BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
Dr. Sola Obabori, Group Executive Director of NAHCO aviance Plc, will be among the distinguished figures celebrated by the nine Uneme communities in Edo North at a prestigious award and fundraising ceremony in Benin City.
The event, scheduled for Saturday, September 14, will also honour prominent personalities such as the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Abubakar Momoh; former Edo State Governor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole; and the Anglican Bishop of the Calabar Diocese, Archbishop Tunde Adeleye.
In addition to Dr. Obabori, the ceremony will recognise other influential individuals including Dr. Ainojie Irune, Executive Director of Oando Nigeria Limited; Dr. Bridget Osakwe, National Network Coordinator of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) Nigeria; Sir Dayo Alabi, former President of the Uneme National Development Association (UNDA); Dr. Adetutu Obabori, Principal of Queens College; and Professor Emmanuel Emasealu of the University of Port Harcourt.
The honouring of these figures is part of a broader initiative to launch a N500 million education and security trust fund aimed at addressing the pressing development challenges faced by the Uneme communities.
Mr. Bayo Akhigbe, Chairman of the planning committee, explained the significance of the event.
“We as a people and communities have decided to celebrate our illustrious sons and daughters and at the same time honour them as our proud ambassadors.
“In their own various ways they have affected the Uneme communities positively through their intervention in the education, health, agriculture and job creation programmes they provided for our people. We are grateful for the ones they have done and at the same time request for more,” Akhigbe stated.
The fundraising effort and awards ceremony accentuates the communities’ appreciation for the positive impact these leaders have had and their dedication to fostering continued progress and development in the region.
