently served as a Board member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

On completion of his tenure, he went on sabbatical as a visiting professor at the National Universities Commission, Abuja (NUC) 2008 – 2010, and served as the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Private Universities, which processes applications for the establishment of private universities. Seven universities were approved during his tenure amongst which are some leading Nigeria’s private Universities, the Nile, Afe Babalola, and Geoffrey Okoye, were processed and approved from scratch by his Committee.

In 2021 he Chaired the Visitation Panel, and later the Planning and Implementation Committee for transforming Saadatu Rimi College of Education Kumbotso Kano into a university.

He pioneered the Board of the College of Veterinarv Surgeons: Nigeria and he was among the Foundation Fellows of the CVSN in 2011.

As the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the Federal university, Dutse, in Jigawa State, he layed a solid foundation for the institution from scratch and graduated the First Set of students before his exit, with a Commendation from a Federal Government Visitation Panel.

Professor Jibrila Amin also served as Pro-Chancellor & Chairman of Council, Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano. He is currently Trustees Board Chairman, Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities.

An Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic [OFR], Professor Jibrila Amin is also a Rockefeller Biotechnology Fellow, Elected Member of the Nigerian Institute of Management, Fellow of the College of Veterinary Surgeons Nigeria, Member, Veterinary Council of Nigeria, and Member of Council, Association of Commonwealth Universities.

His publications on Veterinary Medicine are widely-acknowledged locally and internationally. In the same vein, he is on the Editorial Boards of Sahel Journal of Veterinary Sciences, Research Journal of Science, and Journal of Life & Environmental Sciences.

Our Celebrant is happily married with children.

Ladies & Gentlemen, we proudly invite Professor Jibrila Dahiru Amin to receive the Hallmarks of Labour -Umaru Shehu Life-Time Achievement Award for Consistent Advocacy for Positive Change within the University System.

Hearty Congratulations, Sir!

Professor Rugayyatu Ahmed Rufa’I, OON

A Chevening Fellow at the University College, London, Professor Rugayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i had her higher education at Bayero University, Kano and West Virginia University, USA. She holds the Bachelor’s in Education/History, Master’s in History and Ph.D. in History. Her specialties are:

Curriculum & Instruction, History, Social Studies and Girl-Child Education.

The First Female Professor from North-West Nigeria, our Celebrant had held quite a number of strategic public offices at the Federal and State levels. Among others, she served as Jigawa State Commissioner for Health and ater Commissioner for Education, Science & Technology. Both tenures witnessed tremendous progress in the two strategic sectors.

Appointed Minister of Education of Nigeria in 2010, she had an eventful three-year tenure during which she was elected Chairperson, Conference of Education Ministers of the African Union [COMEDAF]. She initiated the One-Year Strategy and 4-Year Strategic Plan for the Development of the Education Sector which focused on key areas of Access, Quality, Teacher Education, Funding, Technical and Vocation Education. There were also boosts to Basic and Secondary Sector through the Almajiri Education and Boys Drop-Out Programmes. She similarly pursued the amendment of the Education Tax Act such that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund [TETFund] now focuses exclusively on the development and rehabilitation of infrastructure and human resources in the country’s higher education sub-sector.

As far back to her days as Education Commissioner in Jigawa State, Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’ has demonstrated deep passion for the education of the Girl-Child and often challenged the outdated notion that female children did not need to go to school as they will end up in the kitchen, as it were. That, of course, hardly endeared her to certain entrenched interests that tried to frustrate her efforts to provide access to girls to obtain a good education. In a media interview, she had bared her mind unequivocally: “‘I’m ashamed

Jigawa can’t enroll enough girls in schools”.

Over the years, she has been dedicated to the cause of promoting access for the young girls and women to get a good education to improve their chances in life and make contributions to their full potentials.

A woman of strong convictions – despite being relieved of her Ministerial appointment due to cracks in the then ruling political party — she returned quietly to her beloved classroom at Bayero University, Kano where she has been a Professor of Curriculum Studies since 2003. In her words, “..that is where I came from on secondment. We should know that a time like this would come because if it does not, death is surelv an end””

In the same vein, Professor Rugayyatu has been in the vanguard of the Kidney Care and Transplant Foundation Trust; vigorously mobilising support locally and internationally.

With over 30 publications in national and international journals and books, Professor Rugayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i has been severally acknowledged within and outside Nigeria. The honours include: Officer of the Order of the Niger [OON), 2006], Chevening Fellow at the University College, London, Dubai Global Excellence Award, Commendation by Howard University, Washington

D.C., and Presentation with the Key to the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, USA.

She is happily married with children.

Ladies & Gentlemen, it is with great pleasure that we invite Professor Rugayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Consistent Advocacy on the Education of the Girl-Child.

Hearty Congratulations, Madam!

Professor Christian T. Happi

A multi-specialist in Medical Research, Practice & Teaching, Professor Christian T. Happi obtained his tertiary education at the University of Yaounde, Cameroon; University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Harvard University, USA and quite a number of other professional institutions. In his impressive mix of qualifications are: First degree in Biochemistry, M.Sc. & Ph.D. in Molecular Parasitology and PostDoctoral Fellowship in Molecular Biology & Genomics, with emphasis on Malaria Infection.

Professor Christian Happi’s professional exposure has been very remarkable. He was Research Scientist & Adjunct Faculty for 7 years at Harvard University; and Adjunct Faculty the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Research & Training cum Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics at the University of Ibadan’s College of Medicine.

In April 2011, our Celebrant was engaged by Redeemer’s University, Ede in Osun State as a Professor of Molecular Biology & Genomics.

Progressively, he served as Foundation Dean of the University’s College of Post-Graduate Studies; First Director, Directorate of Research Innovation & Partnerships; and a Member of the institution’s Governing Council. Significantly, he is also Director of the World Bank-funded African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases at Redeemer’s.

On his current schedules, Christian Happi is an Adjunct Professor in two Departments at Harvard University — Immunology & Infectious Diseases of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Organismic & Evolutionary Biology. He is also a Visiting Professor, Quantitative Bioscience Institute, University of California at San Francisco.

Professor Happi has attained great heights indeed, on account of his cutting-edge research focus on genomics of infectious diseases, which include Malaria, Lassa Fever, Ebola Virus, Monkey-Pox, Yellow Fever, HIV, COVID-19) & Human Genomics – with significant outcomes that have boosted progress in medicine and related sciences. Also, as Team Leader and Teacher, he has enhanced the professional of over 1,600 young African Scientists.

He is a Member of the Advisory Boards of several International Organizations, including: Global Alliance for Genomics & Health, Canada; UK Biobank; Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness & Innovation, Denmark; Moderna Global Vaccine Programme, USA; International Atomic Energy Agency, Austria; Illumina Infectious Disease Surveillance & Testing, USA; WHO on Novel Pathogens and on SARS-COV-2 Evolution; US National Institutes of Allergy & Infectious Disease

Global Council; and the journal, Science.

With over 200 scientific publications to his credit – as Sole and Co-Author – Professor Christian Happi is a Member of the Nigerian National Health Research Committee. His professional affiliations include:

Fellow, Nigerian Academy of Sciences; Fellow, Academy of Medical Specialties of Nigeria; Member, US National Academy of Medicine; and Senior Associate Member, Board Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Expectedly, recognition has come to him from far and wide. Included here are: Merle A. Sande Health Leadership Award; NUC Award for Best Nigerian Academic Researcher in Life Sciences & Medicine;

Human Genome Organization [HUGO] Africa Prize;

Bailey K. Ashford Medal of the American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene; 5″ Most Influential African in the field of Public Health compiled by Harvard University; Kuwait Foundation for Advancement in Sciences Al-Sumait Prize for African Development; Gold Medal Prize of the Nigerian Academy of Sciences; Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Award for the Most Outstanding Genomic Laboratory.

He is happily married with children.

Ladies & Gentlemen, we respectfully invite Professor Christian T. Happi to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Science.

Congratulations, Sir!

Professor Babagana Zulum, CON, MNI

An accomplished Agricultural Engineer, Administrator & Humanist, Professor Babagana Umaru Zulumobtained his academic and professional education in Nigeria and overseas. Among his qualifications are: National Diploma in Irrigation Engineering, Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering, M.Sc. in Agricultural Engineering, and Ph.D. in Soil & Water Engineering. He also attended the National Institute for Policy & Strategic Studies, Kuru-Jos.

Professor Babagana Zulum started his working career as an Assistant Technical Officer in the Borno State Ministry of Agriculture. There was a challenging interlude in self-employment and further studies before he joined the University of Maiduguri (UniMaid) as an Assistant Lecturer in the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering. Over the years, he successively served as Deputy Dean and Dean of the Faculty and rose to the rank of Professor.

In the interim, he was appointed Rector of Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri, which he was familiar with as a student.  He literally served in that capacity for free as he opted to retain his meagre salary a UniMaid where he also gave some lecture hours.

On account of his sterling performance at Ramat Polytechnic, Professor Babagana Zulum was further pressed into service as Borno State’s pioneer Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation & Resettlement. Despite the extreme security challenges, this man of vision acquitted himself creditably. Among other attainments, he oversaw and coordinated the reconstruction of over 30,000 re-settlement homes, schools, hospitals and other vital publicservices. These facilitated the steady restoration of civil authority across theState and the consequent return of Internally-Displaced Persons (IDPs) to communities in at least 14 Local Government Areas.

In the interim again, Professor Babagana Zulum sustained his teaching functions at UniMaid.

At the dawn of fresh general elections in 2019, Professor Babagana Zulum was popular choice for the post of Governor of Borno State; and he duly won the elections on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). His people-oriented approach to governance and achievements in office to date are well-documented and appreciated even nationally. As a matter of fact, in one year, the Zulum administration delivered 326 physical projects and 49 capital-intensive programmes and policies. By year two, there were 556 capital projects which included 194 on Education.

Acknowledged as Borno State’s chief humanitarian officer, Professor Babagana Zulum is literally on ground all the time even at personal risk to ensure the delivery of good governance to his constituents many of who have been traumatised by security challenges.

Deservedly, He has earned Fellowships from many high-end professional bodies, including: National Postgraduate College, Nigerian Institute of Agricultural Engineers, and Nigerian Institute of Architects, 2021.

Recognition has also come from many other sources for this Performing Governor. The awards include: Ordre National Du Niger Grand Officer (Niger Republic’s second-highest national honour);Zik’s Prize for Leadership 2020; NUJ’s Most-Promising First-Term Governor; Muslim Personality of the Year; Leadership and Vanguard Newspapers Personality of the Year 2020; University of Ibadan Alumni of the Year &Most Distinguished Alumni Award2020; and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Human Rights Award2021.

He is happily married with children.

Ladies & Gentlemen, we invite His Excellency, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Excellence in Leadership and Good Governance.

Congratulations, Sir!

Engr. Professor Abubakar Sambo, FAS, FAEng, FNSE, FSESN, FNIMechE, FNAEE, FRAESON, FNIM, FNIPE, FEI (UK)

A seasoned Engineer, Administrator, Teacher & Author, Abubakar Sani  Sambo was educated in Nigeria and abroad. He holds the B.Eng. (1stClass Hons.) and D.Phil.degrees in Mechanical Engineering, and some other professional qualifications from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and University of Sussex, UK.

At Bayero University, Kano, he taught courses in Applied Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Heat Transfer and Engineering Drawing as well as conducted R&D in Solar Radiation Studies, Flat Plate Solar Collectors and Thermosyphon Solar Water Heaters.

At Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, he served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and co-ordinated several ground-breaking R&D activities at the Energy Centre.

For two terms again (1995-2004), our energy expert served as the Vice- Chancellor, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi; and briefly as the Pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Kaduna State University. In the former capacity, he strengthened the academic programmes and ensured that all the engineering degree programmes were accredited by both the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and the National Universities Commission (NUC). There were also other initiatives for Post-Graduate School, revenue-generation, external support for projects, and staff welfare.

Moving forward, Professor Abubakar Sambo was appointed Director-General, Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) in which capacity he also served for two terms. His tenure witnessed the production of a National Energy Data Bank and National Energy Manpower Plan as well as the establishment of fourenergy research centres and the introduction of the Journal of Energy Planning Research and Development (JEPRD).

He is currently at the Faculty of Engineering & Environmental Design of Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto.

Aside from his full-time schedules, Professor Abubakar Sambo has served society in numerous ad-hoc capacities. Among others, he has been Chairman, Ministerial Policy & Advisory Technical Committee on the Environment; two-term Vice-Chairman for Africa on the World Energy Council, Member of the First Council of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and Special Adviser to the President on Energy.

Professor Abubakar Sambo has published extensively in local and international peer-review publications. His professional affiliations include: Fellowships of Nigerian Academy of Engineering(FAEng), Nigeria Academy of Science (FAS), Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE),Solar Energy Society of Nigeria(FSESN), Chemical Society of Nigeria (FCSN), Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers (FNIMechE), Nigerian Association of Energy Economists(FNAEE), Renewable &Alternative Energy Society of Nigeria(FRAESON), Nigerian Institute of Management (FNIM), Nigerian Institute of Power Engineers(FNIPE), Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria (FICA),Institute of Administrative Management of Nigeria (FIAMN), and Energy Institute of the United Kingdom (FEI). He is also a Member — Research Board of the American Biographical Institute, International Biographical Centre Advisory Council, International Solar Energy Society, International Energy Foundation, and World Renewable Energy Network.

An Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), Professor Abubakar Sambo is also a recipient of several other awards, including: National Productivity Order of Merit, Pillar of University Education Merit Award,Year 2000 Nigerian Society of Engineers Merit Award, Life-Membership Award of the Science Teachers’ Association of Nigeria, and he is also mentioned in the Association of Commonwealth Universities Who’s Who from 1996 to 2003.

He is happily married with children.

Ladies & Gentlemen, we invite Professor Abubakar Sani Sambo to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Science.

Congratulations, Sir!

Professor Tonnie Osa Iredia, OON

A Veteran Broadcaster, Sociologist, Lawyer & Administrator, Professor Tonnie Osa Iredia was born on January 31, 1949.  He hails from the ancient City of Benin in today’s Edo State of Nigeria. He obtained his formal education mostly in Nigeria; and holdstwo Bachelor’s, a Master’s and two Doctorate degrees in the multi-disciplinary fields of Law, Media and Management.  He also participated in quite a number of professional improvement programmes within and outside the country.

Professor Tonnie Iredia has served his country and society at large in several critical capacities. These include: Mid-West Television [now Nigerian Television Authority], Benin City, where he rose to become Manager, News & Current Affairs; through Manager, Programmes Services [MPS] & Executive Director [News] & Anchor of the popular public affairs programme: Point Blank] — to the post of Director-General/CEO.

Professor Tonnie Iredia’s leadership tenure at the NTA recorded several innovations. Within one year, the number of transmitting stations rose from 27 to 68. He also institutionalized Live Coverage of events across the country as well as conceived and coordinated the idea of establishing NTA International for global reach.

In the interim — April 2002-June 2003 — he was the Secretary to the Board of the National Orientation Agency [NOA] & Director of Planning, Research & Statistics. Later, he was appointed the Agency’s Director-General/CEO.

Professor Tonnie Iredia was similarly deployed as a Technical Assistant on elections to Liberia’s Independent Elections Commission. While there, the Economic Community of West African States [ECOWAS] also mandated him to serve as the Coordinator of political broadcasts for the first post-civil war elections in that country. One of his success stories in Liberia was his prudent management of resources provided by Nigeria for the resuscitation of the Liberia Broadcasting Service [LBS].

A regular feature on lecture circuits, he is on the faculty of the Department of Mass Communication at Nassarawa State University and a full Professor at Igbinedion University, Okada. He has also authored many learned papers and published works, including the best-selling Communication Skills: Fundamentals of Effective Communication in Developing Economies.                                                                                                                                                                                    

Professor Tonnie Iredia’s professional affiliations are very impressive. He is a Fellow — Nigerian Institute of Public Relations; Nigerian Guild of Editors; Nigerian Institute of Management; and Society for Peace Studies & Practice. He is also a Member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Nigerian Bar Association, Commonwealth Broadcasting Association, Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria, Institute of Administrators, and Institute of Corporate Executives of Nigeria.    

An Officer of the Order of the Niger [OON], this veteran of the broadcast industry has been variously recognised for his positive impact in his chosen fields and on society. Included here are: Best News Editor, FESTAC ‘77 [Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria], Kwame Nkrumah Leadership Award, 2007, 2010 Life-Time Media Management Achievement Award and many others.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is with great pleasure that we invite Professor Tonnie Osa Iredia to receive the HLF-Christopher Kolade Award for Excellence in Leadership and Professionalism in the Media.

Congratulations, Sir!

Professor Dennis Agbonlahor, FRCPath, FAS, FAcadMedS,FWACMLS

An outstanding globally-acclaimed Medical Microbiologist and Medical Laboratory Scientist,Professor Dennis Edokpaigbe Agbonlahorrreceived his formal and specialised training in Nigeria and abroad, including National Veterinary Research Laboratory Training School, Vom; Paddington Technical College, London; and College of Medicine, University of Lagos.

Professor Agbonlahor’s professional work experience has been extensive. He worked with the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom; Central Middlesex Hospital, London; and St. Georges Hospital, Toothing, London. He joined the then Bendel State University (now Ambrose Alli University), Ekpoma as a Senior Lecturer in 1985; and became a Professor in 1988. Progressively, he served as Dean of Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences; Dean of Faculty of Natural Sciences; Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic); and Vice-Chancellor of the University. He is also a Visiting Professor to a number of universities within and outside Nigeria.

With over 137 scholarly publications in reputable journals to his credit, Professor Dennis Agbonlahor has recorded many notable research findings and initiatives.The core of his Scientific contributions are spread around research findings on his innovative phenotypic & molecular laboratory diagnosis of causative bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic pathogens from human and animal clinical specimens.  Of special note, is his maiden discovery & description of a novel diarrheagenic pathogen, which he named Yersiniaenterocolitica-like bacterium in 1982. It is also significant to note how he fearlessly joined the team of the Lassa fever investigators in Nigeria at the outset of outbreaks of this dreaded disease in the 70s & 80s. His involvement and experiences during the 1989 episode in the University Town of Ekpoma remains noteworthy.

Among others, He played very crucial and decisive role in the transformation of the training of Medical Laboratory Scientists in Nigeria from the former professional Diploma programme to its current five-year university degree programme in the late 1980s and 1990s. He has continued to serve as a consultant on the World Expert Advisory Microbiology Board of the International Federation of Medical Laboratory Scientists.

Beyond the classroom, Professor Dennis Agbonlahor has been pressed into service on critical assignment He is a member of the National Committee on the Control of Lassa Fever in Nigeria; He is currently serving as a member of the Ministerial Expert Advisory Committee on Covid-19, Federal Ministry of Health Response; Professor Dennis Edokpaigbe Agbonlahor also served as the President of Biotechnology Society of Nigeria (BSN) between 2004 and 2006; He is the President and Founder of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Initiative(AMRAI, a health-based NGO, he is also the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Lahor Research Laboratories and Medical Centre, Benin City.

Honoured severally, he is a Fellow of many academic societies and professional bodies. They include: Royal College of Pathologists, UK, Nigeria Academy of Science, Nigeria Academy of Medicine Specialties, West African Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Biotechnology Society of Nigeria, Royal Society for Tropical Medicine & Hygiene, London, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, London, Microbiology Society of Nigeria, and American Society for Microbiology, among others.

He is happily married to Lady Rhonda Nike Agbonlahor; and they have children one of who is a Professor of Medical & Environmental Microbiology.

Ladies & Gentlemen, we invite Professor Dennis Edokpaigbe Agbonlahor to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Science.

Congratulations, Sir!

Professor Oladapo Ashiru, OFR, FASN, FNSEM, HCLD (ABB), FAcadMedS

At 32 the youngest professor of Medicine in Africa till date, Oladapo A. Ashiru received his initialmedicaltraining attheCollege of Medicine, University of Lagos and Universityof Nebraska Medical Centre, USA. He holds the MBBS, M.Sc. Anatomy & Ph.D. Anatomy as well as some other professional qualifications.

On clinical assignments, Professor Oladapo Ashiru has worked as a House Officer, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH); Flotilla Medical Officer, Nigerian Navy, Lagos; Reproductive Endocrinologist/Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Centre, USA; Consultant Reproductive Endocrinologist/Principal Investigator/Scientific Director, LUTH; and Consultant, Centre for Human Reproduction, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA.

In academia, he was at the Department of Anatomy and College of Medicine of University of Lagos; University of Illinois College of Medicine,USA; and Lagos State UniversityCollege of Medicine.

He has also been a Visiting Professor — University of South CarolinaSchool of Medicine, Columbia, USA; Rush University, Chicago, Illinois, USA; and Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan, Detroit, USA.

Professor Oladapo Ashiru is currently the Chief Medical Director, Medical-Assisted Reproductive Technology (MART) Group of Health Services, incorporating Medical ART Centre, the MART Diagnostic Centre, Mart Medicare, Mart Life Detox Clinic, and Institute of Assisted Reproductive Technology.

