This Day (Lagos)
18 November 2008
Lagos — Osun State University has honoured Prof. Michael Omolewa, Nigeria's Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO with the Exemplary Leadership Award. The Award was presented on behalf of the university by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Prof. Peter Okebukola, at a brief ceremony, held at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris Monday.
Okebukola said the award was given for Omolewa's outstanding leadership qualities and uncommon courage in pursuing the development agenda of Nigeria and Africa in UNESCO and for his successful leadership of UNESCO's 32nd General Conference as President.
In giving the award, due note was also taken of his diplomatic dexterity, humility in spite of his high office, support for the development of Osun State University, fear of God, and warmth of hospitality extended to delegates from Nigeria on mission to UNESCO.
He also appreciated Omolewa's efforts in fostering partnerships with renowned medical centres in France towards the development of the Osun State University Teaching Hospital.
Responding, Omolewa, gave thanks to God who, he said, "has played a role in my life even before my arrival in Paris for this challenging assignment in UNESCO. He has stood firmly by my side throughout all the difficult encounters, negotiations, networking and partnership building and I hasten to return to him all the glory."
He also acknowledged the support of past and present Presidents of the country, several Ministers and Ministers of State in the Education, Culture and Tourism, Science and Technology, Communication and Information Ministries, as well as the heads of their parastatals.
The Osun State Government, traditional rulers, especially the Ooni of Ife, the Ataoja of Osogbo and the Alake of Egbaland; the council and Senate of Osun State University, especially the Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council, the Vice Chancellor and the entire members of staff and students, among others were also not left out.
Concluding, the Ambassador said, "I have been particularly lucky to have the confidence and encouragement of the Director General of UNESCO and his staff at the secretariat, the support of the entire members of the Permanent Delegation of Nigeria to UNESCO in Paris and the Nigerian Ambassador to France and his colleagues in the countries with UNESCO presence."
Omolewa was also recently awarded the Honorary Medal of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Georgia Parvanov, in recognition of his "outstanding contribution to international cooperation within the framework of UNESCO and implementation of the nobel ideas of the organisation (and) the objectives for the promotion of peace, tolerance, cultural diversity and diaogue among people."
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