F

CT Minister, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has dedicated his ThisNigeria newspaper Gold Prize Award in Infrastructural Development and Exceptional Leadership to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for making him and his team to be part of his Renewed Hope Agenda for Nigerians.

Wike, who received the honour in the second edition of the paper’s Annual Lecture and Gold Prize Awards recently in Abuja, noted that without Tinubu deeming it necessary for him to be part of the current administration, it would not have been possible for his team at the FCTA to contribute their quota.

The FCT minister was among the Five distinguished Nigerians honoured.  Others are the Governors of Kano and Akwa Ibom states, Malam Abba Kabi Yusuf and Pastor Umo Eno, respectively as well as Special Financial Investigator, Mr. Jim Obazee and veteran Labour leader and Director General, Micheal Imoudu Institute of Labour Studies, Comrade Issa Aremu.

“I want to dedicate this award to His Excellency, the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria for deeming it necessary that we be part of his Renewed Hope Agenda for Nigerians, without which it would not have been possible for us to contribute our quota.

“I want to assure Nigerians to continue to have hope and things will improve under the Administration of His Excellency, Ahmed Bola Tinubu”, Wike stressed.

Earlier in his address, the Chairman of the occasion, former Head of State, General Abdulsami Abubakar(rtd), who was represented by Major General Adamu Jidda (Rtd), commended the Publisher of ThisNigeria, Mr. Eric Osagie for organising the event to honour individuals for exceptional achievements and also celebrate 25 years of unbroken democracy in the Nigeria.

Abubakar, who lauded the progress made since the return of Nigeria to democratic rule against all odds 25 years ago, stressed the need to celebrate Nigerians who helped to sustain democracy through the years.

According to him: “Despite the myriad of challenges that have come our way, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to upholding democratic ideals.

“ As we celebrate this milestone, we must acknowledge the numerous individuals and institutions that played pivotal roles in sustaining our democracy.”

The Lecture and Award ceremony  themed: “25 years of Nigeria’s Unbroken Democracy – Prospects and Possibilities”, had Professor Mike Ozekhome as the guest lecturer and Professor Okey Ikechukwu, Senator Shehu Sani and Professor Abiodun Adeniyi as discussants.