Ekiti Speaker, ASPMDA President, Africa Partnership CEO, others to bag honorary awards

Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Olabunmi Adelugba; D.I.G Udom Udo Ekpoudom and Chairman, Board of Governors, Tower of Ivory Schools; President of Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association(ASPMDA), Lagos State, Hon.Ngozi Emechebe; and the Chairman/CEO, Financing & Partnership Africa Ltd, Emmanuel Ibituase Akinwumi are among eminent Nigerian professionals listed for honorary doctorate award at the University of Lagos later this month.
Former Commander of Signal Corps, Nigeria Army and immediate past Nigeria’s Envoy to the Holy See( Vatican) is expected to deliver a lecture at the summit on: “Ethno-Religious Harmony Engendered by Good Governance- Precursors To Peace and Sustainable Development in Africa,” which will precede the awards.
According to the Advisory Board Chairman of Leadtimes Africa Magazine, Professor Buba Mshelia, wife of the Governor of Kwara State and founder of Ajike People Support Centre, Mrs Olufolake Abdulrazaq, will double as Special Guest at the summit even as she will also be honoured with the prestigious Leadtimes Africa First Lady of the Year Award for Innovation in Strategic Leadership and Governance.
On reasons for her selection, Prof Mshelia said: “Her Excellency Amb. Dr. Mrs Olufolake Abdulrazaq, First Lady of Kwara State and Founder of Ajike People Support Centre has introduced strategic innovation in governance as she makes life more meaningful for the most vulnerable, less privileged, the elderly, widows, orphans, girl-child, etc through her NGO- Ajike People Support Centre that has impacted positively on the lives of the downtrodden including her women empowerment initiatives across the state in the last four years under the administration of Governor
Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, the governor of Kwara state.
“This award will encourage the Kwara state First Lady to continue to do more for the good people of Kwara state in this second tenure of her husband.”
Professor Mshelia, chairman of Advisory Board of Leadtimes Africa Magazine, co- convener of the proposed summit, also explained why Ekiti Speaker would be honoured: “Being the first female speaker in the state since its creation in 1996. Before her emergence as speaker, she had worked diligently in several strategic positions within and outside the state with over twenty years of professional experience in auditing, corporate advisory services and financial consultancy. She has impacted positively on the people of Ekiti state, served as Special Adviser to Ekiti State Government on Revenue Matters; pioneer Commissioner for Labour & Human Capital Development; Chief Whip, and then first term-member as the first female Speaker. She has also set up empowerment programmes through entrepreneurial initiatives for the good people of Emure State Constituency where he represents, apart from her contributions to the educational development through building of class rooms blocks for the people.
As former House Committee Chairman on Finance and Appropriation, she exhibits high level of fiscal discipline associated with transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.
“It is against this backdrop, among other indices that has influenced the nomination of Hon. Olabunmi Adelugba for this recognition; she is simply a professional role model ,”the University don added.
He noted that at the end of the summit session, credible personalities with track records in different leadership capacity will be honored with doctoral degrees(honoris causa) from Triune Biblical University Global Extension New York, USA and Prowess University, Delaware, USA.
“Selection of nominees for the honorary doctorate degrees by the two US-based institutions were based principally on their past and present feats attained by these individuals,” the university don further stressed.”
He added: “All nominees were thoroughly investigated independently and transparently recommended through our researchers. We further aggregated the various recommendations made on them by their constituents, the media, opinion moulders and other stakeholders in the leadership cycle.
“These were the parameters used for nomination. Other basis used for nomination are the impacts they have made on the people of their local communities as well as the overall aggregates of their integrity, transparency and accountability in their various leadership positions.”
Professor Eze Nwauba, the African Representative of Prowess University and Registrar/CEO of the Institute of Arts Management & Professional Studies (IAMPS) and Professor Adeleke Daniel Durojaiye, President of Triune Biblical University Extension, New York, USA in conjunction with Leadtimes Africa Magazine are the chief hosts of the event.
Other highlights of the events will include, presentation of Leadtimes Africa Special award to some deserving personalities;
conferment of honorary doctorate degree awards from Triune Biblical University Extension New York, USA and Prowess University Delaware USA to few professionals and business men with track records and conferrment of Professorial chairs on few individuals in Leadership positions who have not only impacted positively on their local communities, but have also distinguished themselves in their chosen professional career that has significantly triggered sustainable growth and development in Africa and Nigeria in particular.
Also nominated for the awards are Stephanie Coker Aderinokun, Oluwabukunmi Oyebisi Adeaga-Ilori;and Anita Natacha Akide;
Managing Director/CEO of FON APPLE Integrated Services Ltd, Mr Onyemen Ndubuisi Frank; Saheed Akorode Aminu, CEO of Onile Ayo Homes & Properties Nigeria Ltd; Archbishop Leonard Kwas, General Overseer of World Harvest Ministry Inc.
Others are Mr Afam Emmanuel Okey, Deputy Managing Director of Brawal Oil Services Limited; Special Adviser to Ogun State Governor on Inter-Ethnic Relations, Prince Hadi Sani; Alhaji Abdullahi Shuaibu, patron; Alhaji Sagiru Yusuf, General Manager of Atagi GeneralEnterprises; Chairman & CEO of Kamsy Chemicals & Allied Products Ltd, Mr Francis Ofurum and his wife, Mrs Ifeoma Ofurum, CEO of Tastee Lawrell Limited;Annabel Kamuche, Group Managing Director of NICERT and Mrs Greg Cynthia, Managing Director/CEO of Safety Signatures Limited and Founder/CEO of Osayuwamen Saleh Foundation International (OSFI), Osayuwamen Peace Saleh.
Outstanding professionals listed for professorial chairs include His Royal Majesty, Dr Appollos Chu, the Eh Eta Nchia x of Eleme Kingdom & the Emere Egbere of Kokori Kingdom, Eleme; Engr Lara Sarat Braimah, Area Manager, Lagos office of National Inland Waterways Authority(NIWA); and Dr. Bala Baba Ma’aji, North East Zonal Head of First City Monument Bank (FCMB).