The city of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, comes alive today as eminent Nigerians from all walks of life gather for this year’s Democracy Heroes Awards organised by Face of Democracy Nigeria (FDN) projects.
The epic event holding at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja has 15 categories of awards as well as posthumous awards to be conferred on fallen heroes.
Recipients of the awards include wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mrs Aisha Buhari; former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan; secretary to the government of the federation, Boss Mustapha; His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife and the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District and chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Senator Bassey Albert Akpan.
Others include: attorney general and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami; minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; minister of communication and digital economy, Dr. Isa Pantami; minister of women affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen; Governor Bello Matawale, Zamfara; Governor Seyi Makinde, Oyo State; Governor Ishaku Darius, Taraba State; Governor Nasir El Rufai, Kaduna State; Senator Ike Ekweremadu, and Senator Sani Uba.
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Listed under the posthumous categories are 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.
A statement by the organizers said that Democracy Heroes Awards as a globally recognized leadership prize will also at the event honour Africa and global black leaders that are heroes of democracy.
The past global leaders on the list of posthumors awards for 2020 events include late Martin Luther King of USA, Nelson Mandela of South Africa and Kwame Nkuruma of Ghana.
The organizing committee of the awards, in a press statement explained that the recognitions are aimed at “deepening the patriotic principles of democracy in Nigeria and Africa as well as to bring forth the spirit of nationalism in a bid to encourage African youths to wake up to the leadership responsibilities of the future.”
“This decision is intended to set the pace for the younger generation of Nigerians and Africans at large to emulate and imbibe leadership traits of the founding fathers of our great continent, Mr Olufunsho Alexander Ajagbona, the president of the organization, stated this recently.
The committee added that “the awards have in its record governors, ministers, senators, House of Representatives members, public servants as well as top business executives as past recipients of these prestigious awards since its inception in 2013.”
The committee further revealed that “in adhering to Covid-19 health guidelines and protocols, the organizers of the award have already synergized with the Federal Ministry of Health to adopt safety protocols at the gala night ceremony in Abuja.”
Democracy Heroes Awards is aimed at deepening the patriotic principles of democracy in Nigeria and Africa as well as to bring forth the spirit of nationalism in a bid to encourage African youths to wake up to the leadership responsibilities of the future.
Mr Ajagbona further explained that the awards as an initiative of FDN projects was launched six years ago to recognize, honour and celebrate men and women who have contributed to the development of our nation.
According to him, 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, as they have used their public office as a key instrument to better the lives of many.
“Face of Democracy Nigeria (FDN) projects is an organization designed to celebrate institutions, men and women who are committed to the development and sustenance of our growing democracy in Nigeria.
“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,” he added.