Over the years, he has undertaken several ad-hoc assignments with, among others, WHO, International Federation of Fertility Society, FIGO, African Consultation Organization, and International Federation of Medical Students Association, International Committee on Youth & Population Activities (IYPA), Anatomical Society of West Africa, Association of Anatomical Societies of Africa, and International Federation of Association of Anatomists.

Author of over 140 publications, Professor Oladapo Ashiru discovered and reported the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) positive feed-back mechanism in 1979. He pioneered the technique of In-Vitro fertilization and Embryo transfer in West Africa in 1983 and co-pioneered the first test-tube baby through IVF-ET in 1989. He similarly initiated the use of Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis for the elimination of chromosomal abnormalities, Sickle cell disease in babies of sickle cell carrier couples, and for family balancing.

This eminent scholar is an active member of many professional bodies. They include: American Association of Bioanalysis, Nigerian Medical Association, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, American Association of Anatomists, International Society for Neuroendocrinology, International Federation of Association of Anatomists, International Federation of Fertility Societies, African Fertility Society, Nigerian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Association for Fertility and Reproductive Health, Academy of Medicine Specialties, and High Complexity Clinical Laboratory Director.

An Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), Distinguished Alumnus of University of Lagos, The Otunba Orodudu-joye of Ijebuland.

He is happily married with children.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we invite Professor Oladapo A. Ashiru to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Medicine.

Congratulations Sir!

Emeritus Professor Osato Giwa-Oagie, OON, FRCOG, FWACS, FICS, FACOG (SA), COL

A  Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology since 1987, Osato Ona Frank Giwa-Osagie was educated in Nigeria and abroad. He holds several academic and professional qualifications, including Cambridge University Medical Tripos; B.A.  (Hons.)  Pathology, Cambridge University Natural Sciences; M.A. (Hons.); M.B., B. CHIR (Hons.) Cambridge; E.C.F.M.G., USA; and M.Sc. (Steroid Endocrinology), Leeds University. 

Emeritus Professor Osato Giwa-Osagie has served society in various critical capacities. He was Locum Registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Free Hospital, London; and Lecturer, WHO Research Centre, King’sCollege Hospital, London.

In the University of Lagos system, he was variously Senior Registrar and Consultant at the University Teaching Hospital (LUTH); Lecturer I, Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor,College of Medicine; Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, LUTH; Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Head of Department for three terms; Co-ordinator of IVF programme, and Head, Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology and Fertility Regulation.

He retired from full-time schedules in 2012 at the age of 65; and has been a Distinguished Professor since 2011 and a Professor Emeritus from 2017.

His ad-hoc schedules include special assignments as Foundation Chairman, Board of National Hospital, Abuja; Honorary Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist to the State HouseClinic, Lagos and Abuja (1988-1999); and with the National Committee on Maternal and Child Health; Federal Ministry of Health Task Force on Blood Transfusion; Family Health Service Programme; and Federal Ministry of Science and Technology Special Advisory Panel on the Safety of the injectable contraceptive known as Depo Provera.

Internationally, there have been consultancies and executive appointments with WHO-Geneva, West African College of Surgeons, Johns Hopkins University, Pathfinder Fund Boston, Margaret Sanger Centre New York, Association for Voluntary Surgical Contraception New York, International Programmes Assistance Services (IPAS) North Carolina, Programme of Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), Washington, United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), and Society for Family Health, among many others.

Professor Osato Giwa-Osagie is also engaged with some NGOs and Charities, including COPE (on breast cancer awareness), Howzat Foundation for Cricket development, Post-Abortion Care Network of Nigeria, and Professor Oladele Akinla Trust Fund (to support research in the O&G Department).

His professional affiliations too numerous to recount here include: Fellowships of the West African College of Surgeons (FWACS), Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (FRCOG), International College of Surgeons (FICS), College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of South Africa, and Academy of Medicine Specialities of Nigeria. He is also a Member — Clare College Cambridge Association, Royal Society of Medicine, London, Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria, Fertility Society of Australia, American Fertility Society, General Medical Council, England, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, and Nigerian Medical Association. Our eminent honouree has also served these bodies in executive capacities, among which are: President and Trustee, West African College of Surgeons; Trustee, Association for Fertility and Reproductive Health; and Trustee, Academy of Medicine Specialities of Nigeria.

Widely published and a regular feature on learned circuits, Emeritus Professor Osato Giwa-Osagie has been severally honoured across the land. He is an Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON); and a recipient of Senegal’s National Honour of “Chevalier de L’ordre National du Lion” (COL) for Service to Surgical Education; Life-Time Achievement Award for Exceptional Dedication to Improving Women’s Health” by IPAS, USA; Maiden Distinguished Service Award of the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON) for pioneering research in In-Vitro Fertilisation in West Africa; D.Sc. degree (Honoris Causa) of University of Benin; and he isObarisiagbon of Benin Kingdom.

He is married with children to Dr. Mrs. A. P. Giwa-Osagie.

Ladies & Gentlemen, we invite Emeritus Professor Osato Ona Frank Giwa-Osagie to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Medicine.

Congratulations, Sir!

Otunba Olasubomi Balogun, CON, FCIBN

An accomplished Lawyer, Investment Banker & Entrepreneur, Otunba Michael Olasubomi Olaotan OlaonipekunBalogunobtained his Law degree at the London School of Economics; and was called to the English Bar in 1959. He also received professional training in Legal Drafting in Whitehall and the City of London, with specialisation in financial legislation, instruments, and agreements.

After stints with the then Western Nigeria Ministry of Justice as Crown Counsel and later, Parliamentary Counsel in the Federal Ministry of Justice, he joined the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank (NIDB) where he served as Principal Counsel & Company Secretary for about a decade. From there, he was assigned to ICON Securities Limited as Director of Operations. Subsequently, he headed Icon Stockbrokers Limited and later became Executive Director in ICON Limited (Merchant Bankers).

In 1977, fortified by specialist training at The World Bank and International Finance Corporation in Washington DC and other exposures, his growing interest in investment finance led him to establishCity Securities Limited (Stockbrokers) and subsequently, First City Merchant Bankalmost single-handedly.

CSL Limited is the first institution in Nigeria to ever combine an issuing house and stockbroking business under one name; while FCMB was the first wholly-Nigerian-owned merchant bank.

Now known as First City Monument Bank, FCMB is today acknowledged as a premium banking brand. Other success stories in the FCMB Group include: CSL Stockbrokers, FCMB Capital Markets, First City Asset Management, FCMB Microfinance Bank, FCMB UK, FCMB Pensions and FCMB Trustees.

Beyond the FCMB Group, he has served on the Councils of the Nigerian Stock Exchangeand a number of multi-national Chambers of Commerce for several years.

The Founder of Otunba Tunwase Foundation, Otunba Subomi Balogun is a philanthropist of note. Among other generous gestures, he funded the construction of a National Pediatric Centre in Ijebu-Ode, which he donated to University College Hospital, Ibadan. He also sponsors several other worthy causes, including a fully-equipped 40-bed Children’s Centre in Ijebu-Ode.

Recognitions have flowed for this gentleman of mission. Included here are: Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers Nigeria, Distinguished Leadership Award of the American Biographical Institute, Asiwaju of Ijebu Christians, Otunba Tunwase of Ijebuland,Olori Omo-Oba, Olori Ebi of the Arojojoye Ruling House in Ijebu Ode, and Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) of the University of Ibadan.

He is happily married with children to Olori Abimbola Adetutu Balogun.

Ladies & Gentlemen, we respectfully invite Otunba Michael Olasubomi Balogun to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Excellence In Entrepreneurship And Corporate Governance.

Congratulations, Sir!

Professor Ekanem Braide, OFR,FAS, FPPSN

A distinguished Parasitologist, Epidemiologist, Medical Entomologist, Teacher, Author & Administrator, Professor Ekanem Braide (Nee Ita) obtained her tertiary education at University of Ife, , Nigeria; Cornell University, New York,; and University of Southampton, UK. Among other academic & professional qualifications, she holds the B.Sc. (Hons.) in Zoology, M.Sc. andPh.D. Parasitology, and a Certificate in Epidemiology. .                                                                                                                                                                                      

Professor Ekanem Braide has served academia and the wider society is many strategic capacities. Principally,she was aLecturer in Biology, Zoology, Parasitology and Epidemiology at the University of Calabar, Nigeria for about three decades — October 1979 to January 2009.

Over the years, she served as a Lecturer in Zoology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Guest Lecturer in Public Health &Applied Parasitology, University of Jos; and Zonal Facilitator, Nigerian Guinea-Worm Eradication Programme.An External Examiner and Assessor to several universities and institutions, Professor Ekanem Braide has a wide and rich research experience in her specialties within and beyond Nigeria. Her research focus is on disease control, especially operational research, impact assessment of interventions, rapid assessment methods in mapping diseases and community initiatives in disease control.

Appointed Vice-Chancellor, Cross River State University of Technology, Calabar in 2004-2009, she also served as the Pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Federal University, Lafia in Nassarawa State, 2011-2016.

Professor Ekanem Braide subsequently became the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Arthur Jarvis University, Akpabuyo, Cross River State. Nigeria from 2016 to 2022; and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Essien Ukpabio Presbyterian Theological College, Itu, Nigeria.

Professor Ekanem Braide has been fulfilling consultancy briefs for quite anumber of government, private and international agencies across the world. They include: UNICEF, WHO, Canadian University Services Overseas (CUSO), Federal & State Governments, (Jimmy) Carter Centre USA, Global 2000, and International Labour Organization( ILO).

Author of numerous publications and learned presentations: Fellow & current President, Nigeria Academy of Science; Fellow, Co-Founder and Life Member, Public Health and Parasitology Society of Nigeria (PPSN); to mention a few.

Our accomplished Parasitologist has been recognised nationally and globally for her value-added roles. Included here are:Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR); Mother’s Pride, Presbyterian Church of Nigeria; Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Award for outstanding Dedication and Achievement as Zonal Facilitator Nigeria Guinea-Worm Eradication Programme; Nigerian Chambers of Commerce andCross River State 2000 Millennium Award.   

She was happily married with children to Professor Victor Bowerson-Chase Braide of blessed memory.

Ladies & Gentlemen, we respectfully invite Professor Ekanem Ita-Braide to receive the HLF-Umaru Shehu Life-Time Achievement Award for Consistent Advocacy for Positive Change Within the University System.

Hearty Congratulations, Madam!

Emeritus Professor Peter Akinsola Okebukola, OFR, FIAE, FSAN, FNAEE, FSTAN

A Professor of Science & Computer Education and Fellow, International Academy of Education, Peter Akinsola Okebukola was educated in Nigeria and abroad. Among other qualifications, he holds the University of Ibadan Bachelor’s, Master’s & Doctorate degrees in Science Education as well as Specialist Certificates in Science & Computer Education from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, both in the USA.

In academia, Peter Okebukola has served as secondary school Science Teacher&Senior Education Officer; college of education Lecturer; and Senior Lecturer up to Professor, Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo-Lagos. He subsequently served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University. He has recently been made Emeritus Professor by LASU – the first so appointed by the University.

Based on his sterling performance at LASU, Professor Peter Okebukola was named Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC). In that capacity, he led the regulatory agency for that tier of tertiary education in Nigeria; to revitalise its national accreditation process and develop a model of quality assurance that has received global acclaim.

Beyond his primary constituency, Professor Peter Okebukola has variously served as a Consultant to a number of government and international agencies. These include: UNESCO, UNICEF, the African Union, the World Bank, European Union, Association of African Universities, World Wildlife Fund, JAMB, NUC, He has also served as Chairman of Council of four Nigerian universities; Chairman — Boards of Trustees of Crawford University and Caleb University; ECOWAS Representative on the Governing Council of the Pan African University owned by the African Union; and Africa Representative, International Council of Associations for Science Education.

The Executive Chairman, Okebukola Science Foundation, Professor Peter Okebukola has also been the President, Global University Network for Innovation (GUNI)-Africa which conducts capacity-building  in quality assurance for higher education teachers and researchers in Africa, since 2004. He is also the incumbent Director of the Virtual Institute for Capacity Building in Higher Education, which has trained over 300 certified accreditors to date.

Author& co-Author of numerous published works and presentations at learned fora, Professor Peter Okebukola is an active Member of several professional bodies, including: Science Teachers Association of Nigeria, International Academy of Education, Institute of Biology (London), American Educational Research Association, Educational Studies Association of Nigeria, National Association for Environmental Education, and Science Teachers Association of Western Australia.

He has been variously honoured by academia and the wider society for his value-added contributions. Among these recognitions are: Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR); 1969 John F. Kennedy Essay Award; 1992 UNESCO Kalinga Prize for the Communication of Science; several international gold medals in science & computer education; and a  number of honorary doctor-of-science degrees.

Ladies & Gentlemen, we respectfully invite Professor Peter Akinsola Okebukola to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award For Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Education.

Congratulations, Sir!

Honourable Dr. Chile Eboe-Osuji

An accomplished International Jurist, Teacher, Author and Administrator, Honourable Judge (Dr.) Chile Eboe-Osuji was born in Añara, Isiala Mbano, Imo State, Nigeria, on September 2, 1962.  Among other academic and professional qualifications, he holds the LL.B, LL.M and Ph.D. degrees from Universities of Calabar, Nigeria, McGill, Canada and  Amsterdam, The Netherlands, respectively. An honorary Doctor of letters by the University of Middlesex, London, England. He was variously called to the Nigerian Bar and to the Bar in Ontario and British Columbia in Canada.

Dr. Chile Eboe-Osuji was a Judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague for nine (9) years and the first Nigerian to serve as an ICC judge.

In 2018, he was elevated to the position of (4th) President of the Court by his fellow judges – a trust he managed commendably over a 3-year tenure. The first African to hold the post, he presided over an 18-Judge Court undeterred in their collective determination to discharge the mandate of humanity,  despite serious political attacks directed at the Court by a most powerful government. With the unalloyed support of his colleagues, his leadership ensured that “the ICC became the principal pillar of the international rule of law; a key tool in the pursuit of international peace and the protection of humankind from unspeakable acts of inhumanity”.

Highlights of his tenure at the helm of the ICC include: development of international law which made it clear that international law does not recognize immunity  for heads of state accused of international crimes before an international court; judgments that underscored the importance of the ICC as a court of fair proceedings where everyone including accused persons would receive justice; a holistic systems review — the first of such an exercise in the Court’s history – to strengthen the ICC as an institution and maintain its independence as the cornerstone of its legitimacy.

Prior to his appointment as a Judge of the ICC, Chile Eboe-Osuji had a brilliant career in legal practice and related assignments. As a Barrister, he appeared before trial courts in Nigeria and Canada as well as conducted appeals before the Court of Appeal for Ontario (Canada) and the Supreme Court of Canada.

At the international level, he was also Legal Expert to Nigeria’s delegation to the ICC-ASP Special Working Group on the Definition of the Crime of Aggression.

He served as Legal Adviser to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights — anchoring the High Commissioner’s interventions in cases involving human rights issues and leading the writing of amicus curiae submissions to the European Court of Human Rights and the United States Supreme Court. At various times, he also served as a Senior Prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the Special Court for Sierra Leone.

As a legal scholar, Judge Eboe-Osuji is currently the Distinguished International Jurist at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law at the Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada (and the Special Advisor to the President of the University); as well as the Paul Martin Senior Professor of Political Science, International Relations and Law, at the University of Windsor, Canada; and Visiting Professor of Law at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law. He has also held academic appointments as the Herman Phleger Visiting Professor of Law at the Stanford University Law School; Senior Fellow at the Carr Center of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University; and an Adjunct Professor of International Criminal Law at the University of Ottawa, Canada.

He has an extensive record of legal scholarship and publications, including the celebrated book International Law and Sexual Violence in Armed Conflicts; as well as Protecting Humanity (ed.). He is the Editor-in-Chief of both the Nigerian Yearbook of International Law; and of the Canadian Review of International Law and Policy.

Judge Dr. Chile Eboe-Osuji is the first official (incumbent or retired) from ICC to receive the prestigious Goler T Butcher Medal from the American Society of International Law.

Ladies & Gentlemen, we proudly invite His Excellency, Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji to receive the “Hallmarks of Labour-Emeka Anyaoku Life-Time Achievement Award to Nigeria’s Outstanding International Icon”.

Congratulations Sir!

Honourable Justice Paul Galumje, JSC(Rtd.), MIDRI

A retired justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and member, International Dispute Resolution Institute, Paul Adamu Galumje obtained Professional qualification in law from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and Nigerian Law School, Lagos; and was called to the Bar in July 1978. Over the years, he also benefitted from several conferences, workshops and seminars within and outside the country.

His career in legal practice began in 1974 as Assistant Registrar, North Eastern State Judiciary, Gongola; rising to Higher Registrar in 1977.

Appointed a Magistrate in 1979, he earned the rank of a High Court Judge in Taraba State in 1990. In this capacity, he displayed tremendous courage, for example, in Suit no. TRSJ/56/2000 HON. ABU ISA AJIYA & 9 ORS V. HON. JOLLY B.C. YERIMA & 10 ORS. In this case, Speaker and his deputy were wrongfully suspended by the House of Assembly who was unable to convince two-third of the members to carry out their wish. They suspended both the speaker and his deputy and  went on to appoint one of them a pro tempo.

The suspended Speaker and His Deputy went on to file a case in court and the said case was assigned to Honourable Justice Galumje. .

A few days later pressure within and outside judiciary was exerted to persuade him to uphold the decision of the House of Assembly, but he did not succumb to the pressure.

However, at the end of the case, Justice Galumje found out that the members who suspended the Speaker were wrong and he pronounced so in his judgment.

For this and many others, he was subjected to all sorts of maltreatment by the state. He lived with such conditions until 2005 when he was promoted to Federal Judiciary as a Justice of the Court of Appeal. Here again, the case of Alhaji M.M. Dingyadi & annor. V. INEC & Ors. Justice Galumje also displayed exemplary courage when the case came to the court of Appeal, and he was a member of the panel that took the appeal. Thereafter, intrigues set in when he and some members of the panel refused to be bribed to do the wrong thing. For this, they were subjected to queries. Indeed, this was the case that led to the suspension of his lordship, Hon Justice Ayo Isa Salami, the then president of the court of Appeal for no just cause. It is also important to note that Judgement in that appeal has not been delivered till date. Eleven years later, he was elevated to the highest court in the land – the Supreme Court of Nigeria where he retired from full-time service in April 2020.

Honourable Justice Galumje has also served society in many other critical capacities. These include: Chairman of Commissions of Inquiry and of the Robbery & Firearms Tribunal, Taraba State.

A member of the International Dispute Resolution Institute, Honourable Justice Galumje has presented papers at many learned fora across the country.

He is happily married with children to Mrs. Zeporah Galumje.

Ladies & Gentlemen, it is a pleasure to invite Honourable Justice Paul Adamu Galumje to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Life-Time Achievement Award for Exemplary/Courageous Service to the Advancement of our Legal System.

Congratulations Sir.

 

Hon Justice Andrews Obaseki JSC Rtd. CON LL.D [H.C.] HLR

We are here to pay tribute to Honourable Justice Andrews Otutu Obaseki, Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Reading, United Kingdom; Bachelor of Laws, London & Barrister-at-Law of Lincoln’s Inn, London; quondam Chief Registrar, High Court of Midwest Nigeria; quondam Acting Chief Justice, Midwest Nigeria: Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria; Life Member, Body of Benchers; Fellow, Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies; Commander of the Order of the Niger; accomplished Jurist; and The Obaseki of Benin Kingdom. BORN on the 11th day of June, 1926 in Benin City, he attended Edo College, Benin City as a foundation student between 1937 and 1940; Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar, 1940-1942; School of Agriculture at Moor Plantation, Ibadan 1943-45; University of Reading, England, 1945-1948; the London School of Economics & Political Science, 1948-1951; and at the Council for Legal Education, London, 1949-1952. He thus had a varied and solid educational background which imbued him with a breadth of vision and high potential that were to yield good dividends in later years.

IN his private legal practice spanning 1952 to 1958, Andrews Obaseki became a powerful advocate and brilliant solicitor. Observing his sterling qualities, Government invited him in 1958 to set up the legal department of the Nigerian Building Society where he also became the staff solicitor. The same year, he was appointed President, Benin Divisional Grade A Customary Court, which was a Court of first instance, and President, Customary Court of Appeal for Benin Division, which laid the foundation for his long association with the Bench. Though the remuneration from these customary court appointments was not comparable to the rewards from private legal practice, Andrews Obaseki, fired by a crusading zeal to reform the customary courts and bring justice to the people at all levels, accepted to serve.

