All arrangements for this year annual lecture and awards by Nigeria’s fastest growing print and online newspaper, THE NIGERIAN POST, is set to hold with a theme: Sustaining Kogi’s Unbroken Unity – Prospects & Possibilities, This House Must Not Fall.
The event is scheduled to take place at the EdgeDrive Hotel Lokoja on August 26, 2024 at 10:00am, will have Gov. Usman Ahmed Ododo as the Special Guest of Honour.
The 2024 public lecture will be Chaired by Prof. Stephen Ikani Ocheni, former Minister of State, Labour and Employment.
His Excellency, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, former Governor of Kogi State, the Minister for Steel Development, Prince Shaibu Audu Abubakar alongside other very important personalities within and outside Kogi State will also serve as Guests of Honour at the event.
His Royal Majesty, the Ohimegye Igu Kingdom, Alhaji Saidu Akawu Salihu would serve as the Royal father of the day.
Speakers at the event will include; Prof. Marietu Tenuche, Vice Chancellor, Prince Abubakar University, Anyigba, Prof. John Alabi, Dr. Salisu Usman Ogbo, Rector , Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja and Ambassador Hamza Aliyu, CEO, Connected Development.
Recall that in 2023, THE NIGERIAN POST held it Annual Lecture and Gold Prize themed “Sustaining Nigeria’s Democracy. This House Must Not Fall”, with Prof. Akinwumi Olayemi, Vice Chancellor, Federal University Lokoja as the guest speaker of the event.
This year’s event will feature a special presentation by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr. Deedat Ozigi, on “Towards Grassroots Development: Gov. Ododo’s Example, So Far, So Good.
The 2024 edition “aims to celebrate and critically examine the creation of Kogi State 33 years after, by discussing its unity as cardinal to future prospects and possibilities”.
According to a statement by the Publisher of THE NIGERIAN POST, Mr. Abu Michael, this year’s event will honour some distinguished personalities who have contributed to the development of the State.
Set to receive the prestigious THE NIGERIAN POST Gold Prize certificate for his “Infrastructural revolution and Exceptional Leadership Style” is the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo.
Other individuals for the Gold Prize Award include: Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Isa Kutepa, CEO, Walter Smith Oil, Sen. Tunde Ogbeha while late Prince Abubakar Audu, first Executive Governor of the State would be honored posthumously.
“The Gold Prize Award for Grassroots Development will also be presented to some selected former Caretaker Council Chairmen in the State and other individuals who have demonstrated outstanding contributions to the development of the State.
The former Caretaker Committee Chairmen of Lokoja, Igalamela, Kabba Bunu, Ijumu, have been listed for recognition following their outstanding repositioning of their Council administration when they served.
“Our 2024 Awardees are persons who made the critical differences in the discharge of their duties, with uncommon zeal and commitment to the common good of the citizens and the State in particular,” the statement read.
Individuals working in the Civil Society space, Philanthropy, Religion and Human Development Sectors have been carefully selected for recognition.
According to a survey conducted by a Top IT Company in Nigeria specialized in survey on behalf of the Nigerian Post, observed that Gov. Ododo has within his few months of duty, witnessed remarkable turnaround in infrastructural renewal, aggressive pursuit of development across the State.
The report states that “What Gov. Ododo has done in his few months in office is encouraging in the annals of the State’s Administration. He has continued to impact substantially not only on payment of salaries, pension and gratuity, road networks in the State, but you can also find his bold imprints in the security, health, agriculture, humanitarian and education sectors”, the statement said.
