OurNigeria News Awards 2021: Celebrating Distinguished Nigerians
OurNigeria News Awards 2021: Celebrating Distinguished Nigerians
By Matthew Eloyi
The Board and Management of OurNigeria News Magazine is set to honour some prominent Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in their chosen careers and communities with awards of excellence.
The OurNigeria News Awards is an annual event organised by OurNigeria News magazine, which was set up in 2019.
This year’s award is the second in the series and it is scheduled to take place on the 17th of December 2021 at the Lady Kwali Hall of Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja.
Former Governor of Edo State and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comr. Adams Oshiomole is expected to Chair the event.
This year’s awards have the following nominees as awardees:
Gen Mohammadu Buba Marwa (Rtd) as (Man of the Year): Before his emergence as Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the agency was rather dormant.
He took over the helm of affairs and now the Agency is at the forefront in the fight against drugs abuse. Marwa’s patriotism and diligence have left imprints on the country, showing both old and young the way to go.
Mr Zack Orji (Lifetime Achievement Award in Entertainment): Zack Orji is a veteran actor who has distinguished himself through excellence in Nollywood. He is one of Nollywood’s most celebrated actors and among the pioneers of the movie industry. The height Nollywood has attained today is a product of the hard work of personalities like Zack Orji.
Ven. Dr I.U Ibeme (Desmond Tutu Award in Religious Tolerance and Christian Stewardship): Dr Ibeme is an Igbo man who served as a Staff Consultant at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) for 35 years, and now pastors the Chapel of Grace, UMTH.
Sheikh Nuru Khaleed (Saad Abubakar Excellence Award in Religious Tolerance and Islamic Leadership): He is being nominated for the award because of his sterling leadership qualities in promoting religious tolerance and understanding among Muslims and Christians.
Halima Nurudeen (Youth Inspiration of the Year): She is the founder of Nur Outreach Programme for Drug Education & Reintegration (NOPDER), a non-governmental organization that aims at promoting and improving the self-worth of young Africans (youths) especially the girls-child through innovative and sustainable awareness on the issue of mental health and reducing the drastic spread of the menace called drug/substance abuse through counselling, awareness campaign, peer to peer enlightenment outreach, school to school education. She is being awarded for her outstanding performance in combatting the menace of drug abuse among youths in Nigeria.
Mohammed Abba Isa (Ability in Disability Award): Although a cripple from Yobe State, Isa bagged a Master’s Degree and he is at the forefront in championing the rights of people living with disabilities and also contributing to peacebuilding and conflict management in the northeast and Nigeria in general.
Dr Salamatu Hussaini (General Yakubu Gowon Excellence Award in Leadership): Born in 1960 to the Gwandu Royal family of Kebbi state, Dr Salamatu was a minister of Foreign affairs and presently Chairman of, National Human Rights Commission. She is a force to reckon with among women in Leadership.
Dr Datti Baba Ahmed (Lifetime Achievement Award in Scholarship): He is the founder of BAZE University, Abuja. He is a politician and a scholar par excellence.
AIG Garba Umar-AIG INTERPOL (MD Yusuf Award of Excellence in Policing): A very principled and highly respected police chief and an astute administrator. A giant among peers not only in terms of intellect, vision and prestige but also in terms of sterling qualities of leadership. A man endowed with pragmatism, a high sense of service, dynamism and unalloyed love for the police job of protecting lives.