In 1960, Andrews Obaseki was appointed the supervising authority for all customary courts in the then Benin Province – covering Benin, Esan, Afenmai and Asaba divisions at the time, visiting all courts, exchanging views with the members and reviewing cases as necessary. He organized training courses for customary court members to ensure that the courts developed as temples of Justice, and not into instruments of oppression or vendetta. This was to have a parallel at the Supreme Court. Reflecting on the Nigerian court system, Justice Andrews Obaseki asserts that “Justice in the courts is the same whether in the native courts, the High Courts or in the Supreme Court; the measure is the same and it is only when there is an error in the application of the substantive law that the different levels come in to make the necessary correction…” In the year 1963, he was appointed Chief Registrar of the high court of Midwestern Nigeria, with the tasks of setting up magisterial districts & judicial divisions and grading posts in the judiciary in the state. Barely a year later, in March 1964, he was appointed a Judge of the high court of the region; later acting Chief Judge, which he held twice. His career was laced not only with knowledge in the law but also sagacity and common sense. He was outstanding in his dealings with those he controlled and the litigants whose cases he sat upon. The big break came in September 1975 when he was elevated to the position of a Justice of the Supreme Court [JSC] of Nigeria. A highly visible and articulate member of the apex Court, Hon. Justice Obaseki soon established unambiguous traits: He became renowned in his judgements and writing. He fought his wars and he wrote Volumes. He philosophized, pontificated, laid down his rules and bestrode the Supreme Court like a Colossus. Hon. Justice Obaseki at all times maintained his integrity, contemplative dignity and far-sighted impartiality. From many of his judgements on the Supreme Court Bench, a flood of legal wisdom poured forth. When he spoke, it was in measured tones, soft but poignant, calm but deep. Few words were wasted as he enunciated principles, explained values and laid down rules. The inclinations of a teacher, historian, political scientist and sociologist were all reflected as he admonished erring lawyers, overruled illogical conclusions and canvassed a new and more liberal national judicial order. The height which he attained has been beautifully sketched by the Nigerian Law Publications Limited in their book Justice Obaseki, Supreme Court Years, 1975-1991: His Notable Pronouncements (1991). With some 658 judgements comprising 530 concurring judgements, 2 dissenting judgements and 126 lead judgements given over a period of 16 years, Hon. Justice Obaseki demonstrated his wide knowledge base – derived from extensive reading, intensive studies, meticulous research, deep reflections, writing skills and brilliant oratory. It is no wonder that his colleagues of the Supreme Court attributed to him the learning and wisdom of “Coke and Littleton” who for centuries have been recognized as the greatest of the English jurists. Indeed Hon. Justice Kayode Eso [of blessed memory] described Hon. Justice Andrews Otutu Obaseki as “a great man by any standard and any yardstick, indeed by any in the world one of the acknowledged jurists in contemporary common law jurisdiction, or without being immodest, certainly in the history of jurisprudence in this country”.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here to celebrate a great Nigerian, a man of great intellect & wisdom, a Judge of Judges, among the finest and the best, a sage of liberal orientation, a philosopher, humanist and community developer. On the bases of his Exemplary and Courageous Service to the Advancement of our Legal System particularly in the area of Adjudication, it is with a sense of mission that we invite HIS LORDSHIP, HONOURABLE JUSTICE ANDREWS O. O. OBASEKI [JSC Rtd.] CFR, LL.D [Honoris Causa] a Great Nigerian, to step up and join the league of worthy recipients of the HALLMARKS OF LABOUR ROLE MODEL AWARD.

Congratulations!!!

Professor Oyewale Tomori

Professor Oyewale Tomori was born in Ilesa, Osun State on February 3, 1946. Among others, he holds doctorate degrees in Veterinary Medicine and Virology; and a number of Fellowships & professional certificates. Administrator, educationist and community developer, Professor Oyewale Tomori has served in academia for over forty years. He was with the College of Medicine & University College Hospital of the University of Ibadan from 1971 to 1994. Starting off as a Research Fellow II, he attained the rank of Professor in ten years. He also variously served as two-term Head, Department of Virology & Director, WHO Centre for Arbo-virus Reference & Research; and Director, Post-Graduate Institute for Medical Research & Training.  In 1994, he was appointed Regional Virologist/Laboratory Co-ordinator, WHO Africa Regional Office. Ten years later, he became pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Redeemer’s University, Ogun State.  With a philosophy of education for nation building, Professor Oyewale Tomori has made tremendous impact through his specialties. Some of his contributions are telling:

n  In his first career decade, he acquired and developed diagnostic skills; using them to seek solutions to the problems of viral disease epidemics. His main focus in the last decade has been on training and developing younger researchers.

n  Backed by several scholarships, grants and travel fellowships, Professor Oyewale Tomori has been a major research catalyst; indeed, a strong ally of top laboratories, institutions and Governments involved with Arbo-viruses. Interestingly, his Ph.D. Thesis is titled “Orungo [UGMP 359 virus] — A Hitherto Undescribed Virus”.

n  He was in the vanguard of research efforts into a range of dreaded diseases, including Lassa Fever, Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever, Yellow Fever, Marburg in many African countries.

n  At Ibadan, he progressively instituted a regimen that empowered young students to take on the increasing challenges of health sciences within and beyond Africa.

n  Practically ‘On Call’ across the world, his other critical assignments include: founding Chairman, Board of the Bio-Vaccines Limited; Committee membership for Africa Regional Polio Certification, Eastern Mediterranean Regional Polio Certification, WHO Advisory on Variola Virus Research, WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts, WHO Polio Research, WHO Group of Experts on Yellow Fever Disease, and International Consortium on Anti-Virals, Canada.

n  His focus at WHO Regional Office in Harare was to integrate laboratory diagnostic services with disease surveillance for disease prevention and control. Outcomes included the establishment of a reliable and functional African Network of Polio Laboratories as well as laboratory networks for measles, yellow fever and influenza.

n  As Redeemer’s University’s Chief Executive & Chief Academic Officer for seven years, he contributed significantly to developing and moulding the future generation of Nigerians, with a vision for a better Nigeria.  He laid the foundation for that institution’s reputation for espousing and engendering moral rebirth and acquisition of usable knowledge and marketable skills.

n  He has delivered Virology lectures in other tertiary institutions; and supervised & examined several students at the Master’s and Doctoral levels in medicine, veterinary medicine & biological sciences. He is also

involved in the training of Public Health Officers on disease surveillance, prevention and control.

n  He is author and co-author of many publications and informed presentations, and a regular feature on lecture circuits, with active participation in several conferences, workshops, seminars and related fora across the world.

Deservedly, Professor Oyewale Tomori has been honoured locally and internationally for his contributions. They include:

Ø Foundation Fellow, the College of Veterinary Surgeons of Nigeria; Fellow, the Royal College of Pathologists of the UK; Fellow, the Nigerian Academy of Sciences; and recipient of the Nigerian National Order of Merit Award

Ø Elevated to 1 of only 40 Fellows (The World Over) of the American Society of Tropical Medicine &Hygiene.

USA Public Health Service Certificate for invaluable contributions to Lassa Fever Research.

Ø The Government of Cote D’Ivoire renamed its ‘Enterovirus & Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Laboratory’ at the Institute Pasteur to ‘Oyewale Tomori Laboratory’.

Ø The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Science & Technology Merit Award for excellence in medical research.

Currently, the President of Nigerian Academy of Science, Professor Tomori is happily married to Mrs. Aderemi Omowumi Tomori and blessed with children.

*****

Ladies and Gentlemen, Hallmarks of Labour Foundation proudly presents Professsor Oyewale Tomori, Professor of Medicine, educationist and University administrator to receive the “HLF-Umaru Shehu Life-Time Award for Consistent Advocacy for Positive Change within the University System”.

Congratulations.

 

Award Category: HLF-Umaru Shehu Life-Time Award for Consistent Advocacy for Positive Change within the University System

Chief Dr. Molade Alexandria Okoya-Thomas, MFR

Chief Dr. Molade Alexandria Okoya-Thomas was born in Lagos on June 8, 1935. He obtained his formal education at Princess School, Lagos, Baptist Academy, Lagos, Balham & Tooting College of Commerce, London, and Columbia University, New York. He holds professional qualifications in accountancy, commerce and business management.

An icon of the Nigerian automotive industry, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas joined the staff of the French conglomerate, CFAO Nigeria Limited in 1959 rising to Director in 1975, Deputy Managing Director in 1981 and Chairman of the Group in 1987. Various other appointments in the private sector established him as a Captain of Industry. They include:

Long before it became fashionable in Government circles, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas had been active in the promotion of Public-Private Partnerships [PPP] for development, particularly with successive Governments of his home State, Lagos. Beyond commerce and industry, he has also served in various public sector capacities. These assignments include: Member, Lagos City Council, Member, Lagos State Development & Property Corporation, and Chairman, Board of Trustees — Glover Memorial Hall and Tom Jones Hall.

He is the current Chancellor, Lagos State University, Ojo.

An active sportsman in his youth, he  was a Joint All Nigeria Record Holder of 4 by 220 yards relay race in 1995 while at Baptist Academy Lagos. He has been the sole sponsor of the annual Asoju Oba Table Tennis Championships for over four decades. Indeed, this competition has produced several lawn tennis stars and administrators on the national and international circuits. This celebrated philanthropist has similarly pressed into service as Vice-Chairman, Lagos State Sports Council, President, Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Chairman, 3rd All-Africa Games Appeal Fund Committee, Chairman, National Appeal Fund for Sports Development, and Chairman, Sports Trust Fund.

It is note worthy that Dr. Okoya Thomas built and donated a Modern Sports Hall for students and staff of the Lagos State University (LASU) in 2009

A man of many parts, Dr. Molade Okoya-Thomas has been honoured within and outside Nigeria. Among others, he is:

n  A Member of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (MFR).

n  Recipient of the Chevalier De La Legion Dâ Honneur the highest national honour of France.

n  First Nigerian Fellow of the World Academy of Productivity Science.

n  Fellow, Institute of Directors, Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Management, Member, Institute of Company & Commercial Accountants, and Associate, National Accountants of Nigeria.

n  The best graduating student in his set at Baptist Academy, and recipient of many honorary degrees, including Doctor of Science in Accountancy from Crescent University, Abeokuta.

A Papal Knight of St. Sylvester, Sir Molade Okoya-Thomas has also served the prestigious Lagos Island Club as President. His tremendous support for the promotion of cultural values, traditional institutions and charity has also earned him recognition in other awards and chieftaincy titles, including Asoju Oba of Lagos, Babasuwa of Ijebu-Remo and Odofin of Ife.

He is happily married with children.

*****

Ladies & gentlemen, we present to you, Chief Dr. Molade Alexandria Okoya-Thomas for the ”Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Automotive Industry & Sports Development”.

Congratulations.

 

Award  Category: Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Automotive Industry & Sports Development

Professor Joseph Ogbonnaya Irukwu, SAN

Lawyer, educationist, author & Chartered Insurer, Professor Joseph Ogbonnaya Irukwu, SAN holds the MBA and Ph.D. degrees. He was called to the English Bar in 1962 and enrolled as a Solicitor & Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria the same year.

Over the years, he held key positions in the public and private sectors. He was the pioneer Managing Director/Chief Executive of the highly-successful Nigeria Re-insurance Corporation, in which capacity he served for 12 years.  His other roles include:

 Legal Adviser to the West Africa Provincial Insurance Company [WAPIC].

 Chief Executive, Unity, Life & Fire Insurance Company Limited.

 Founder & Executive Chairman, African Development Insurance Company Limited [now, ADIC Insurance Limited].

 Chairman, Cargo Defence Fund of the Nigerian Shippers Council.

 Consultant to the United Nations Conference on Trade & Development, and Chairman, International Finance & Allied Trades Exhibition and Conference Limited.

 Member, Presidential Council of the International Association for Insurance Law.

 Chairman, Nigerian Students Loans Board, 1972-1978.

 Chairman, Development Initiatives Network  dedicated to the promotion of good governance, human rights, economic empowerment & environmental sustainability.

 Director, Guinness Nigeria PLC & Chairman of its Finance & Risk Committee, 1996-Date.

 Director, Unitrust Insurance Company Limited.

He also served as Chairman, African Continental Bank PLC and Co-operative & Commerce Bank PLC.

In academia, Professor Joe Irukwu is easily a pioneer in insurance and related studies in Nigeria. His lecture circuits span several African countries, even as he is also an Examiner in many universities. Among others, he is Professor of Insurance Studies at the West African Insurance Institute & Chairman of its Board of Studies as well as Adjunct Professor of Insurance & Insurance Law at Enugu State University of Science & Technology.

An accomplished Author, Professor Joe Irukwu, he has written 13 books on various aspects of Insurance, Law and Risk Management; and co-authored the widely-acclaimed International Encyclopaedia of Laws [published for the 1st World Law Conference held in Brussels-Belgium].

He is very active in a number of professional bodies. Among his varied roles are:

 Fellow — British Institute of Management; Nigerian Institute of Management; Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London; Corporation of Insurance Brokers; and West African Insurance Institute.

 President — African Insurance Law Association, Nigerian Insurance Law Association, Faculty of Risk Management, and African Insurance Educators Agency.

  Founding President, Professional Reinsurers Association of Nigeria; Past President, Insurance Institute of Nigeria; Past Chairman, Nigerian Insurers Association; and Past President, West African Insurance Companies Association.

Within and outside Nigeria, this eminent educationist and risk manager has been accorded numerous recognitions. Included here are:

  1997 National Productivity Order of Merit conferred by the Nigerian Head of State, for outstanding contributions to national productivity and development.

  Senior Advocate of Nigeria, 2003.

  First African to be decorated in Paris-France with John S. Bickley Founders’ Gold Medal and the IIS Award for Excellence in recognition of his outstanding professional & intellectual contributions to the development of insurance and risk management “ the highest award in the world of insurance”.

  Gold Medals and Certificates of Merit by the African Insurance Organization, West African Insurance Companies Association, and Federation of National Insurance Companies of French-Speaking African Countries.

 Honorary doctorate degrees.

  1993 & 1998 Merit Award of the Government of Abia State for outstanding and meritorious service to the State and the nation.

Patron of many philanthropic organizations across Africa, he also served as President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo the pan-Igbo socio-cultural organization.

He is married with children.

*****

Ladies and gentlemen, we present an undisputed Leader of Insurance in Nigeria, an Educationist, Author and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Professor Joseph Ogbonnaya. Irukwu for the “Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Outstanding Contributions in the fields of Insurance & Risk Management”.

Congratulations.

 

Award Category: Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Outstanding Contributions in the fields of Insurance & Risk Management.

Professor Adetokunbo Oluwole Lucas, OFR

Acclaimed at home and abroad as an authority on Tropical Medicine, he joined the staff of University College Hospital, Ibadan/University of Ibadan in 1960 as a Lecturer — attaining the rank of Professor of Preventive & Social Medicine at a young age 33years old. While at Ibadan, he developed the specialties into a multi-discplinary Institute of Public Health and generated services required and appreciated by Faculty colleagues. For over half a century, Dr. Lucas has devoted his life to public health and has actively participated in almost every public health issue in Nigeria. Moving on in 1976, Professor Adetokunbo Lucas progressively undertook several strategic assignments across the world; with tremendous impacts. Among these are:

Pioneer Director, UNDP/World Bank, WHO Special Programmes for Research & Training in Tropical Diseases in Geneva, Switzerland, for 10 years, 1976-1986. During which time, his work contributed to highly productive and effective research into several tropical parasitic diseases, including malaria, schistosomiasis, the filariases, leishmaniasis, chagas disease, African trypanosomiasis [sleeping sickness], onchocerciasis [river blindness] and leprosy that affect millions of people in tropical Africa, Asia, and South America.

He was Chairman: Carnegie Corporation Grant Programme to strengthen human resources in developing countries, and Chairman, Global Forum for international health research.

He was West and Central African Representative on the Governing Board of the Global Fund for Fighting AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria.

Chairman of Council, International Epidemiological Association, 1971-1974; First President, International Federation of Tropical Medicine, 1988-1992; and Board Member — African Medical & Research Foundation and Global Network for Community Development.

Here in Nigeria, he was the first Chairman, National Medical Research Council, he also headed the committee that designed Nigeria’s Health Policy. Similarly, he has been very active on the Advisory Boards of such high-profile national institutions and international agencies as Rockefeller Foundation, Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, Carter Centre, the Welcome Trust Scientific Group on Tropical Medicine, the Bill & Melinda Gates Children’s Vaccine Programme, as well as on the Governing Boards of the Global Fund for Fighting AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria; the Centre for Agriculture & Bio-Sciences International; and African Medical & Research Foundation International.

He has received many national and international awards which include:

Other awards include:

n    The Harvard Medal; Mary Kingsley Medal of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine; and Harvard School of Public Health Alumni Award of Merit.

n      A Lecture Room in The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine named in his honour.

n     Honorary doctorate degrees from Emory University, Tulane University, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, University of Ibadan, and Universities of Brighton & Sussex Medical School.

He is happily married with children.

*****

Ladies and gentlemen, we present Professor Adetokunbo Oluwole Lucas a Global health leader, an Authority in Tropical Medicine and Author of numerous books for the “Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Outstanding Contributions in the field of Medicine”.

Congratulations.

 

Award Category: Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Outstanding Contributions in the field of Medicine

His Excellency, Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji, CON

His Excellency, Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji was born in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State on July 22, 1934. He attended Ijebu-Ode Grammar School; Nigerian College of Arts, Science & Technology; and University of Ibadan. He holds the B.A. Honours degree in History and several other qualifications in international studies.

A career diplomat with over four decades’ cognate experience, Ambassador Adeniji served Nigeria and the international community in many strategic capacities. He joined the Foreign Service in July 1960, and held positions in the Ministry’s headquarters and abroad. Among these, he was:

He retired from full the Federal public service in 1994.

Between July 2003 and June 2006, Ambassador Adeniji served as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. The highly-respected ‘Negotiator par Excellence’ achieved a decent balance in the diplomatic postings of career & ‘non-career’ officers, and headed a number of delegations that helped restore Nigeria’s credibility in the comity of nations. He was actively involved in Nigeria’s de-listing from the financial blacklist countries; strengthening of ties with regional blocs; increasing concerted actions by ECOWAS member-States; and formation of the African Strategic Peace Research Group. Many Nigerians, who observed him direct the Executive Council of the 5th Session of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, were overcome with a rare sense of national pride and dignity. He displayed the kind of soft power that is endearing to all, even as he acted firmly but sensitively against belligerent colleagues. He subsequently served as Minister of Interior.

In early March 2008, he was appointed Session Chair of the Eminent African Personalities Panel to oversee negotiations to resolve Kenya’s political crisis.  In the same vein, he was Special Envoy of the African Union Chairperson for the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan.

In the United Nations system, Ambassador Adeniji served as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative & Head of the UN Peacemaking Mission in the Central African Republic, with the rank of an Under-Secretary-General. He was the first Nigerian to head such a mission.

He was also the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative & Head of the Peacemaking Mission in Sierra Leone – thus heading the largest UN mission in history. He held that position for about four years; and at a critical stage in the peace-making & peace-keeping process in the war-ravaged country. Indeed, the success of that mission was worth the investment of the UN and the commitment of the accomplished diplomat and his team.

Ambassador Adeniji also variously served as a:

n    Trustee, UNESCO Prize for Peace Education.

n    Member, UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament.

n    Trustee, UN Institute for Disarmament.

n    Core Group Member, Nuclear Non-Proliferation programme.

n    Member, Expert Group on the African Union Conflict Resolution Mechanism.

n    Consultant to UNESCO.

n    Consultant to UNDP on Governance in Africa, which formed the basis of the Annual African Governance Conference.

A highly-versatile diplomat and adept in multi-lateralism, he is widely-acknowledged as an expert in Disarmament and International Security. His proposal led to the creation of a UN Fellowship Programme in Disarmament, which has since trained over 500 diplomats across the world. He also chaired many international fora, including the 1st UN Conference on Inhumane Weapons and the UN General Assembly 2nd Special Session on Disarmament.

The author of the highly-acclaimed “Essay on Nigerian Foreign Policy, Governance & International Security” also served as Co-Chairman of an International Group of Diplomats and Academicians to study the burning issue of the global circulation of Conventional Weapons. In the same vein, he was Consultant to the international Peace Academy and a Senior Associate of the University of Lancaster, U.K and the Development Centre, Stadan.

A Commander of the Order of the Niger and a recipient of the Nigerian National Productivity Award, Ambassador Adeniji has been honoured severally within and outside the country.

He is happily married, with children, to Mrs. Margaret Olubunmi Adeniji.

***

Ladies and gentlemen, we present His Excellency, Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji for the “HLF-Emeka Anyaoku Life-Time Award as Nigeria’s Outstanding International Icon”.

Congratulations.

 

Award Category: HLF-Emeka Anyaoku Life-Time Award as Nigeria’s Outstanding International Icon

Honourable Justice George Adesola Oguntade, CFR

Honourable Justice George Adesola Oguntade was born in Epe, Lagos on March 10, 1940. He attended Holborn College of Law [University of London], UK (1961-1964); and the Nigerian Law School, Lagos in 1965. He was called to the Nigerian Bar on January 15, 1966.  George Oguntade’s legal career commenced with a three-year stint as a Court Clerk at the High Court of Justice, Ibadan. After his call-to-bar, he engaged in private legal practice for 14 years and was appointed a Judge of the Lagos High Court in 1980, and then preferred to the Court of Appeal seven years later.  On May 19, 2004, he was elevated to the nation’s apex court – the Supreme Court of Nigeria where he served meritoriously till March 10, 2010 having attained the mandatory retirement age of 70 years.

