As Senator Bassey Albert Bags Democracy Heroes Award
When the organizing committee of the Democracy Heroes Awards 2020 unveiled its list of nominees, it was not surprising to many that Obong Bassey Albert Akpan, senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East (Uyo) Senatorial District of Akwa Ibom State in the National Assembly, was among.
The Democracy Heroes Awards, according to the organizers, Face of Democracy Nigeria (FDN) Projects, was launched seven years ago to recognize, honour and celebrate men and women who have contributed to the development of Nigeria.
“The recipients are awarded in recognition of their courageous actions and exemplary leadership. These heroes have manifested a life and leadership style that distinguishes them from ordinary citizens or politicians. They have used their public office as a key instrument to better the lives of many,” the organizers explained.
Related: Senator Bassey Albert Listed For Democracy Heroes Awards
“We identify and honour them as heroes of democracy with their roles and activeness in various endeavours. These men and women are seen as role models worth emulating and as a motivation to our generation and after us,” they added.
The bestowment of the awards takes place at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, today, Wednesday, October 14, 2020.
The epoch-making event features awards presentation in the following categories: Man of the Year; Best Performing Governor of the Year; People’s Choice of the Year; Icon of the Year; Woman of the Year; Outstanding Senator of the Year; Promising Senator of the Year; Outstanding Lawmaker of the Year; Performing House Member of the Year; Iconic Woman of the Year; Excellence in Public Service of the Year; Youth Icon of the Year; First Lady of the Year; Entrepreneur of the Year, and Brand of the Year.
Among notable recipients of the awards are: Mrs. Aisha Buhari, wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, former President of Nigeria; Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation and His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife.
Related: Senator Albert’s Award Is An Honour For Akwa Ibom -Otuekong Ekpe Atakpo
Others include: Abubakar Malami, the attorney general and minister of justice; Geoffrey Onyeama, the minister of foreign affairs; Dr. Isa Pantami, minister of communication and digital economy; Dame Pauline Tallen, minister of women affairs; Governor Bello Matawale of Zamfara; Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Governor Ishaku Darius of Taraba State; Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State; Senator Ike Ekweremadu, and Senator Sani Uba.
In recognition of the labour of our heroes past, the organizers have created a posthumous awards category.
The late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, first indigenous Premier of Western Nigeria; Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria’s first Prime Minister; Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria’s first President, and MKO Abiola, winner of the aborted June 12, 1993 presidential election, are being honoured at the event.
“That Senator Bassey Albert Akpan is listed in a pool of great statesmen and women speaks volumes of his towering profile”, says Eyakndu Ubong Moses, a public administration student of Ibom Metropolitan Polytechnic, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
“This latest feather on the cap of Senator OBA is worth being applauded. It is also a recognition that comes with higher responsibilities and expectations. OBA’s performance bar must remain high”, Moses added.
The awards’ trail for OBA has been on the increase. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) opened the year 2020 on a good note for him.
The corporation gave him an Award of Excellence for his role in resolving a decade old dispute between NNPC and Chevron Nigeria Limited over the Escravos Gas to Liquid (EGTL) project.
The senator being chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), in offering insight into the role he played on the matter revealed that the “breakthrough in negotiation led to the historic signing of the NNPC/Chevron EGTL Revised Agreement, which provided an instant leap for Nigeria in her energy sector and led to the reversal of the joint venture sharing ratio of 25:75 to 60:40 in favour of our dear country and Chevron Nigeria Limited respectively with a cost savings of over $6 billion.”
He further revealed that the issue had “dragged through the 6th and 7th Senate without success until the 8th Senate.”
The reward for a good work done is more work, so says a maxim.
The honours and recognitions will heighten the performance bar of Senator OBA, as earlier posited by Moses.