Undoubtedly, Justice George Oguntade is one of the sharpest legal minds that ever sat on the Higher Bench in Nigeria. In his service on the Bench, he made his mark in the advancement of the nation’s legal system, even at great risk to his person. His many strategic postings included Chairman, Lagos State Armed Robbery & Firearms Tribunal; Justice of the Court of

Appeal, Enugu; Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Ibadan; Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Jos; Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Lagos; and Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Such were his sound judgments at the High Court that they were hardly over-turned by the Appellate Court. In the same vein, he worked very hard to clear back-logs of appeals at the four Appellate Courts over which he presided. Among the celebrated cases he presided over or co-handled were:

Justice Oguntade’s tenure at the Supreme Court of Nigeria witnessed the delivery of many landmark judgments, which have impacted significantly on our legal system, particularly in the area of constitutional and administrative law. A fearless and courageous George, thorough and resolute in his reasoning, Justice Oguntade would not hesitate to disagree with his colleagues when the need arose.

In his dissenting judgment of the appeal by the Presidential candidate of the ANPP, General Muhammadu Buhari [Rtd.] against the declared winner, President Umaru Yar’Adua of the PDP, Hon. Justice Oguntade annulled the election and ordered a re-run. Interestingly, the President was to admit later that the election was flawed. So sound were his dissenting/minority judgments that rather than alienate him from his colleagues; they have set the tone for younger legal practitioners to explore other angles to similar cases.

Indeed, his understanding of the law and the adjudicatory process as manifested in his judgments, are reference points to lawyers and law students alike. By his incisive and analytical pronouncements, he has contributed to the development of jurisprudence in Nigeria.

Justice George Oguntade has over the years been invited to different fora to share his knowledge, experiences and perspectives on various aspects of law and jurisprudence.

Among his refreshing & illuminating presentations are:

.Beyond the Judiciary, Justice Oguntade has also served society in many other roles.

He is Chairman, Customer Complaint Bureau, Nigerian Insurers Association and member, World Jurist Association.

He is Commander of the Order of the Niger and Commander of the Federal Republic.

A God fearing man, he has been Chancellor of Anglican Diocese of Lagos since 1992 and the recipient of the First Anglican Communion National Award for Integrity & Excellence. Justice Oguntade is happily married to Mrs Modupeola Adewemimo with children and grand children.

*****

Today, Hallmarks of Labour Foundation is proud to invite Honourable Justice George Oguntade to receive the “HLF Life-time Achievement Award for Exemplary/Courageous Service to the Advancement of our Legal System, particularly in Adjudication”.

Congratulations.

 

Award Category: Hallmarks of Labour Foundation is proud to invite Honourable Justice George Oguntade to receive the “HLF Life-time Achievement Award for Exemplary/Courageous Service to the Advancement of our Legal System, particularly in Adjudication

His Eminence, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie

His Eminence, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie was born in Lagos on June 16, 1936 into a royal family of Uromi, Esan North East Local Government of Edo State. He was educated at Holy Cross School, Lagos; St. Patrick’s School, Sapele; St. Gregory’s College, Lagos; St. Theresa’s Minor Seminary, Ibadan; Saints Peter & Paul Seminary, Ibadan; and Urban University, Rome. Among other qualifications, he holds a Licentiate in Sacred Theology, the Bachelors degree in Divinity, and an honorary doctorate in Divinity.

Ordained a Catholic Priest in 1966, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie has had a distinguished and fulfilling career in the Church. His several postings and assignments speak volumes. Among these are:

On October 21, 2003, some 37 years after his ordination as Priest, Anthony Olubunmi Okogie was proclaimed a cardinal by Pope John Paul II “ the third Nigerian Priest to be so honoured”.

In his capacity as Cardinal Priest of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mt. Carmel of Mostacciano, he was among the Cardinals that voted Pope Benedict XIV in 2005, and Pope Francis in 2013.

Aside from his full-time schedules in the Church, the people’s Priest has served society in many other important capacities. These include:

n    Instructor at King’s College, Lagos.

n    President, Christian Association of Nigeria, 1994-2000.

n    Vice-President & later, President, Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria for about ten years.

As a Priest, Anthony Cardinal Okogie was easily the most visible model of social conscience and practical symbol of the Church as an agent of positive change. He used his good offices optimally to promote the essence of equity, social justice and good governance.

He was unrelenting in his constructive criticism of military juntas and civil dictators alike often at great risk. His various press conferences on the State of the Nation were thoroughly-researched, incisive and pertinent to the meaningful and sustainable development of the society.

Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie resigned from the pastoral governance of the See of Lagos on attaining the mandatory canonical age of 75 years. Over a period of four decades, he had served diligently in the Lord’s Vineyard, with tremendous positive impact and on many generations of congregants and society at large.

*****

Ladies & gentlemen, we present to you, His Eminence, Anthony Cardinal  Olubunmi Okogie, Emeritus Archbishop of Lagos, a visible model of social conscience and true representation of the Church as an agent of positive change to receive  the “Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Outstanding Contributions to Religious Harmony and Social Justice”.

Congratulations.

 

Award Category: Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Outstanding Contributions to Religious Harmony and Social Justice.

MR. Femi Falana, HLR

Femi Falana, lawyer and human rights activist was born 20th may, 1958 at Ilawe, Ekiti State. He was educated at the University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University  Ile- Ife 1977-1981,  and was called to  Bar  in 1982. After his youth service in 1983, Femi Falana joined the Chambers of Alao Aka Bashorun, a great Activist, and here Femi’s zeal for activistism was further nurtured. In 1991 however, Falana started his Chambers, Femi Falana , which later metamorphosed into Falana and Falana Chambers.

A vociferous and dedicated voice in the fight for Human Rights and Justice for the common man, Femi Falana is also closely linked to many Civil Liberty Organizations. Example, the Civil Liberty Organization (CLO), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)…….  He has fought several legal battles defending the right of citizens amongst which is the controversial dismissal of the Ilorin lecturers over their legitimate demands for justice. He also ably represented the Ogoni…………of the Niger Delta at the United Nations.

Human Right Violation Commission: A testament of his impressive performance at the commission is the directive to the Shell Petroleum Development Company to carry out clean-up operations of the Oil Spill in Ogoni Land.

It is also worthy of note that the West African Bar Association under the leadership of Femi Falana amended the protocol, establishing the Court of Justice for Ecowas States whereby the court now allows individuals, as opposed to countries in the region alone, to have access to justice when their human rights is violated.

Mr Femi Falana is a member of numerous legal associations. These includes: The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), African Bar Association (ABA), Pan African Lawyers Union, Honorary member of the American Bar Association, etc.

He is an author of several publications among which are: Legal and Policy Framework of occupational health and safety in Nigeria titled “Working in Danger”; “Anti Labour Legislation in Nigeria Labour Rights’’; “Murder, plain murder in ken Saro- Wiwa and the crisis of the Niger Delta, and Fawehinmi verses Abacha: Where the Court of Appeal erred in social justice.

Mr Femi Falana ia a recipient of National and International Awards / Honour. some of which are: “Defender of the year Award” from the international league for Human Rights in 2000; The Ogoni merit award – 2002; Dr Kwame Nkrumah leadership award 2003; and Bernard Simon memorial award for the advancement of human rights- 2003;

This indefatigable human rights activist and defender of the poor upped the ante of his struggle by entering the foray of the murky waters of Nigerian Politics by contesting the 2007 governorship election in Ekiti State under the banner of the National Conscience Party (NCP) founded by the equally irrepressible senior Advocate of Nigeria, Gani Fawehinmi.

It is to promote and encourage patriotism, justice, good governance and to prove that if people are determined, change is indeed achievable. By his convictions, he has risked his life, position and freedom to stand against injustice. It is therefore because of his sacrifices and that of patriots like him that Nigeria has become a more humane place for all of us. Ladies and Gentlemen, Hallmarks of Labour Foundation is proud to present the 2011 Gani Fawehinmi life – time award to the most consistent Advocate for Human Rights and Civil Liberties in Nigeria, Mr Femi Falana.

Congratulations!

 

Award Category: HLF GANI FAWEHINMI LIFE-TIME Achievement Award to theMost Consistent Advocate for Human Rights and Civil Liberties in Nigeria

Prof. Attahiru Muhammadu Jega

Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, Labour activist, astute academic and consummate teacher was born on 11th January 1957 in Jega, present kebbi State of Nigeria. He was educated at Bayero University College, Kano (ABU, Zaria) and North-Western University,  Illinois, U.S.A, where he obtained his Masters and Doctorate Degrees Hons.  in Political Science, between 1981 and 1985.

In 1979, he took up a teaching appointment at Bayero University, Kano and held the positions of Lecturer, Reader and professor of Political Science. He also served as Head of the Department of Political Science, Dean of the Faculty of Social and Management Science and Director of the Centre for Democratic Research and Training (CDRT, mambayya House) all in Bayero University, Kano.

A strict disciplinarian, Professor Jega brought a lot of decorum to campus life. He made strict rules against indecent dressing on the two campuses of Bayero University, Kano and placed campus politics under critical watch. He also introduced many courses and erected several structures including hostels and lecture halls.

Though best known as a labour activist and astute academic, his tenure as the Vice – Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, saw transformation in various facets, thereby elevating the Institution to the position of best University, according to the National Universities Commission (NUC) rating.

Perhaps the most visible of his contributions to the University system in Nigeria occurred during his tenure as the President of the Academic staff Union of Universities (ASUU).  A determined opponent of the military government in the early 1990s, he had a strong sense of ethics and morality, and he exhibited exemplary leadership qualities of courage and consistency in his fight for University autonomy and academic freedom.

Among his achievements was the 1992 welfare agreement for increased salaries and improved funding for the University system. Professor Jega’s ASUU team also recommended the idea that all companies operating in the country should pay a form of education tax. That idea was bought and subsequently gave birth to the establishment of the Education Tax Fund (ETF) via a decree in 1993.

An Author of several publications. He is also a recipient of many Awards including, Fellowship Award, National Association for Research and Development, NARD; and Officer of the Federal Republic, OFR.

It is because of these achievements and his consistent advocacy that Hallmarks of Labour Foundation presents to Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, now Chairman of INEC, the HLF Umaru Shehu Award for Nigeria’s most consistent Advocate for positive change within the University system as we invite him to join the league of worthy patriots of Hallmarks of Labour Role Model recipients.

Congratulations!

 

Award Category: HLF UMARU SHEHU Life-time Award to the Most Consistent Advocate for Positive Change within the University system. 

Prof. Adebayo Adedeji

Professor Adebayo Adedeji, born in Ijebu-Ode Ogun State in the year 1930. Has had a singularly distinguished academic, managerial, national and international, diplomatic and political career having served Nigeria in Africa and the international community for over four decades spanning 1950 to 1991.

He was the founder and pioneer Chairman of the Nigeria National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the Pere da la CEDEAO – the father of ECOWAS – which he established in May 1975 under the military government of General Yakubu Gowon, after over three years of arduous negotiations with sixteen governments and countries divided into Anglophone, francophone and Lusophone spheres of influence.

He was appointed Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in Addis Ababa in June 1975 and was promoted to the rank of United Nations Under-Secretary-General in January 1978- a position he held with tremendous success until July 1991 when he resigned his appointment to return to his native country after 16 years of international service.

It must not be forgotten that, at the height of the African Great Drought Disaster and Economic Crisis of 1984 to 1986, Professor Adedeji was designated the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Africa’s Economic Crisis in addition to his onerous duties as ECA’s Chief Executive.

He will always be remembered for his unique initiatives for the sustainable development of Africa. Most notable are: The Lagos plan of Action (1980): The Final Act of Lagos (1980): The African Alternative framework to Structural Adjustment Programme (AAF –SAP, 1989) as the UN Secretary-General’s Special representative on Africa’s Economic crisis, a position he held between 1984 and 1986.

On his resignation from the United Nations, Professor Adedeji established and is currently heading the African Centre for Development and Strategic Studies (ACDESS) – a non-governmental, independent, continental, non-profit-making think-tank which is dedicated to multi-disciplinary and strategic studies on and for Africa.
In recognition of his meritorious services at all levels, he was awarded national honours by seven African countries,  has been conferred with seven honorary doctorate degrees  and was bestowed with the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) in 2001.

Professor Adebayo Adedeji, first Nigerian Professor of Administration, Nigeria’s post war minister of economic planning and reconstruction, father of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). A distinguished United Nations under-Secretary General: Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA): Author and Publisher of numerous books, distinguished academic, national and international diplomat, Professor Adebayo Adedji is indeed Nigeria’s  Most Outstanding International  Economic icon.

Congratulations!

 

Award Category: HLF LIFE-TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD for Nigeria’sMost Outstanding International Economic Icon 

Hon. Justice Kayode Eso

Justice Bobakayode Eso was born on September 18, 1925 at Ilesa, in Osun State, Nigeria. He proceeded to Trinity College, Dublin where he graduated with a Bachelor of Law with Hons Degree in Legal Science in 1953 and a Masters in 1956.

Described as the Father of Judicial Activism in Nigeria, Justice Kayode Eso is the greatest protagonist for an Independent Judiciary and very well known for his relentless efforts in maintaining discipline and protecting the integrity of his court.

On his retirement from the Bench, Hon. Justice Eugene Ubaezonu, JCA, described our Awardee as a strong protagonist of judicial activism and the Lord Denning of Nigeria who refuses to be tied to the apron string of bad statutes or bad decisions.

Another Supreme Court Judge, Justice Pius Aderemi tendered Justice Kayode Eso as a “permanent exhibit”. He also added and I quote “Eso’s decisions as a Judge is legendary and a delight to study”, “Full of erudite scholarship, well reasoned and replete with legal authorities, there are fine statements of law and veritable guides for all in the legal profession or concerned with law”. Justice Aderemi concluded.

A fearless and Courageous Judge, some of Justice Eso’s celebrated landmark judgements speak for themselves, for example,

    The mystery gunman case, which is the trial of Wole Soyinka over his role in a broadcast which the government of the defunct western region of Nigeria termed offensive. Justice Eso returned a verdict of not guilty on Soyinka, and shortly after the judgement, he was transferred from Ibadan to Akure, then regarded as a rural station;

    The celebrated case of Chief Obafemi Awolowo Vs Alhaji Shehu Shagari, in 1979 will forever remain green in Nigeria’s jurisprudence.  The Apex Court in deciding the law relating to election cases had by a majority of 6-1, affirmed the election of Alhaji Shagari as duly elected President. However, the courageous decision of Justice Eso in this case remains legendary. In his dissent opinion, Justice Eso  held that at least two-third of 19 states could only be 13 and not 12 2/3

He has received several Awards and University honours too numerous to mention.  He is Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON): 1979; He received LL.D honoris Causa, University of Ibadan: 1990, and University of Nigeria, Nsukka: 2001, respectively.

He is an author of several books, articles and he has delivered various papers at National and International Seminars.

He is married to Helen Aina Eso and they are blessed with 2 children and five grand children.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, we present to you a distinguished Jurist, a Legal Luminary, a Great Protagonist of a free Judiciary, a fearless and Courageous fighter. It is for His Exemplary/Courageous Service to the Advancement of our Legal System especially in the area of Adjudication that Hallmarks of Labour Foundation has called on HIS LORDSHIP, HOUNOURABLE JUSTICE KAYODE ESO LLD, CON, a Great Nigerian, to step up and join the league of worthy Patriots of the HALLMARKS OF LABOUR ROLE MODEL recipients.

Congratulations

 

Award Category: HLF LIFE-TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD for Exemplary/Courageous Service to the advancement of our Legal system.

Professor Ben Nwabueze -Academics and Publication

Professor Ben Nwabueze or Professor of Professors as he’s fondly called by his numerous admirers is Nigeria’s first academic Senior Advocate of Nigeria. A Teacher, Administrator, Businessman and former Minister of Education and Youth Development, Professor Ben Nwabueze was born on December 22nd, 1932 in Atani, Ogbaru Local government Area of Anambra State.

His academic pursuit started at the CMS Central School Atani, from 1938 – 1945; C.M.S Central School, Onitsha (formerly, African College), 1947 – 1950. He later went to London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London, 1956 – 1961 and School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, 1961 – 1962. From 1962 – 1965, he was Senior Lecturer at Holborn College of Law, London, and Senior Lecturer, University of Nigeria Nsukka, between 1967 – 1970. In 1971, he was Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Zambia and Director, Law practice Institute, Zambia, 1973 – 1975

Although, well supported by both father and uncle initially, the greater part of his Academic pursuits abroad were made possible by scholarship awarded to him for his academic excellence.

Prof. Nwabueze earned his Doctor of Laws (LL.D) at the University of London in 1978, based on his three outstanding books – Constitutionalism, Presidentialism, and Judicialism, thus entering the record books as the second (since the death of Dr. T.O. Elias), the only Nigerian and African holder of a higher doctorate degree in Law by published works.
He is also the first academic lawyer to be made a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 1978 strictly on the basis of his published works.

A seasoned Academician, he was member of Senate of the Universities of Lagos, Dar-es-salaam, Nairobi, Haile Selassie in Ethiopia, Lesotho, Botswana and Swaziland between 1971 – 1978.

He was appointed the University Assessor for Academic Appointments, Universities of Ghana, Lagos, Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University)   and Jos between 1978 – 1979.

A firm believer in publishing, Prof. Ben Nwabueze is the proud author of over thirty books and treatises with an average extent of 400 pages. They include; The Machinery of Justice in Nigeria; Constitutional Law of the Nigerian Republic; Nigerian Land Law and Constitutionalism in the Emergent States. Others are Presidentialism in Commonwealth Africa, Judicialism in Commonwealth Africa; The Presidential Constitution of Nigeria; A Constitutional History of Nigeria; Federalism in Nigeria under the Presidential Constitution; and Nigeria’s Second Experiment in constitutional Democracy in Africa in Five Volumes.

He has written over 200 articles in academic journals and more than 100 keynotes at local and international Conferences.

He is a household name in the Legal Profession and hardly, any other author is as frequently quoted in court judgements as Ben Nwabueze. Although, well known for his teaching, research and writing; Nwabueze continued to participate in University administration.

This erudite Professor was appointed to Professorial Chairs in the following Universities; Zambia, 1970 – 75; Ahmadu Bello university, Zaria, 1974; University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 1975 – 76; Anambra State University of Technology; Nnamdi Azikiwe university, Awka 1989 – 1983 (visiting)

Prof. Ben Nwabueze is also a strong advocate for the Igbo cause. He, alongside other prominent Igbo sons like Akanu Ibiam, M.I. Okpara, K.O. Mbadiwe, Chief Ugochukwu, P.N. Okigbo and Udoji, co-founded Ohaneze Ndigbo in 1976. He served as Secretary – General, between 1978 to 2004, in which capacity he transformed the body into a formidable, highly regarded non-partisan Pan Igbo pressure group.

The recipient of several Chieftaincy titles, and The Nigerian Order of Merit (NNOM).

Prof. Ben Nwabueze is truly an academic giant in every sense of the term. Probably, more than any other Nigerian has, through his numerous books and articles contributed towards the application of constitutional law and the broader process of governance in Nigeria.

Indeed, the Nigerian Constitutional Evolution and the evolution of the entire legal system of Nigeria would not be complete without the invaluable contribution of this noble Patriot. It is therefore in recognition of his immense contribution to the advancement of the Nigerian Legal System, particularly in the areas of Academics and publication that Hallmarks of Labour Foundation has called on Prof. Ben Nwabueze, a Great Nigerian to join the league of other worthy Patriots of Hallmarks of Labour Role Model recipients (HLR).

Congratulations!

 

Award Category: HLF LIFE-TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD for Exemplary/Courageous Service to the advancement of our Legal system

Prof. Aliu Babatunde Fafunwa, NNOM, CON, HLR

In every field of human endeavour, every profession or calling, there are to be found a few men and women who dictate the pace, whose opinions, conduct and actions influence to a very large degree, the mode of practice in that particular field. These are the people who are able to combine talent with scholarship, backed up with a single minded determination to excel, invariably becoming leaders and pioneers.

Thus in the field of education, No other Nigerian better qualifies for the title of a teacher of teachers than our honoured guest, Professor Aliu Babatunde Fafunwa (CON) Statesman and erudite scholar who has dominated teachers’ education in Nigeria, like a colossus for almost five decades.

Born into the Onikoyi Chieftaincy family of Isale Eko, Lagos to Pa Sanusi Giwa Fafunwa and Madam Morinatu Fafunwa on Sept 23, 1923, his early beginnings were full of struggles, set – backs and successes. At a very tender age, young Aliu Fafunwa assisted his father in his trade as a fisherman and his mother, in petty trading while in Jebba, Niger state, where they had moved to, from their native Lagos, for economic reasons. Perhaps it was the memory of such happy childhood moments, that went through his mind, when he later wrote about the character forming nature of Traditional and informal African education. He had his primary education at Muslim training school Ebute – Elefun and Ahmadiyya Talimul School Elegbata Lagos, between 1932 and 1936. He proceeded to C.M.S. Grammar School, Lagos between 1937 and 1943 for his secondary education. Before leaving for Florida, United States of America in 1947, Prof. Fafunwa worked for a short while, at the Nigerian Railway Corporation. He was so dissatisfied and exasperated by the treatment of his British colonial bosses, at the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) that he was eager to further his studies and return to  Nigeria to join in the task of nation building.

His time in the United States of America afforded him the opportunity of bagging three degrees, all cum laude. He was awarded his B. Sc in Social Science and English, his M.A in English Education at the New York University and his P.H.D. in Administration and Higher Education.

The Philosophy behind Prof. Aliu Babatunde Fafunwa’s life work has been, the de-emphasizing of formal, structured, examination-oriented, and Western-oriented education, for a more ‘holistic’, functional educational system that emphasizes flexibility and usefulness to the society. Prof. Fafunwa sees education as a means to an end, and not an end in itself. It was perhaps at Esso West Africa, where he worked from 1957 to 1961 as recorded by Aladejana and Alao in their book ‘Aliu Babatunde Fafunwa’, that Aliu Fafunwa was convinced that ‘paper qualification has its limits. There, he found out that most of the expatriate members of staff had little or no paper qualifications not withstanding, they had exposure and training on the job and were truly experts in their various fields’.

Ironically, a man with so many formal academic achievements became the arrowhead of so much change in the area of education.
Perhaps Prof. Aliu Fafunwa will best be remembered for his advocacy of learning, in our ‘mother-tongue’ with English as a second language during the six years of primary education.
The use of the mother tongue, according to Fafunwa would;

  1. 1. deliver the student from the shackles of colonialism.
  2. 2. Allow for effective and meaningful communication between the teacher and student within and outside the classroom, and
  3. 3. Promote the development of mature judgement by the pupils. Fafunwa’s belief is that ultimately Education must be relevant to 4. the needs of the society and be able to re-direct the society, if need be.

His second most important pioneering work is the introduction of primary science programme at the Primary education level in Nigeria.

Incidentally, Professor Aliu Babatunde Fafunwa’s career in education began on a humble note on his return from the United States of America.
He started as a Senior tutor and later became Principal of the Ahmadiyyah College, Agege from Jan. to Dec. 1956
Then he moved from education to take up employment as Public Relations Manager at Esso West Africa from 1957 to 1961,
He went back to the classroom as a Senior Lecturer and head of education and later Associate Professor and Dean of the Faculty of education, University of Nigeria Nsukka in the year 1964.
By 1965, he was Professor, Director of the Institute of Education and Head, Department of Education. And finally by 1966, he was acting Vice Chancellor of that University.
From 1967 to 1972, he was a Senior Lecturer and later Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Ife.
He was appointed to the Ibadan University Council from 1972 to 1975 and was member, board of Lagos State teaching Service Commission between 1976 and 1979. Between 1985 and 1990, He was the Vice President and later President of the Nigerian Academy of Education and was appointed Honourable Federal Minister of Education and Youth Development where he served from 1990 to 1993.

He held numerous administrative and academic appointments, he was an external examiner on education to five Nigerian universities and a number of foreign universities have benefited from his wealth of experience for example, Makarere University in Uganda. University College Cape Coast Ghana, University of West Indies, Jamaica and the University of Sierra Leone.

Professor Fafunwa has also served in very crucial capacities and has been appointed to numerous organizations and commissions.
He was National President, Nigeria Experiment in International Living (1957-1980);
Member, Editorial Advisory Board, Teachers College Record, Teachers College, Columbia University (1973-84);
Chairman of Council, Lagos State College of Education (1981-82).
He was also President, International Council on Education for Teaching (ICET) Headquarters, Arlington, Virginia, U.S.A.(1990-1994).

Professor Fafunwa is an author of international repute. He has authored about twenty-two books and has nearly fifty publications in National and International Journals, including one in Polish language titledProblemy Afrikan Instuki publishedin January 1964. Over the years, his contribution to education have attracted recognition including scholarships, awards, medals and appointments world-wide.
He won the Franklin Brook Award for outstanding contribution to Educational Development, New York, 1973;
Medal for Distinguished Service in Education, Teacher’s College, Columbia University,1973;
Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award, New York University School of Education,1982;
Distinguished Fellow, International Council on Education for Teaching, Washington D.C., 1983.

Aliu Fafunwa was a powerful force behind the formation of the Nigerian Academy of Education which has today become the most credible assemblage of the who-is-who in the field of education. He also chaired what is now known as the Fafunwa “Study Group” on the funding of Primary Education. The report of the group spelt out how to stabilize education at the base (primary level); the role of each tier of government and of parents too. It was that report that led to the birth of the National Primary Education Commission by the Federal Government in 1987.

Apart from his contributions to education, Professor Fafunwa is a God – fearing man, his contribution to the cause of Islam dates back to over four decades. He is a sound member of the Shooting stars (1948) Islamic club as well as the Committee on Muslim Islamic Schools (COMIS) located in Iwo town, Osun State. Perhaps the best way to appreciate Fafunwa’s role is to examine his activities within Jama-al-ul- Islamiyya. Following his election into the executive Council in July 1988, Prof. Fafunwa became second Vice- President however with the passing on of the President Alhaji Oseni in 1994, a vacuum was created in the organization that only the appointment of Prof. Fafunwa could fill providing respite to a hitherto agitated Leadership in the Nigerian Muslim Community. Since he assumed office as president in 1995 a position he held until 2005, Prof. Fafunwa has injected charisma, unequalled vigour and intellectualism into the organization.

Professor Aliu Babatunde Fafunwa is a dedicated husband, father and grandfather. His wife Doris Elaine Jones who hails from North Bennington, Vermont U.S.A. has been a companion and a pillar of support for more than fifty – four years.

Their marriage is blessed with four children and several grandchildren.

A role model and a trial blazer, in his private and professional life this man of letters has proved himself to be an icon to be identified with and an example to be emulated.

He is the recipient of three honorary doctorate degrees one from University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1986, another from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1987 and the third from the Lagos State University in the year 2000.

He is a recipient of the Nigerian National Merit Award in 1989, Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in 2002.

Professor Aliu Babatunde Fafunwa is truly a teacher of teachers!

His Excellency, Babatunde Raji Fashola

Born on June 28, 1963 in Lagos, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) is a truly made in Nigeria product. He obtained his First School Leaving Certificate [FSLC] from the Sunny Fields Primary School, Adelabu Surulere, Lagos, after which he proceeded to Birch Freeman High School, Surulere, Lagos and later Igbobi College, Yaba from where he acquired the West African School Certificate [WASC]. He, thereafter, went to the University of Benin,  and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws [LLB Hons] degree in 1987. He was called to the Nigeria Bar in November 1988 after undertaking the statutory training for Barristers and Solicitors

He was appointed into government as Chief of Staff by the former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who he succeeded in office from 2007 till date.
He served as Member, State Tenders Board; Member, State Executive Council, Member, State Treasury Board, and Member, State Security Council amongst several other Ad-Hoc Committees/Panels. With the experiences so garnered he resigned voluntarily to contest for the Office of Governor of Lagos State under the platform of Action Congress [AC] Party now Action Congress of Nigeria.

Since his election to the office of Governor of Lagos State in 2007, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in public service and uncommon commitment to his avowed pledge to lead the change that would transform Lagos into Africa’s model mega-city.

His dogged pursuit of renewal of the infrastructure of Lagos as the critical strategy for economic growth and poverty alleviation has won the State honours from as far away as Australia for undertaking the fastest infrastructure renewal ever in Africa.

His unflagging spirit has led the Government to explode many negative myths about Lagos

Today, Lagos is the cleanest state
Today Lagos is the safest state
Today Lagos has the most efficient transportation system
Today Lagos has the most progressive health care system
Today Lagos is the only state where the citizens willingly pay their taxes
Today Lagos has the best road network system
Today Lagos is a mega city in the making

His Excellency, Governor,  Babatunde Fashola (SAN) is the recipient of the 2009 Yitzhak Rabin Centre for African Development Governor of the Decade for Peace Award and the recipient of the 2010 Award of Excellence in Leadership of the Martin Luther King Jnr. Foundation and several media awards.

In recognition of his unparalleled success in the management of resources and conduct of public affairs as well as developing governmental systems and infrastructure for the enhancement, well- being and enjoyment of the people of Lagos state,  Hallmarks of labour foundation presents the award of excellence for leadership and good governance to his Excellency Babatunde Raji Fashola

Congratulation!

 

Award Category: HLF AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE in Leadership and Good Governance 

Prof Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, HLR

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was born on June 13, 1954 in Ogwashi-uku, Delta State. She was educated at Harvard University where she graduated in 1977, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she obtained her PhD in Urban and Regional Planning. She joined the World Bank in a career that spanned 21 years as a Development Economist, Vice-president, Operations, 1989 – 91; Director of Institutional Change and Strategy, 1995 – 97; Country Director, Malaysia, Mongolia, Laos and Cambodia, 1997 – 2000; Deputy Vice-president, Middle East Region, 2000 – 2003. In June, 2006, she was Managing Director, World Bank till July 2011.
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, now Hon. Minister of Finance for the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is holding the position for the second time. On her first outing in 2003, she held the position of Finance Minister and Foreign Minister till 2006, thereby holding the record of being the first woman to have occupied either of these positions. She will always be remembered for the fiscal discipline she brought to the nation’s finances.
She attacked corruption and accelerated privatisation and liberalisation. She signed Nigeria up to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, a voluntary standard for petroleum and mining industries. On her watch, Nigeria’s inflation more than halved and she was instrumental in helping Nigeria obtain its first ever sovereign credit rating of BB minus from Fitch and Standard and Poor’s. She also arranged the cancellation of $18 billion of Nigeria’s debt to the Paris Club, in 2005. The remaining $12billion of debt was paid the following year with money saved in budget reforms she proposed.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala resigned as Nigeria’s Foreign Minister on August 3, 2006 and by October 4, 2007; World Bank President Robert Zoellick had appointed her to the post of Managing Director.

Given the recent challenges faced by Nigeria on how to manage the macroeconomic policy in such a way as to achieve the Country’s vision 2020, she once again returned to serve her Country.

She is a recipient of several National and International Awards and a member of numerous Boards and advisory Groups, including the CLINTON GLOBAL INITIATIVE DATA and the World Resources Institute. She serves as Financial Adviser to Several International Investment Groups. An accomplished author, some of her works include: Chinua Achebe Teacher of Light – a biography of Nigerian Author, Chinua Achebe co-authored with Tijan Sallah and The Debt traps in Nigeria: Towards a sustainable debt strategy.

She is married to Dr. Ikemba Iweala from Umuahia, Abia State and they have four children.
Her immeasurable contribution to the promotion of Good Governance, the introduction of fiscal discipline to the nation’s finances, her fight against corruption, and her laudable transparency initiatives, make our Awardee stand tall. A Great Nigerian, Economist, Academic and worthy performer. Hallmarks of Labour Foundation salutes Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and invites her to join the league of worthy Patriots of Hallmarks of Labour Role Model (HLR) recipients.
Congratulations!

 

Award Category: HLF AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE in Corporate Governance

Professor Wole Akinwande Soyinka, HLR

Professor Wole Akinwande Soyinka, Novelist, Poet, Essayist, Play-Wright, Nationalist, unbending advocate of democracy and human rights, an insuppressible social critic, Africa’s first and Nigeria’s only Nobel Laureate was born in 1934 at Isara, Remo division of Ogun State

After his initial education at the University College, Ibadan, Wole Soyinka went on to the University of Leeds, England, where he earned an Honours Degree in English Literature.

An accomplished writer, Professor Soyinka has effectively used Yoruba culture and mythology as the philosophical basis of his writings and thus transformed the patterns of Nigeria’s and African theatre in English. By sheer dexterity also, he has elevated the status of African Literature to an essential part of the world’s cultural heritage.

Using his towering stature as Africa’s first Nobel Laureate, and extensive knowledge of world affairs, Professor Soyinka has stridently defended human rights and dignity, social justice and democracy in Nigeria. His deep philosophical convictions about State and society and his struggles to liberate the minds of the ordinary Nigerian from a highly deceptive kleptocracy has earned him detentions and exile. His prison experience during the Civil War years are recounted vividly in one of his master pieces, The Man Died (1972).

In his books and writings, Prof. Wole Soyinka continues to express the voice of the oppressed by exposing the ills of dictatorship, bad governance and the evils of corruption in Nigeria and Africa as exemplified by his book, The Open Sore of a Continent.

Professor Wole Soyinka holds Honorary Doctorate Degrees, Fellowships and memberships of: The Universities of Ibadan, Yale, Harvard, Nevada, More house and Emory in the United States of America; Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield and Edinburgh in the U.K; Toronto and Alberta in Canada; Paul Valerie, Montpellier and Sorbonne in France; Bayreuth in Germany, Cape Town in South Africa; Havana in Cuba; Turin and Bologna in Italy and the European University in Hungary.

He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature of the U.K and Academic Universelle des Cultures, France. He has received several other literary honours, medals and artistic awards in virtually all the continents of the world.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we present Professor Wole Akinwande Soyinka, teacher, writer, African Nationalist, defender of human rights and social justice, Africa’s first and Nigeria’s only Nobel Laureate as Nigeria’s Most outstanding International Icon.

Congratulations!

 

Award Category: HLF EMEKA ANYAOKU LIFE-TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD for Nigeria’s Most Oustanding International Icon

Prof. Akinlawon Ladipo Mabogunje, CON, NNOM, HLR

PROFESSOR AKIN L. MABOGUNJE

Professor Akinlawon Ladipo Mabogunje was born some close to 70 years ago to late Pa Joseph Omotunde Mabogunje, a retired UAC official, and MaDAM Janet Adeola Mabogunje, a trader.

Young Mabogunje had his elementary education at the Holy Trinity School and the United Native African Church School in Kano (1935-1941) and Central School Mapo Ibadan in 1942. His secondary education was at the famous Ibadan Grammar School (1943-1948)

His University education began in 1949 at the then University College, Ibadan where he earned a B.A General degree in Geography in 1953. Not satisfied, Professor Mabogunje proceeded to the University of London where he earned a B.A (Hons.) degree in 1956; a Master’s and a Ph.Dd degree in Geography in 1958 and 1961 respectively.

Professor Mabogunje (ALM) started his professional career as a lecturer at the University of Ibadan in 1958. He became a senior lecturer in 1964 and a professor of Geopgraphy in 1965. Thus, at the tender age of 34 years and within seven yeards of joining the University staff, he had reached the highest level og his profession. This is a record which has been impossible to equal or break not only in the Department of Geography, in particular, anywhere in Africa, but also in the Social Sciences in general.

Professor Akinlawon Mabogunje had served as a Visiting Professor to about a dozen top-rated Universities all over the world. Among these are the Universities of Cambridge, oxfored and London; Universities of Durham, Goteborg and Lund; Northwestern University in the USA; McGill University in Canada and as a Visiting Scholar to the Chinese University of Hongkong.

Professor Mabogunje has ably demonstrated his administrative expertise and competence in many spheres at the University level, national and international levels.

At the University of Ibadan, he was Head of Department of Geopgraphy (1972-1975); Dean Faculty of the Social Sciences (1968-1970) and Director, Planning Studies Programme (1972-1981). He was a member of Senate (1965-1981) and Chairman of many Senate and Council Committees where his contributions to the development of the University of Ibadan were enormous.

At the professional level, Profesor Mabogunje was Editor of the Nigerian Geograhical Journal (1962-65); Editor, Oxford Uiversity Press series on studies on the Development of African Resources; President, Nigeria Geographical Association (1972-1982); Vice-President, Nigerian Ecological Society (1973-79); President, National Council Population Activities (1986-1992); and Executive Chairman, Development Policy Centre, Ibadan (1996-2000).

At the National level, he had served in various capacities both in the public and private sectors of the Nigerian economy. He was a member of the Western Nigerian Economic Advisory Council (1967-71); Member, Federal Public Service Review Commission (1972-74); Consultant, National Census Board (1973-74); Chairman, Nigerian Council for Management Development (1976-79); Consultant, Federal Capital Development Authority (1976-84); Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Ogun State University, Ago-Iwoye (1982-91); Member, Board of Directorate of DFRRI (1986-1993); Member, Board of Trustees Nigerian National Merit Award Endowment Fund (1983-1989) later Chairman of the Fund (1989-94) and Executive Chairman of the National Board for Community Banks (1991-94).

In the private sector, he served as a member of the Board of Directors, Nigerian Agricultural Products Co. Ltd. (1975-76); Vice-Chairman, Pai Asssociation International (Nig.) (1974-1989); Vice-Chairman, Board of Directors Pi, International Co. Ltd. (1990-date); Chairman, Board of Directors, Fountain Publications (1990-date); Member, Board of Directors, Shonny Investments and Properties Ltd. (1994-date) and Chairman Board of Directors, First Interstate Merchant Bank (Nig.) Ltd. (1995-date).

At the international level, Professor Mabogunje has also held many important positions either as a member, Chairman or President of about a dozen organizations. Among the most notable ones are being Vice-President of the International Geographical Union (IGU) (1980-1992), an organization of which he later became the First African to be President (1980-1984). He was also Vice-President, Governing Council for Pan African Institute for Development (1972-78); Vice-President, Governing Council for PanAfrican Institute for Development, Douala Cameroon (1978-1984); Chairman, International Committee for Overcoming Hunger in the 1990s (1988-1994); Visiting Research Fellow, World Bank, 1990; Member, Executive Committee, Senior African Leadership Forum (1992-date); Adviser to the Secretary General, United Nations Second Conference on Human Settlements (1994-1999).

This distinguished scholar the ‘father’ of Geography and one of the ‘father’ of the Social Sciences in Nigeria, is the recipient of about 20 Honours in various academic, professional and administrative fields both at the national and international levels. In act, he started collecting these honours very early in his professional career. He was the prize winner in Geography, University College, Ibadan (1950/51 and 1951/52); he received the David LivingstoneCentennial Gold Medal, awarded by the American Geographical Society for distinguished contribution to the geography of Africa (1972); Honorary D.Sc. (Economics) Stockholm School of Economics Sweden (1973); Hon. D. Litt, Michigan State University, USA (1978); Nigerian National Order of Merit Award (NNOM) (1980); Fellow of the University College London (1981), Fellow of the Nigerian Geographical Association (1984); Recipient of the Grand Medaille of the French Geographical Society (1993); Recipient of the Gold Medal of the Royal Scotish Geographical Society (1994); Hon. D.Sc. University of Benin (1995); Hon. D.Sc. Ogun State University (1996); Distinguished Africanist Award of the African Studies Association of the USA (1997); UNCHS Scroll of Honour for outstanding contribution to human settlements development (1998); and Foreign Association of the United State’s National Academy of Sciences, Wahington, D.C (1999).

All these hnours to our distinguished international scholar did nto come about without hardwork and dilligence. These qualities are aptly demonstrated by his intimidating array of publications in the four decades between 1958. His C.V records 25 major books wither through single or multiple authorship and more than 100 journal article and chapters of books. Some of his most notable and enduringg publications include such books as Yoruba Towns (1962); Urbanization in Nigeria (1968); Cities and Social Order (19740; Shelter Provision in Developing Countries (1978); the Development Process: A Spatial Perspective 1st and 2nd Edition (1980 and 1989 respectively); Geography and the Dilemma of Rural Development in Africa (1981) and State of the Earth: Contemporary Geographic Perspectives (1997).

As for journal articles or book chapters one cannot but mention a few as System Approach to Rural-Urban Migration (1970); Manufacturing and the Geography of Development in Tropical Africa (1973); Towards an Urban Policy for Nigeria (1975); Growth Poles and Growth Centres in Regional Development of Nigerian (1978); The Dilemma of Rural Development in Africa (1981); A New Paradigm for Urban Development (1992); The Environmental Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa (1995); and Preparing African Cities for the Bond Market (1998).

With respect to Consultancy Services, Professor Mabogunje has also distinguished himself. He has consulted for all levels of government in Nigeria, the Local, State and Federal levels on diverse topics of development. At the international level, his contributions are all notable having consulted for such varied organizations as the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development in Geneva; International Council for Scientific Unions; the International Labour Organization (ILO); the Population Council, New York; the African Studies Association; UNCHS; UNDP and UNESCO, among others.

It is on this doyen in the field of Social Sciences, a worthy ambassador of all that the Social Sciences stand for, a motivator in the academic field and a renowned national and international scholar, that the Social ScienceAcademy of Nigeria finds worthy of being awarded this well-earned Fellowship.

 

Award Category: Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award January 27, 2005

Chief Folake Solanke, SAN, HLR

Chief  Olufolake  Solanke  became the first female lawyer to be conferred with Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in March 1981 and this is just one of her numerous achievements. In 1972, She was appointed commissioner, Western State of Nigeria. Chairman, Western Government broadcasting corporation television and radio network service. On the international scene, Chief Folake Solanke became a source of pride not only for Nigeria and the Nigerian woman but also for Africa and the black world as a whole. On July 21st 1994 she became the 42nd president of Zonta International.  This made her the first non – Caucasian to be elected and to hold the position of Zonta International President since Zonta was founded in 1919. As it happened in the case of the conferment with the honour of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Solanke opened the gate for African contestants as the next President for Zonta International after her turned out to be an African.

Chief Folake Solanke was born in Abeokuta in the present day Ogun state on 29th March 1932, her father was the well known J.S Odulate, founder/ proprietor of Alabukun medicine store Abeokuta. Her mother was Madam Sekumade Abiodun Odulate who died when Folake was just two years old, she recalls that even though her father was a polygamist, her step- mothers were very good and caring and displayed much love to her.

She attended Ago Oko primary school Abeokuta from 1937-1939, Emo girls school Abeokuta from 194o-1944 and Methodist girls high school Yaba Lagos from 1945-1949. Her young formative years did indeed point to a bright future as her natural brilliance and talents were copiously displayed through out her career in MGHS, she consistently took the first prize in English and mathematics. In 1949, she became Games Captain as well as School Prefect and at the West Africa School Certificate Examinations that held that year, she became the first student of the school to obtain grade one. In 1950, she did a one year higher course in Queens’ College then in Onikan Lagos before proceeding to England for her post basic education. In 1951, she entered the King’s College in the University of Durham, now the University of Newscastle in England where she obtained her BA (2nd Division) Latin and mathematics in 1954. Diploma in Education (2nd Division) in 1955 thus setting for herself a teaching career. She joined Pipers Corner School, Great Kingshill, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England  where she taught Latin and mathematics from 1955-1957. Later she moved to St. Monica’s school, England to teach the same subjects from 1957 -1958.  In 1960, she was admitted into Gray’s Inn London for her professional training and was called to bar in 1962.

Upon returning to Nigeria  from England in 1962, Chief Folake Solanke  joined the chambers of MA Odesanya now honourable Justice Odesanya, Lagos from August  1962 – May 1963 from which she moved to the chambers of Chief FRA Williams in Ibadan as Junior council in 1963. Following her conferment with Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 1981, Chief Solanke was installed the Yeyemofin of Ife by the Ooni Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olabuse II. She has held many positions in various institutions and associations covering a wide spectrum of activities. Her papers and publications number over seventy also covering fast areas including law, women’s rights, Zonta and Christian topics. Married to late Emeritus Professor Toriola Solanke, they are blessed with three children: Dr (Mrs) Oluyemi Koya is both a medical doctor and a lawyer, Engr. B.A Solanke and Miss Olushola Solanke, a mathematician and MBA London Business School degree holder.
Chief Olufolake Solanke, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Yeyemofin of Ife, former president of Zonta, brilliant, hardworking and focused. She is truly an inspiration to everyone man or woman.

 

Award Category: Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award December 14, 2004 

Francesca Yetunde Emanuel, CON, HLR

First Nigerian female Federal Permanent Secretary.

 

Award Category: Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award, July 1, 2004

Prof. Oladipo Olujumi Akinkugbe, CON, MD, NNOM, HLR

Since independence, Nigerians have made tremendous progress in various fields of study, in many cases becoming world renowned authorities in their areas of specialization.  Such is the case of Professor Oladipo Olujimi Akinkugbe, CON, MD, NNOM, who on promotion to a chair of medicine at the University of Ibadan at the age of 35years becomes the first Professor of medicine that has ever been appointed by any African University.  On the international plane, professor Akinkugbe has made an enviable impact.  He was Rockefeller visiting fellow John Hopkins, Yale and Washington, Seattle Medical School [1966], member university Grants commission, Uganda government [1973], visiting professor of medicine, Harvard University and Senior Associate in Medicine, Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, Boston Massachusetts, USA [1974-75], visiting Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, and fellow of Balliol college, university  of oxford [1981 – 1982], Secretary to the WHO Technical Discussions on Universities and Health for All, Geneva [1983 – 84], member WHO Advisory Committee on Health for Research [1990 – 1994] and visiting Professor of Medicine University of Cape Town [1996].

Professor Akinkugbe was born in Ondo capital of Ondo State in South Western Nigeria on 17th July, 1933.  His father who was a chemist and druggist belong to an impressive family tree in Ondo traceable and connected in some distant past to the marble rich clan of Igbeti in Oyo State.

Professor Akinkugbe grew up in a Christian home, his father being a people’s warder at St. Stephen’s church and a synod delegate for several years.  The regular routine of school, choir practice, Sunday’s Devotional Worship, Sunday school, evening service and other such engagements, left him with little time for frivolities after school.  However whenever the opportunity presented itself, young Oladipo never failed to enjoy his juvenile frisk and frolic, sometimes with disastrous consequences.

Professor Akinkugbe entered Ondo Boys High School in 1944.  However science subjects were not counted among the strong point of OBHS, and inspired by the notes he saw in physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics, belonging to a boy who was attending another school outside of Ondo, young Oladipo decide to take entrance examination into Government College, Ibadan.  He made it to the interview stage, where he missed admission by one place.  His dreams seemed shattered, but providence came promptly to his aid as one of the admitted fee-paying students could not take up his own offer.  He was then called up from the waiting list.

Professor Akinkugbe had a smooth sail through GCI, where he established himself as an undisputed leader in the science subjects, conceding English and literature to Wole Soyinka and Christopher Kolade.  After a brilliant secondary school career, he took entrance examination and gained admission into the University College Ibadan in 1951, to begin his study of medicine.

Here he proved himself, once again as a serious student, balancing academics with social and extra curricular activities.  After passing his 2nd MB examination in 1955, he was posted to University of  London [the Royal London Hospital] for his clinical studies, where in 1958, he obtained his MBBS of London without any skirmishes.  After completing a six months internship at the London Hospital, Professor Akinkugbe then embarked on numerous short programmes in different institutions, expanding his knowledge and experience, and obtaining a diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene from the University of Liverpool in 1960.

Being a western region government scholar, Professor Akinkugbe came back to Nigeria in 1961 and took appointment with Government Specialist Hospital, Adeoyo, Ibadan.  But later that year he went back to England to do his Dphil. programme in Oxford.  On successful completion, he returned to Nigeria to take up lectureship at the Department of Medicine University of Ibadan in January 1965.

Thus began Professor Akinkugbe’s brilliant academic career during which he became Professor of Medicine in 1968, Dean Medicine 1970 – 74 and Head of Medicine 1972.  Taking special interest in Hypertension and Kidney diseases, he has made tremendous contributions in these areas.  He has attended over one hundred National and international Professional, scientific, educational and health conferences, in the past forty years, in all the continents of the globe.  He has made presentations in many of these conferences.  Published many authoritative works, and received numerous awards. He is a member and fellow of over twenty international organizations, societies and institutions.

He is a recipient of the National Honour of Cote De Voire.  Within Nigeria, Professor Akinkugbe was Foundation Chairman Joint Admission and Matriculation Board [JAMB]; Principal and Foundation Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin; Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria; Chairman Planning Committee, Ondo State University; Chairman Planning Committee, University of Abuja; Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, University of Port Harcourt.   To each appointment he has brought a very high degree of knowledge, skill, thoroughness, dedication and above all integrity and transparency.  He is married with two sons.

Professor Oladipo Akinkugbe, ME, BS, MD NNOM, CON, NLR, An outstanding professional and scholastic role model.

 

Award Category: Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award July 1, 2004

Mr. Gamaliel Oforitsenere Onosode, OFR

The Nigerian factor! This is an expression that summarizes all that is negative in the nation’s socio – economic life. It means compromising your principles for some immediate personal gain. It means selling your birthright, like the biblical son, for a pot of porridge. It stands for corruption, bribery, holding light to an appointment, or office, or even if the atmosphere is no longer favourable.

There are few Nigerians who for all the pots of porridge in this world will never fall prey to the ‘Nigerian factor’. One such Nigerian is Mr. Gamaliel Oforitsenere Onosode. A London University Classics graduate, B.A. (Hons) obtained through University College Ibadan in 1975. Mr. Onosode made a successful cross over to the world of business management, banking and finance.

Gamaliel Onosode was born on 22nd May 1933 in Sapele, Delta State of Nigeria. His father Reverend Pinnoch Onosode (1870 – 1975) was a Baptist, Pastor and Gamaliel himself, at the age of ten, gave his life to Christ with his own free will and was baptized into the Baptist Faith on 14th March 1943.

Although the Onosodes are natives of Ekigbo in Ughelli North Local Government area of Delta state, the Pastor experienced many transfers one of which was to Ogimbo another town in Ughelli South local Government area of the same state, where he founded the Baptist school. It was here that Gamaliel had his primary education from 1949 to 1946.

He gained admission into Government College, Ughelli then known as Government middle School and based in Warri in 1947.  Although the school was proud of its many gifted athletes, Gamaliel was more interested in his academic performance. He always stayed within the first two positions in class and was remarkably ahead of the pack in mathematics, English and Latin.

In 1952, he won a state scholarship to study at the University College Ibadan (now University of Ibadan), strictly on the basis of his performance in the university entrance examination. Here again his performance was most brilliant, winning him department and faculty Prizes. He also took part in student polities.

After obtaining his B.A. (Hons) classics degree in 1957, Gamaliel Onosode moved straight into commonwealth development Corporation as Management trainee. Here began his meteoric almost enigmatic rise to a position of eminence and distinction in banking, finance and business management, earning him boardroom positions in numerous government and private organizations. In 1962, he was appointed General Manager, Nigeria Housing Development Society (now Federal Mortgage Bank). In a move which was to become to Hallmark, he resigned his appointment when his idea of making the company a savings gathering in addition to being a mortgage finance providing institution was rejected. This idea was adopted shortly after he left the company.

Mr. Onosode was the pioneer Secretary of the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank later becoming its Assistant General Manager in 1964 became a Director of NAL Merchant Bank Plc in June 1969 and its Chairman and Chief Executive from November 1973 to March 1979. He was Chairman – Cadbury Nigeria Plc, from 1978 – 1993, Chairman, Commerce bank from 1989 – 1994, Chairman Nigerian Stock Exchange Investment Protection Fund from 1995 – 2000. Mr. Onosode also became Chairman of Dunlop Nigeria Plc, at a time when the company needed revival. He introduced measures that actually did the magic.

Gamaliel Onosode’s government appointments include Presidential adviser on Budget Affairs and Director off Budget, Chairman Nigeria LNG Limited and Chairman Presidential Commission on Parastatals. His appointments, contributions and awards cut across many fields including education, religious activities and social affairs.

Gamaliel Onosode’s life has been directed and controlled by his Christian faith which is why he does not compromise in matters of principle, integrity and honesty.

Gamaliel Oforitsenere Onosode – A Guru of banking, Finance and Management. A Shinning role model of Integrity.

Award Category: Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award April 27, 2004 

Chief Frederick Rotimi Alade Williams, CFR, CON,SAN,HLR

In every field of human endeavour, there are to be found three categories of people: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what has happened.  To the first category belong the leaders, the pace setters who blaze the trail for others to follow.  Coming to specific terms, in field of Law, Chief Fredrick Rotimi Alade Williams, BA, MA, CFR, SAN is one such leader.

A man of monumental stature, both in physique and in the legal profession, FRA Williams fondly called Timi the Law, was the first person to be conferred with the honour of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and is currently the Chairman of that body.  He was the first even Minister of Justice and Local Government in the former Western Region of Nigeria, and the first Chairman of the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

Chief F.R.A. Williams was born in Lagos on December 16th, 1920.  He was named after his maternal grand-uncle, Rotimi Alade Esq, who enrolled as a legal practitioner in 1892.  Chief Williams’ father, the late Thomas Ekundayo Williams, was also a Lawyer. He enrolled in 1927.  And it is remarkable that today, three of Chief Williams children and two of his grand-children are practicing lawyers, thus laying the foundation for the Williams domination of the professions for generations to come.

Chief F.R.A. Williams had his primary education, first at the Baptist academy, Lagos from 1927 – 1928, and later at the Methodist school, olowogbowo, Lagos from 1928 to 1933, from 1934 to 1938, he attended CMS Grammar School, Lagos Chief Rotimi Williams could very well have been an engineer because he was awarded full scholarship to study Mechanical Engineering at the Yaba Higher College. However, he preferred to follow the footsteps of his father and grand uncle in the legal profession.  And so in 1928, he was sent by his father to the United Kingdom where he was admitted into Selwyn College University of Cambridge when in 1942 he graduated with the Bachelor of Arts Honour Degree.

Between 1942 and 1943, Chief Williams studied at the Grays Inn, London, where he qualified as Barrister-at-Law.  He was awarded the Master of Arts Degree of Cambridge University in 1946.  Meanwhile, in 1943, Chief Williams had enrolled as a Legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the only Nigeria among the six persons enrolled in that year, the remaining five being British expatriates.

Chief F.R.A. Williams immediately went into practice, and for over five decades now, Chief Williams has been a foremost member, a leader of the Nigeria Bar. In recognition of his professional skill and experience and also for his brilliant advocacy, Chief Williams was made a Queens Counsel in 1958. Before this, in 1952, he had become the Chairman of the Lagos City Council and, in that capacity, had laid a firm foundation for the future development of the Local Government in Metropolitan Lagos.  He only relinquished that post when in 1954; he was appointed Minister of Justice and Local Government in the Western Region.

Other appointments followed in quick succession.  In 1960, he was acting Premier of Western Nigeria, between 1962 and 1968; he was Chairman, council of Legal Education, Lagos; Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Chairman, National Universities Commission, 1968 to 1973.  He became Senior Advocate of Nigeria, the first ever in April 1975; Chairman, Constitution Drafting Committee, 1977; member, Defunct Constituent Assembly 1978, and member, Body of Benchers, Nigeria Law School.  He was also president, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) from 1959 to 1968.  He possesses the Distinguished Law Award of the Mohammed Bello Endowment in Jurisprudence.  In 1965, he was awarded the Commander of the Niger, and in 1978, he was conferred with the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR).  His honourary degrees include Doctor of Laws, University of Ibadan, 1975, and doctor of Laws, University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), 1976.  An erudite lawyer, his private library contains more volumes that many tertiary institutions.

Chief F.R.A. Williams has attained the zenith; the highest level of his profession, not without the support of his second half chief (Mrs.) Beatrice Ola Rotimi Williams, who by the hand of providence, slept in the Lord on Saturday, February 7th, 1998.  Undoubtedly her call to glory has created some gaps in his system.

Chief Frederick Rotimi Alade Williams, a legal luminary, a leader, an acclaimed and acknowledged authority in every branch of the law, an upright gentleman, committed to seeking justice for everyone.  A Prime Role Model.

Award Category: Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award October 3, 2002

Professor Alexander Eyimofe Boyo, HLR

An Icon in the field of medicine and a founding father of Clinical Pathology in Nigeria.

 

Award Category: Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award, July 7, 2002

Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti OFR, HLR

Paediatrician, administrator, former Minister of Health of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Professor Olikoye Ransom Kuti was born on December 30th, 1927 in Ijebu –Ode Ogun state. He had his primary and secondary education in Abeokuta his hometown, he then attended Higher College Yaba from 1946-1947 and University College (now university of Ibadan) from Jan – July 1948 after which, he travelled to the Ireland where he attended Trinity College Dublin, where he studied medicine between 1948 – 1954, He was assistant medical officer at the Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, and he attended Hammersmith Hospital’s postgraduate medical school between 1960 and 1962. Professor Ransome Kuti’s advocacy and promotion of good health especially of children has not been restricted to Nigeria but has traversed many nations of the world. After  serving in various positions as house officer both in UK and Nigeria, he became Senior Registrar in paediatrics  in UCH,   Ibadan  1962 – 1963 and later  senior lecturer University of Lagos, 1967- 1970. He became Acting Director, Institute of Child Health 1968- 1970 and Professor and Head of Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Lagos 1970 – 1976. Professor Ransome Kuti’s career appointments are numerous:

He was member, WHO, Expert Advisory Panel on Maternal and Child Health
WHO, visiting consultant Department of Paediatrics, Makarere University Kampala Uganda, 1969
Consultant to the Ministry of health to the government of Zambia 1973;
Member consultative group, African Heads Training Institute, University of North Carolina, USA 1974-1978;
Senior Associate, Department of International Health, John Hopkins University Baltimore, USA 1979-1983.
He is a fellow of various institutions in Nigeria and Overseas.
In 1985, Professor Ransome Kuti was appointed Federal Minister for Health, a position he held for eight years. During his tenure, he made so much impact on the nation’s health care that so many people wanted him to remain there forever. He introduced the University Primary Health care and publicized the immunization PPI program to curb the increasing rate of diarrhoea among children, he encouraged the usage of ORT (Oral dehydration therapy) by nursing mothers.
He encouraged mothers to breast feed their children for at least one year for the proper development of the child. He also worked hard towards the prevention of HIV/AIDS.
Professor Ransome Kuti has received numerous awards nationally and internationally.

They include the UNICEF merit award 1990, Bureau of public health 1991, he was the chairman of the primary health care foundation. He has authored several books and publications but in spite of all his achievements, his humility and modesty stand out clearly. He died on 1st June 2003.

 

Award Category: Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award July 7, 2002

Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson HLR

It is not a frequent occurrence that a past ruler in Nigeria should come out with clean hands if subjected to a probe on corruption and self-enrichment.  One man who stands out boldly among the extremely few have and who can pass this litmus test of selflessness transparency in leadership is the first Military Governor of Lagos State, Brigadier-General Mobolaji Johnson,(rtd).

Generally referred to as the architect of modern Lagos, Brigadier-General Johnson administered and governed Lagos from 1960 to 1975, a period of nine years in which he gave the city of Lagos and the state in general, a new international look through the construction of highways, bridges and other modern structures.  For example, in order to make it possible for people to travel from one part of Lagos state to the other without having the pass through a neighbouring state Brigadier-General Johnson built and commissioned the Hoikin Bridge to link Epe to Ikorodu in 1968. In 1969 work commenced on the Lagos – Badagry highway, and it was originally meant to be a single carriage way.  However, when Brigadier-General Johnson visited the United States later that year he came back with the inspiration to make Lagos – Badagry highway a double carriageway, the first ever in Nigeria.  When the expressway was officially declared open by General Yakubu – Gowon in 1973, a big display board was conspicuously positioned which dedicated the road to Lagos tax payers, in order to encourage citizens to pay their taxes.

Brigadier-General Johnson exempted many other projects, including the reclamation of the Bar Beach shoreline and the allocation of the various state of federation for the construction of their liaison offices.
However, when General Murtala Mohamed took over power in 1975, all Military Governors under the ousted region of General Yakubu – Gowon were relieved of their duties and their activities probed by the new regime. Brigadier-General Mobolaji Johnson came out completely clean – cleared of any malpractice. This was highly significant because it underscores Brigadier-General Johnson’s personal beliefs and guiding principles.

Brigadier-General Mobolaji Johnson was born on the 9th of February, 1936 in Lagos, where his father who was from Abeokuta had settled since the age of eleven.  His mother was former Miss Dudley-Coker whose father worked in the Railways and was of Sierra Leon and extraction.  Brigadier-General Johnson speaks very fondly of his parent, from whom he acquired his well acclaimed humility and practical skills.  He attended Baptist School, Yaba, and Methodist School, before gaining admission into Hussey College, Warri in 1952.  In 1954 he came back to Lagos to continue his education in Methodist Boys High School, where he finished in 1957.

Brigadier-General Johnson’s military career began in 1959, when he entered the Officer Cadet Training School, Ghana, from where he later proceeded to Sand Hurst in the United Kingdom.  After his military training he served with the United Nations Peace Keeping Tromps in the Congo, before returning to Lagos.  In 1966 he was promoted to the rank of Major, before he was appointed Military Administrator of Lagos State.  He became Military Governor in 1967.

Brigadier-General Johnson found his military career very interesting and challenging especially his time at the Federal Guards (now Brigade of Guards) which he nurtured.

Brigadier-General Johnson is married with children. His wife, former Miss Olufunmilayo Aganga Williams, recalls how they met about forty years ago, and throws some light on the person of Brigadier-General Johnson.

Brigadier-General Johnson, tall and impressive, was an all – round sportsman in his younger days.  He played squash, polo, tennis, card games and took active part in athletics.  Today, he just plays some golf, and his main business interest is in Jalino Berger, where he is the chairman.

Brigadier-General Olufunso Mobolaji Johnson, a symbol of humility, dedication, uprightness and honesty, even as a Military Governor.  A perfect role model in leadership.

He is also Chairman Nigeria Conservation Foundation and Chairman Executive Council of Lagos State University Development Foundation.

Award Category: Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award March 7, 2001 

Chief Eleazer Chukwuemeka Anayaoku, TC, GCVO, CON, HLR

When in 1966 Chief Emeka Anyaoku (then simply Mr.), was seconded from the Nigeria Foreign Service to the newly established Commonwealth Secretariat, at the request of the first Secretary-General, Arnold Smith of Canada, little did anyone realize that he was being made to take his first steps towards becoming one of the most important, most respected diplomats in the world.  Chief Emeka Anyaoku brought to his new assignment his well-known brilliance, his penchant for hard work, and his determination to succeed. No wonder then that he moved up the ladder very quickly:  First Assistant Director of International Affairs, later becoming director, and in 1975, Assistant Secretary-General.  He was elected by government of the Commonwealth, Deputy Secretary General in 1977, and it was from this point that his dexterity, his polished persuasive skills, and his unwavering commitment to democracy and justice became fully recognized and respected throughout the commonwealth.

Chief Emeka Anyaoku, as Deputy Secretary-General, played a key role in preparing many declarations, some of which are the Lusaka Declaration of the Commonwealth on Racism and Racial Prejudice [1979]; the Okanagan Statement and Programme of Action on Southern Africa [1987] and the Commonwealth accord on Southern Africa [1985].  This, which was later known as the Nassan Accord, played a pivotal role in the pressure to end apartheid, through establishment of the Eminent Persons Group and initiating multi-lateral agreement on the imposition of economic sanctions.

At the Commonwealth head of Government meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1989, Chief Emeka Anyaoku’s qualities were already well known and it was easy for him to be elected the new Secretary-General in preference to the former Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Fraser.  Chief Emeka Anyaoku then became the third Secretary-General of the Commonwealth – the first Nigerian, the first African, and the first black man to occupy the most senior position on the international stage with direct personal access to over fifty Heads of State and Government, and Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth 11.  It means representing more than 1, 700 million people.  It also means being completely in charge of an organization which has no block votes and no votes.

Back to the beginning, Chief Emeka Anyaoku was born on January 18, 1933 into a well-respected family with a long history of traditional titles, in Obosi, in Anambra State, Nigeria.  After his elementary schooling at CMS Central School, Agbor, Emeka Proceeded to Merchants of Light School, Oba for his Secondary education.  It is on record that Emeka Anyaoku earned the school’s first grade on result at the Cambridge School Certificate Examination.  He later went to the University College, Ibadan – then a college of the University of London – as a college scholar and obtained an Honors Degree in classics.

In 1959, Emeka Anyaoku joined the Commonwealth Development Corporation, from where he joined the Foreign Affair Ministry.  In 1963 he was posted to Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.  It was from here, in 1966, that Emeka Anyaoku made the big move to the Commonwealth.

Meanwhile, while still in CDC, Emeka had met in 1962 tall beautiful Miss Ebunola Olubunmi Solanke at a party.  Just back from a course in London Ebunola was in need of a job. Emeka promised and went ahead and found her a job, first as a secretary in an insurance firm, and later as a wife and mother, diplomatic partner, hostess and community leader.  Their marriage took place in 1962, has been blessed with four children.

Chief Emeka Anyaoku is a traditional chief.  He is Achy Adazie of Obosi and Ugwumba Idemili of the Idemili Clan.  His wife is also a chief and they both perform their traditional roles in addition to their international engagements.

Chief Emeka Anyaoku’s achievement as secretary-General are indeed numerous and highly commendable.  They include assisting member countries in strengthening democracy, accountable administration and the rule of law, observer missions to parliamentary and presidential elections, and training in constitutional drafting among others.  One of his most outstanding successes was his positive leadership role in securing the end of apartheid in South Africa.

Even in try and embarrassing circumstances, such as when Nigeria was suspended from the Commonwealth over the execution of Ken Saro Wiwa and others, Chief Emeka Anyaoku remained calm, preferring always to stand by truth, justice and fairness.

In recognition of his spectacular performance Chief Emeka Anyaoku has received honors and awards too numerous to be mentioned fully in a short documentary.  He is a Commander of the Order of the Niger [CON], an Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order – a personal gift of the British Sovereign Conferred on individuals of special distinction.  Other national honors have come from Lesotho, Cameroon, Namibia, Trinidad and Tobago and Zanzibar.  Chief Anyaoku has many honorary appointments including the recent one by the Federal government of Nigeria as the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on International Relations.  He possesses twenty-three honorary degrees from universities all over the Commonwealth, while the University of London has established Professional Chair in Commonwealth studies named after Emeka Anyaoku.  Chief Eleazar Chukwuemeka Anyaoku retired as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth on March 31, 2000 after two full terms of exemplary and meritorious service – a worthy role model, not only for Nigeria, but for the whole of African and the entire black world.

Award Category: Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award May 15, 2001

Dr. Matthew Taiwo MBU, CFR, HLR

Pioneer Nigeria Diplomat;
1. First High Commissioner for Nigeria in the United Kingdom- 1955,
2. First Nigeria Chief Representative in USA -1959,
3. First Nigeria Chief Representative in United Nations – 1959

This man with so many firsts recorded to his name is no other than Dr. Mathew Taiwo Mbu fondly known as M T Mbu. He is not only the Nigerian pioneer Diplomat, he also holds the record for being the youngest ever diplomat  and minister, as he was only twenty three years old when he was appointed Federal Minister of Labour  in 1953. Chief Dr MT Mbu who is a lawyer, politician and Diplomat was born in Okondi Ogoja Cross rivers state on 20th November 1929, he attended Okondi Primary School from 1937 to 1940 in Ogoja where as a young school boy, he was so impressed by his teacher Rev. Patrick Mia that his all consuming ambition was to train and be ordained a catholic priest, this was in sharp conflict with his father’s plan for him to become a lawyer. Dr M. T. Mbu then went ahead with his education through Raisen hall Oxford University College London. Before proceeding to London however, Dr. MT Mbu had already become a prosperous business man and politician even in his early twenties. He was a member of the federal house of representatives- representing his constituency under the NCNC, he had also become federal minister of labour 1953 and acting minister of  transport 1954, acting minister of commerce and industry 1954 and acting minister of works 1955.

This attribute along with his level headedness and his ability always to strike a balance on issues earned him the choice over and above his other colleagues as Nigeria’s first convoy to the court of St. James London. He had a successful career in London while at the same time pursuing his law studies becoming a barrister at law of the honourable society   of the middle temple in 1959.He later added to this OAM, PHD and beginner in international affairs. Back in Nigeria, DR. Mbu scored another first as First Minister of Defence, Navy 1961-1965.

 

Award Category: Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award May 15, 2001 Ambassador

Senator Abraham Adesanya, HLR

Going back into history, one comes across men and women whose commitment to the course of the downtrodden has been unshakeable. These were people who stood against oppressive and corrupt leadership with courage and fortitude. People who became shinning examples and role models in hard work, diligence, commitment, truthfulness and transparency. People like Mahatma Gandhi of India, like Nelson Mandela of South Africa.

In Nigeria, we had the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and today one of his followers who has deservedly become chairman of AFENIFERE and leader of the Yoruba Nation. He is Senator Abraham Adesanya, a fearless and courageous fighter for any cause he believes in. he has been an active politician for over thirty years crowning it all with the role of human rights activist and pro democracy campaigner.

Senator Adesanya or Pa Adesanya, as he is now popularly known was born in Ijebu – Igbo Ogun State, on the 24th of July, 1922. His father, Pa Isaac Adekoya Adesanya was an herbalist and his mother was Elizabeth Odiya Adesanya. He attended primary schools in Ijebu – Igbo and Oshogbo before entering Ijebu – Igbo Grammar School in 1941. This marked the beginning of the manifestation of Senator Adesanya’s special gift and talent, for he literally walked from primary school straight into class IV in the secondary school by passing a special entrance examination. One would think that this could have been a handicap to his studies, but no! He passed his Cambridge examination in 1943 in flying colours.

 Senator Adesanya has always wanted to be a lawyer, but as funds were not easy to come by in those days, his only option was to take up appointment in the civil service. He joined the colonial audit department as a clerk in 1945 but his searching, critical nature was soon to manifest itself as he joined the civil service union. Within a short time he soon became the secretary of the Metropolitan Council of Nigeria Civil Service Union and played a leading role in the first civil service strike in 1948.

Not content with pursuing a career with the civil service, Mr. Adesanya had to go into import/ export and petty trading business in order to raise funds to travel to England to read law. He registered at Grays Inn, London but his studies were interrupted mid stream when he was called home to contest election into the Western House of assembly. He had to find another opportunity to complete his law studies.

Abraham Adesanya has had a brilliant law practice. He made history when as a young lawyer in 1964, he assisted Mr. Victor Durang a British lawyer in representing Chief Obafemi Awolowo during his appeal in the celebrated treasonable felony case. It was Adesanya who holding up a copy of the book “12 portraits of power” told the court that the said book could not be regarded as subversive having been written for students preparing for the G.C.E.

In a bold submission young Adesanya also referred too another book “Flashes of Inspiration” which had been tendered as exhibit. He said the book gave insight too Chief Awolowo and that there was no existence to prove the bitterness referred to by the judge against Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and Alhaji Ahmadu Bello. He described the submission of the prosecution as full of mischief and suspicious moves. He concluded by saying that there was no evidence to show that his client sent people to Ghana for training.

On the political front just as Egbe Omo Oduduwa led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo metamorphorsized into the action Group, 50 did NADECO, and AFENIFERE led by Abraham Adesanya mature into Alliance for Democracy. Both the Action group and the latter Alliance for Democracy have similar programmes and Abraham Adesanya has never deviated fro Awo’s policies.

His fervent belief in Awo’s ideology prompted him and his Afenifere / Nadeco group to decamp from any party that had bearing with Abacha and his supporters. Afeniferee moved out of the People’s Democratic Party joined the All Peoples’ Party (APP) before finally forming the Alliance for Democracy (AD)

Abraham Adesanya’s commitment to democracy is total and unflinching. His dislike for military regimes cannot be hidden under the table. And that is why he had his own share of attacks and persecution suffered by pro – democracy crusaders. He was nearly killed by assassins of the Abacha regime and after he had been taken into detention for flimsy reasons. He has condemned the transition programme of Abacha as fake, and canvassed for its entire cancellation. To quote from the book by Dr. S.A. Sodimu, “Abraham Adesanya has been known to be consistent in his opposition against the military. He is not bothered by juicy contracts and political appointments from the military boys.” It is on record that Abraham Adesanya has never been given any political appointments by any military regime in the country. He is neither a lobbyist nor a sycophant. He is firm, fair and strict.

Senator Abraham is married with four children, one of whom has been appointed a minister by the democratic government under President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Award Category: Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award July 24, 2000

Alhaja Abibat Mogaji HLR

Alhaja (Chief) Abibat Mogaji the Iya Oloja of Lagos and Yeye Oba of Ikirun. Alhaja Asabi Alaba Abibat Mogaji was born on October 23rd 1916 into the famous highly respectable Mogaji family in Ita Agarawu, situated in the heart of central Lagos and as if to prepare her for the role she was to play later in life providence made sure she was born into a family of traders.

Her father late Pa Gbadamosi Mogaji was a produce merchant, while her mother late Alhaja Saadatu Akoya Mogaji, was also a renowned trader in the old Lagos.

Alhaja Abibat Mogaji enjoyed very good health in her childhood with her ever caring mother attending to her every medical need and even suckling her to the age of 31/2 years, a lesson to young mothers of today.

Considering the towering image of Alhaja Mogaji among not only traders, but also among politicians and women leaders through out Nigeria, one would be tempted to conclude that she acquired top level western education but not so. Ratehr Alhaja Abibat Mogaji had a decent traditional informal oral education backed by Quranic school that taough her tenets of honesty, kindness and hardwork principles that have guided her life till date.

Just like her talent for singing and dancing, Alhaji Mogaji’s love for buying and selling became manifest in her, quite early in life. She engaged herself in the making and selling of akara, which became very popular in areas like Iga Iduaran, Igbosere, Onike, Marina, Lafiaji and Obalende.

As time progressed, Abibat’s mother recognised her entrepreneurial skills and encouraged her by laying financial base for her own small scale business. She later engaged in selling Siera Leonan mats and with time she came to grips with the intricacies of commercial enterprise.
Also of importance in her life was the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo who together with other prominent Yorubas’ formed Egbe Omo Oduduwa in the late 40s, this later metamorphosed into Action Group. So close was she to these political role models that she herself became a voice to be reckoned with Under Herbert Macaulay she was active in the Nigerian National Democratic Party NNDP. Under Chief Awolowo she became the arrow head of the mobilization of women, a part she has continued to play in the successive political parties of the Awo philosophy-the Unity Party of Nigeria, (UPN) the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the current Alliance for Democracy (AD).

Alhaja Abibat Mogaji has received numerous awards and recognitions among which are National Council for Women Societies, Umunede wives and daughters Association Delta State, United Tailors Association, Police Public Relations, Elere Division Agege, Eko Nite 91, Lagos Island Local Government, United Mushin Council of Nigeria, Satellite Comrades, the Islanders Socialist Movement, Student Councillors Association University of Ibadan, Alhaja Asabi Alaba Abibat Mogaji the president General of the Association of Nigerian market women and men, the iya Oloja of Lagos, Yeye Oba of Ikirun, Order of Federal Republic (OFR) a role model in all its ramifications.

Alhaja Abibat Mogaji has many children among whom are Mrs. Biodun Kasumu and Senator Bola Tinubu, the Executive Governor of Lagos State with several grand children.

 

Award Category: Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award October 10, 2000

Prof Grace Alele Williams

The Chairman of the occasion, Professor Mrs. Grace Alele Williams, our special guest of honour, respected Chief Emeka Anyaoku Your Excellencies, my Lord Spiritual and temporal our distinguished Award Winners and guests. Let me join my Chairman, Emeritus Professor Umaru Shehu to welcome you all to this very special 17th Anniversary Awards.

Last year, during our sixteenth anniversary, the Foundation turned a search light on the youths with the aim of discovering young talented Nigerians, mentor, encourage and provide a platform for them to realize their maximum potentials. Among the Young Achievers are Nigeria’s Youngest Ph.D holders, Opeyemi Deborah Sodipe and Adeyemi Olabisi Temitope both 25 years, I understand that Adeyemi Temitope is here this evening. The Foundation also provided Laboratory Equipments and Computers to the best performing schools in WASSCE 2011, namely: Lumen Christi International High School, Uromi, Edo State and Air Force Comprehensive School, Agbani, Enugu State. Today, it is a great honour to have in our midst the 2012 best performing school in WASSCE and we congratulate the principal and students of Presentation National High School, Benin City for a job well done. As their reward, the Foundation will equip their computer room with a donation of Ten (10) Desktop Computers. Also, in line with our objectives to mentor, encourage and provide a platform for the younger generations to achieve their maximum potentials, the Foundation will donate a Bore-Hole Water System and Desktop Computers to a disadvantaged school nominated by the best performing school in WASSCE 2012. We are glad to announce that the benefiting school is Queen Apostles Nursery & Primary School, Shinge Lafia, Nasarawa State. We hope that this gesture will help in a small way to elevate the suffering of these young pupils.

 

Award Category: Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award March 7, 2002

Prof. Umaru Shehu CFR, CON, HLR

An outstanding University Administrator and Authority in Community Medicine.

Award Category: Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award February 20, 2000

Alhaji Babatunde Jose OFR, HLRA

Father of modern Journalism in Nigeria.

Award Category: Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award August 7, 2001

Pa Micheal Imoudu HLR

In the late 1930s and early forties, labour movement in Nigeria was in its infancy.  The British Colonial government paid meager wages to the Nigeria workers, who themselves lacked the will and courage to protest against their poor working conditions.  It was not until the mid – 40s that the Messiah emerged.  He came in the person of a young man with very modest education, employed in the Nigeria Railway, as an apprentice turner and journeyman.

This young man, with such a lowly job, was destined to raise labour from its debased level to position of reckoning.  He is no other than Mr. Michael A. O Imoudu (now pa Imoudu) who later, deservedly, earned the description “Nigeria Labour Leader number One”.  For indeed, Mr. Imoudu approached the political, social and labour problems affecting all daily wage earners, in such fearless manner that he has been described as “militaristic as Napoleon” as wise as Solomon, as patriotic as Caesar and as impetuous as the Apostle St. Peter.

Pa Michael Imoudu was born in Ukpafikan, quarters, Oke Ora near Sabongida Ora in Edo State.  Family sources place his birth around 1900.  He attended Government Schol, Ora. After gaining Promotion to Standard 1, which was in fact double promotion from the infant classes, he accompanied his paternal uncle to Sapele.  His uncle’s frequent change of location took young Imoudu further to Onitsha, and finally to Agbor, where he sat for and passed the standard six examination.  Here he ended his formal education and decided to move into Lagos to seek employment.

Mr. Michael Imoudu’s first job was with the posts and telegraphs department as a lines man, but not finding job satisfaction, he decided to make a change.  He then got a job with the Nigerian Railways, first as a general labourer, then as apprentice turner, and later as a journeyman at the rate of three shillings per day. Mr. Imoudu immediately got himself actively involved with the Nigerian Railway Workers Union, taking the initiative in organizing meetings, raising funds and encouraging others.  Within a short time he established himself as a leader and he carried out the three-fold duty of president, secretary and treasurer of the ‘RWU’.

Mr. Michael Imoudu became the inspiration to all workers not only at the Nigerian railways, but throughout the country and many trade unions sprang up.  Strike action, as a veritable instrument of negotiation came into full play when in June 1945, Mr. Michael Imoudu led the Railway workers on strike over demand for a daily pay increase of 8 pence.

Apart from the exile to Auchi, Pa Imoudu was incarcerated a number of times, causing discomfort and hardship to his family.

Pa Imoudu was also in active politics.  He was in NCNC with the late Herbert Macaulay and the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.

Pa Imoudu was a philanthropic to the core.  In his determination to spread the good life to all and sundry, he organized scholarship for Nigeria youths in the USSR, China and East Germany.

In recognition and appreciation of his activities, a house and a car was presented to him on the occasion of his eightieth birthday by Chief Obafemi Awolowo.  Unfortunately there is currently a controversy over the house.

Pa Michael Imoudu is now retired and lives in Oro in his house built for him by the Railway Worker’s Union.  Apart from this, nothing else has been done to immortalize this great Nigeria or to make his old age a more pleasant and comfortable one.

Pa Michael A.O. Imoudu, Nigeria Labour Leader No. 1; Father of Trade Unionism in Nigeria, holder of an Honorary Degree of the University of Ife, a champion of the course of the common man. A role model in its totality

Prof. Tiamiyu Belo-Osagie CON, HLR

University administrator and outstanding gynaecologist who set up University of Benin teaching Hospital.

Dr. Irene Modupe Ola Thomas, HLR

Frontline Female medical practitioner and activist.

Hon. Justice Mohammed Bello, GCON, HLR

Justice Mohammed Bello (1930–2004) was the first Northern Chief Justice of Nigeria (1987–1995). He was an eminent jurist who tried to protect the court against the excess of military incursion in judicial matters.
Mohammed Bello was born in Katsina, his father, Gidado was the mufti of Katsina. He started early education at the Central Elementary school Katsina, in 1943. For secondary tutelage, he attended the Middle school in Katsina. He then proceeded to the University College Ibadan to study Latin as a preparatory course for a Law degree. Between 1953 and 1955, he was at Inn of court, London, earning his law degree. Mohammed Bello then started his professional law career as the pupil crown counsel to the Northern Nigeria government in 1956. In 1961, he was appointed the chief magistrate, Northern Nigeria and served in that capacity for three years. He took on another public duty as the Director of Public Prosecutions, Northern Nigeria. During the waning months of the Nigerian civil war, Justice Mohammed Bello was appointed acting and later Chief Justice of Northern Nigeria between 1969 and 1975.
In 1975 he was appointed Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Described as a detribalized Nigerian by some of his peers, Justice Mohammed Bello’s tenure at the Supreme Court was one of a fearless actor in the midst of a military onslaught on democratic norms and judicial precedents. As the supreme court chief he steered the wheels of the judiciary towards peace and away from political controversy with the exception of a few instances. In 1986, he was the chair of a judicial inquiry tribunal that reviewed military court decisions affecting prominent politicians such as Olabisi Onabanjo, Prof D.A. Odenikpe, Dr Oladewa, Prof Ambrose Ali, Mr Solomon Lar, Chief Melford Okilo, Olawale Edwards, and Chief Folowonsho.
In 1987, He rose to the pinnacle of the Judiciary with his appointment as the Chief Justice of Nigeria until his retirement. Hon. Justice Mohammed Bello holds several honours including the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger, GCON.

Izioma Philip Chukwuedo Asiodu

Outstanding Member of the Civil Service ‘Tribe’ & Advocate of Nigerian Unity

Hon. Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, CFR, HLR

If you are a student of Philosophy, you will no doubt have come across the name Socrates, the great Greek Philosopher, whose life, thought and method have been of immense influence on the legal profession. Socrates was a strong patriot, who believed that a citizen is bound by conscience to obey the laws of the state. That is how we must introduce our role model – the Honorable Justice Chukwudifu Akunne Oputa (rtd.), erstwhile Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, a man who has been aptly described as the Socrates of the Supreme Court.

Justice Oputa was born on 22nd September 1924 in Oguta, Imo State, hence he is fondly called Oputa from Oguta. His father was Chief Oputa Izukwu and his mother Madam Nwanetu Oputa. He had his early education in Sacred Heart School, Oguta and Christ the king College, Onitsha.

After this, the young Oputa went to Yaba Higher College, but due to the exigencies of the Second World War, was sent along with others to the famous Achimota College, Ghana, then Gold Coast. There he graduated B.Sc (Hon) Economics in 1945. After this he came back to Nigeria and took up a teaching appointment with Calabari National College. He later came to Lagos where he worked as an ADO (Assistant District Officer). It was here that Justice Oputa achieved a remarkable feat; he studied at home and obtained his BA (Hon) history at home.

Justice Oputa then proceeded to London where he got his LLB (HON) and was called to Bar in Gray’s Inn, London.

Upon his return to Nigeria, then Barrister Oputa went into brilliant and successful private practice, handling such celebrated cases and special inquires as the Oguta Chieftaincy dispute 1958/ 59, the Amanyanabo Dispute 1956/ 60 and many more.

In 1966, Justice Oputa was appointed Judge of the High Court of the then Eastern Nigeria and moved on to become the first Chief Judge of Imo State ten years later.

In 1984, the great elevation came – the exalted position of Honorable Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. It did not take long before Justice Oputa put his stamp on the Supreme Court as a man profoundly moved by classical literature, history, divinity and philosophy and whose judgments possessed the temerity that is in the preserve of genius. No wonder that the then chief justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Bello nicknamed him Cicero.

Even as he was proceeding on retirement in 1989, it was quite clear that Justice Oputa still had much more to offer.

Justice Oputa’s neatness and personal appearance never goes unnoticed. Justice Oputa is not all law. He is a devoted Christian and plays active role in the church. He is honored in the Catholic Church with Knight Commander of St. Gregory the great. He is also Knight Commander of St. Sylvester pope, Knight of St. Mulumba.

Justice Oputa has published over 40 papers in lectures, conferences and seminars. He continues to be given Federal Assignments even after retirement.

Justice Oputa is a dedicated family man exemplarily devoted to his beautiful wife Margaret and his lovely children. His second son is Mr. Charles Oputa well known by music lovers as Charly boy.

Hon. Justice Dr. Mrs. Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, GCON, HLR
Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande
Professor Ibrahim Gambari, CFR, HLR
Professor Itse Sagay, SAN, HLR

A distinguished scholar, teacher, legal luminary, author & human rights advocate, Professor Itsejuwa Esanjumi Sagay was born 20th December 1940 in Ibadan, Oyo State.

His father, Pa Andrew Esanjumi Sagay, was a teacher and strict disciplinarian who ensured that his children imbibed the culture of hard work, integrity and responsible conduct. He began his early education at CMS School, Warri and Government College, Ughelli. Young Itse’s ambition was to study Medicine but his constant visits to the House of Representatives to watch members engage in lively debates persuaded him to change his mind. He then applied and got admitted into the University of Ife, Ile-Ife, in 1962 whence he obtained his bachelor of Law degree (LL.M) in 1965 and that marked the beginning of several decades of activism in public affairs.

Itse Sagay went through the mill studying under distinguished lecturers; and was rewarded for his diligence and focus. Among others, he earned a National Scholarship for the Best Performance in University [LL.B.] Examinations for three years [1963- 1966] and in the Nigerian Law School, he also won the Prize for Best Performance in Revenue Law and Best Overall Performance in the Bar Examinations [1966].

Opting for a career in academia, Itse Sagay was retained by University of Ife, which duly sponsored him for post-graduate studies at the famed King’s College, Cambridge University, UK, where he obtained his Master’s degree in 1968 and breezed through his Doctorate degrees in just two years. He returned to Ife as an International Law expert of note to start a life-long career in the teaching and mentoring of young Nigerians in the intricacies of the Law and on crucial aspects of Justice.

In 1976, he further obtained the Certificate of The Hague Academy of International Law. Back at Ife, Dr. Itse Sagay was in his element as he successively attained the ranks of Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Ag. Head, Department of International Law. In 1979, he was elevated to the rank of Professor of Law and later Acting Dean & Dean Faculty of Law [1981-1982].

In 1981, Professor Itse Sagay went to the University of Benin as a visiting Professor and later joined that institution on a full-time basis in 1982 as the young faculty’s first and only professor for the first few years.

Aside being the founding Dean, Faculty of Law (University of Benin), he was a member of the planning committee for the establishment of the Bendel State University [Ambrose Alli University] in Ekpoma and also the chairman of the committee that prepared the blue print for the setting up of Legal studies in that same institution.

Along the line, Itse Sagay and some of his ASUU colleagues’ activism set them on a collision course with the authorities, and they were compulsorily retired by the Babangida military regime. They went to court and were re-instated some seven years later. Professor Itse Sagay returned to the classroom and eventually “hung his academic gloves” in 2004.

With specialties and publications in Public International Law, Law of Contracts, Family Law, Law of Succession, African Customary Law, Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, Itse Sagay’s doctoral dissertation at Cambridge titled: “South-West Africa: Its International Status And Other Legal Problems” and a follow-up monograph – “The Legal Aspects of the Namibia Dispute” were important documents in the payload of UN instruments and materials that were deployed in the eventual resolution of the myriad issues regarding South-West Africa and the declaration by International Law of the true and correct status of the state of Namibia. On Racial Discrimination, South Africa and civil rights, his paper, “State Terrorism In South Africa” became an official UN Document.

Professor Itse Sagay is the proud author of eleven books which has become some of the greatest resource materials for Law Students, indeed his book, “The Nigerian Law of Contract” is an epochal publication which remains ‘The Bible’ on Nigerian contract law. He has also written over one hundred and fifty articles, conference papers and reviews.  Recognized within and outside Nigeria, he has served in ad-hoc capacities in a number of Nigerian and international institutions, including: the OAU, UNDP, Nigerian Law Reform Commission, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Nigerian Council for Legal Education, UN Special Committee Against Apartheid, amongst others.

An accomplished Senior Advocate of Nigeria [SAN] on the basis of academic works, Professor Itse Sagay is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators; Member, the International Law Association; Member, American Society of International Law; and Member, the Nigerian Society of International Law, and many more.

Presently, the Managing Partner of Itse Sagay & Co. since 1988, he was appointed Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption by President Mohammed Buhari in August, 2015, a clear testimony to his integrity, high principles and strong sense of propriety.

Professor Itse Sagay’s teaching legacy will forever be engraved first in the hearts, minds and achievements of his former students [many of whom have become celebrated as distinguished Judges, Senior Advocates, Legal Scholars, Attorneys-General, a Governor, captains of industry, political leaders, etc.];  and in his lectures, academic papers, monographs and books.

Professor Itse Sagay is happily married, with children, to Mrs. Sheila Tare Sagay.

Ladies & Gentlemen, we are proud to invite Professor Itsejuwa Esanjumi Sagay to step up and receive the Hallmarks of Labour Foundation Role Model Award for his Exemplary/Courageous Service To The Advancement of Our Legal System particularly in the area of learning and publication.

Chief Mrs. Olutoyin Olakunri, FCA, OFR, HLR

Today, Hallmarks of Labour Foundation is proud to invite Chief Mrs. Olutoyin Olusola Olakunri to join her peers as honoured recipient of the Hallmarks of Labour Foundation Role Model Award for Outstanding Contributions to Business Management, Administration and Accounting in Nigeria.

Professor Shehu Galadanci

An Educational Administrator, Scholar & Diplomat, Professor Shehu Ahmad Said Galadanci was born in the ancient, great city of Kano on April 10, 1933. Among other qualifications, he holds a Diploma in Education with Distinction, Bachelor’s degree in Classical Arabic, Master’s in Literature, and Doctorate in Modern Arabic.

His full-time career has taken him through critical appointments in academia and the diplomatic corps. He has served as an Education Officer; Principal, School of Arabic & Islamic Studies, Kano; Senior Lecturer in Arabic/Islamic Studies, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; and Provost, Abdullahi Bayero College, which later metamorphosed into Bayero University, Kano. It was there that he generated the novel idea of a pre-degree programme for preparing future degree students, an idea that informed the establishment of the School of Basic Studies in ABU.

Appointed the pioneer Vice-Chancellor, University of Sokoto [now known as Usman Danfodio University] where he served for two eventful terms, Professor Shehu Galadanci successively undertook assignments as Presidential Special Adviser, Professor at Bayero University, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, National Commissioner of INEC, and Chairman, National Universities Commission.

Author of five books and numerous publications in local and international academic journals, Professor Shehu Galadanci was a Visiting Professor at Northwestern University, USA, and belongs to a number of national and international professional bodies. He is currently the Chairman, Islamic Foundation of Nigeria & Murshid, Abuja National Mosque.

Professor Shehu Galadanci has been variously honoured with prestigious awards, including Commander of the Order of the Niger [CON], Nigerian Universities Distinguished Professor, Emeritus Vice-Chancellor of Usman Danfodio University.

He is happily married with children.

Ladies & Gentlemen, it is with great privilege that we invite Professor Shehu Ahmad Said Galadanci, CON to receive ‘The HLF-Umaru Shehu Life-Time Achievement Award for Consistent Advocacy for positive change within the University System’.

Accept our Congratulations!

Mr. Allison Akene Ayida, CFR, HLR
Mrs. Stella Marie Awani

A Matriarch of the Broadcast Industry, Teacher, Mentor & Community Leader, Mrs. Stella Marie Awani [Nee Madunta] was born on December 2, 1939 in Akwete Town, Ndoki, Abia State. She obtained her formal education variously at Holy Rosary Convent, Enugu [under the care of Nuns], Our Lady’s High School, Kaduna, and Queen of Apostles College [QAC], also in Kaduna. It was at QAC that she acquired the culture and values that define her life today as it was a merger of Grammar and Finishing Schools.

Armed with the Senior Cambridge School Certificate, Stella Awani was enrolled at St. Agnes Teachers’ College, Maryland-Lagos following which she taught for 3 years at her alma mater, Queen of Apostles College. On Christmas vacation in the home of Mr. & Mrs. Obi Ebo – the former a popular gifted Radioman and News-Reader – she was influenced to pursue a career in Broadcasting.

Auditioned in January 1962 by the famous Sam Nwaneri – the then Controller, Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation [NBC], Eastern Region – she was employed “on the spot and put on Air!” Thus began an enriching and fulfilling sojourn in the exciting field of Broadcasting.

Mrs. Stella Awani started work in the NBC as an Announcer Trainee; and was transferred to Lagos Headquarters after three years – and promoted. Then came the golden opportunity of training at the world-renowned BBC, London. Such was her performance that her Trainers recommended in their report that she be moved to the Training Unit of NBC as a Trainer.

Though she continued her duties as a Continuity Announcer, Mrs. Stella Awani was ‘loaned’ regularly to the Radio Nigeria Training School to handle Presentation Courses for Announcers and News-Readers. Indeed, she brought her teaching skills to bear on the nation’s broadcast industry, patiently guiding her students through the fundamentals of phonetics and presentation. Her ability to motivate and organize others has had a lasting effect on the broadcast community. She really worked and researched assiduously on both substance and presentation of broadcast material, which efforts paid off as she groomed quite a number of later top-flight Broadcast/Media Practitioners in Africa. These include John Olatchy Momoh [Founder & CEO of Channels Television], Patrick Oke, Jones Usen, Siene All-Well Browne, Ronke Ayuba, Soni Irabor, and Mani Onumonu.  Even in retirement, she still follows up with many of the broadcasters who went through her tutelage as their personal adviser.

With her full-time posting to the Training School, Mrs. Stella Awani attended a number of professional courses, including a Diploma programme at the University of Connecticut, Hartford-USA. She also edited The Insider — Broadcasting House Newsletter.

Appointed the pioneer Controller, Spoken Word, this Amazon of Nigerian Broadcasting successive attained the positions of Manager, National Training & Manpower Development; and Manager, National Programmes. She retired from the Corporation’s full-time service in 1985.

An active member of the Anglican Communion, Mrs. Stella has, even in retirement, groomed several Clergy in Effective Communication as well as personnel of some corporate bodies in the public and private sectors. Among other societal development bodies, she is also a member of International Inner Wheel of Rotary International, Christian Sisters’ Society of Benedictine Word Incarnate Monastery, Blessed TANSI Prayer Group, Board of Lectors of Lagos Archdiocese, and Christian Sisters United Association of Professionals – from which she has received numerous awards.

She was happily married, with children & grandchildren, to Arc. Dan Edo Awani of blessed memory.

Ladies & Gentlemen, we proudly invite Mrs. Stella Marie Awani to receive the “2021 HLF-Christopher Kolade Award for Excellence in Leadership & Professionalism in the Media”.

Hearty Congratulations!

Dr. Sonny Folorunso Kuku, FRCP, FWACP, FAS

An accomplished Endocrinologist, Administrator, and Entrepreneur, Dr. Sonny Folorunso Kuku was born in Jos, Plateau State on January 3, 1944. He obtained his tertiary education at the University of Lagos and University of London, and graduated with the degrees of Bachelor of Science [Hons.], Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery [MB, BS], Master of Science in Pathology, Doctor of Medicine, & Doctor of Philosophy.

Dr. Sonny Kuku’s working career has taken him through critical appointments within and outside Nigeria. They include Pre-Doctoral Fellow University of Rochester, New York [1968-1969], House Officer, Lagos University Teaching Hospital [LUTH, 1970-1971], and Research Assistant, Royal Post-Graduate Medical School, London [1971-1974].

A Senior Fellow at the Pritzker School Medicine, University Chicago, Illinois [1974-1975], Dr. Sonny Kuku also served as a Senior Lecturer at the College of Medicine of University Lagos for about three years.

In 1978, he and two other eminent medical experts – Drs. Eneli and Obiorah – established The EKO Hospital – easily one of Nigeria’s best medical facilities. He is a Joint Chief Medical Director of the Hospital as well as the Chairman, Immunoassay Laboratories Limited and Ekocorp. PLC.

Beyond the field of medicine, Dr. Sonny Kuku has been pressed into service on some other national assignments. He was Pro-Chancellor & Chairman of Council, Ogun State [Olabisi Onabanjo] University, Ago-Iwoye between 1993 & 1999, Chairman, Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State Universities & Tertiary Hospitals, from 1995 to 1999, and Director, Midas Merchant Bank for about five years. He has been the Chairman of Midas Stockbrokers Limited since 1990.

A Fellow &Trustee of the National Post-Graduate Medical College, Nigeria since 1993, Dr. Sonny Kuku is a Fellow, Royal College of Physicians; Fellow & past President, West African College of Physicians; Fellow, Nigeria Academy of Science; Member & Honorary Life President, Nigerian Society of Endocrinology; and Member & past Vice-President, Pan-African Diabetes Study Group. He is also the first African Honorary Fellow of the College of Physicians of South Africa.

Dr. Sonny Kuku’s attainments have been acknowledged severally locally and internationally. Listed as a Noteworthy Endocrinologist in Marquis Who’s Who, he is the recipient of the First Distinguished Alumnus award of University Lagos; and Ambassador of Goodwill for the City of Freetown, Sierra Leone.

He is happily married with children.

Ladies & Gentlemen, we respectfully invite Dr. Sonny Folorunso Kuku to receive the “2020 Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Medicine”.

Hearty Congratulations!

Dr. Micheal Olawale Omolayole, HLR

Dr. Michael Olawole Omolayole was born over 65 years ago in Ijebu-Mushin, Ogun State. He obtained a Post Graduate diploma in Education from Oxford University in 1954, having gone through St. Gregory College, Lagos (1943-1947) and the University of Ibadan (1948-1952). His career started in 1952 as a science teacher at St. Gregory’s College, Lagos where he was until 1958 when he joined Lever Brothers Nigeria Limited as a Training Manager. In Lever Brothers, Dr. Omolayole proved his outstanding qualities and within 7 years had risen to the post of a Personnel Director. He became Vice Chairman of the Company in 1971, a post he held until 1975 when he was appointed the first Nigerian Chairman and Managing Director. Dr. Omolayole has been Chairman and/or Director of various companies outsisde Lever Brothers. He was a Director of UAC of Nigeria Limited from 1969 to 1974, Director and later Chairman of National Bank of Nigerian (1972-1975). He is at present the Chairman of Board of Directors of Chemical and Allied Products Plc., Ogun State University Investment Company, American International Insurance Company Plc. (AIICO) and Industrial Gases Plc. He also seat on the Board of Nestle Foods Nigeria Plc.

A management expert in his own right who has written so eruditely on various aspects of Management, Dr. Omolayole has been considered worthy of, and performed creditably in offices that command heights of our economy.

Dr. Omolayole has been Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Management (1971-1976) of which he is a fellow, and on whose Council he still serves; Member of the council for the centre of management development (1972-1975) and a member of the industrial training fund and the nigerian institite of social and economic research; nigerian employers consultative association (president 1980-85 among others. He is at present involved in the management of atleast 35 organizations and bodies among which are: Lagos Chambers of Commerce and industry (Vice president), National Man-power Board (Member), National Labour Advisory Committee (Member), University of Ibadan Alumni Association, Lagos Branch (Past President), Council of Ogun State University (Former Pro-Chancellor), Council of African Advisers to the World Bank (Member). He is also a member of International Board of Advisors of AIESEC International in Brussels, and Chairman of the National Board of Advisors of AIESEC Nigeria. Dr. Omolayole is a life honorary member of AIESEC.

Dr. Omolayole holds an honoraryDoctor of Laws (LL.D) from the University of Ibadan and was for sometime a visiting Professor of Personnel Management and industrial Relations at the University of Lagos. He is a member of varuious clubs and societies inccluding Rotary International, Sigma Club, Metropolitan Club and Friends of the International Gallery of Modern Arts.

Dr. Omolayole is presently the Chairman & Chief Executive of Omolayole and Associates – a Management Consulting Outfit. Dr. Michael Omolayole is married with 5 children.

Dr. Omolayole has blazed trails where there was no footpath before. He has risen phenomenally and has distinguished himself and proved his worth. He is a deserving beneficiary of the perpetual honour of “the Annual Management Lectures”.

Alhaji Ahmed Joda OFR, CON, HLR

Outstanding Member of the Civil Service tribe and advocate of Nigerian Unity.

Prof. Thomas Adeoye Lambo

First African Psychiatrist and first Deputy Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the 28th of November, 1997

Honourable Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte

A legal icon, author and Professor of Law, The Honourable Justice Adolphus Godwin Karibi-Whyte hails from Abonnema, Rivers State.

His professional career has taken him through the Nigerian and international judicial systems. Appointed Legal Draftsman in the Rivers State Ministry of Justice in 1973, this legal luminary successively attained the ranks of Solicitor-General, in that Ministry and Associate Professor of Law, University of Lagos.

In 1976, he was appointed a Judge of the Federal Revenue Court and thus began an illustrious judicial career, which took him through the Court of Appeal from 1980, and the Supreme Court of Nigeria from 1984, thus making him the second Nigerian after Dr. T.O. Elias, to move directly from academia to the judiciary. During this time he also served as Chairman of several Commissions of Inquiry including the Counterfeit Tribunal and the Inquiry into the Nigerian Agricultural and Co-operative Bank. He was also appointed as Judge, International Criminal Tribunal on November 7, 1993, and Chairman Nigerian Constitutional Conference between 1994/95.

Indeed, several years after, His Lordship’s judicial pronouncements on the bench continue to resonate in Nigeria and beyond. According to Professor Paul Idornigie of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, “Justice Karibi-Whyte’s dissenting opinions in obvious opposition to the decision of the majority justices are not only legendary and seminal but unparalleled in Nigeria”.  In fact, his dissenting opinions have become illuminating judicial guides for the Supreme Court in subsequent similar cases and the basis of legislative interventions, notably – Savannah Bank of Nigeria Limited v Pan Atlantic Shipping & Transport Agencies Limited (1987), Government of Gongola State v Tukur (1989), Attorney General of the Federation v Attorney General of Abia State (2001) [The Resource Control Suit], Grace Jack v University of Agriculture, Makurdi (2004) and Patkun Industries Ltd v Niger Shoes Manufacturing Company Limited (1988)

Unarguably, a quintessential jurist, a scholar par excellence, an intellectual colossus and consummate judicial officer, he is a man driven by his passion for justice according to law, firmly undergirded by his resolute and reputed integrity.

His ad-hoc appointments have been no less inspiring. They include: Chairman, Counterfeit Currency Tribunal, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities, Law Report Committee of the Federal High Court, Civil Disturbances Tribunal, Committee for the Unification & Reform of the Criminal Code, Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Act & Criminal Procedure Code, Nigerian Constitutional Conference of 1994-1995. Honourable Justice Karibi-Whyte was also Judge and Vice-President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, sitting at the Hague.

He is an author of thirteen books and 55 academic publications in local and international learned journals, and is very much in demand for speaking engagements in his field.

A gentleman of indisputably stellar accomplishments, Hon Justice Karibi-Whyte is a Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) (1998), and also Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) (2008). He is happily married to Mrs. Faith Asareme Karibi-Whyte. They are blessed with six children.

 

Distinguished Ladies & Gentlemen, we are proud to invite HIS LORDSHIP, HONOURABLE JUSTICE ADOLPHUS GODWIN KARIBI-WHYTE, CON, CFR, a legal icon, an intellectual colossus, a man of great courage and integrity to step up and join the National Heroes in the gallery of Hallmarks of Labour.

 

Accept our congratulations!