Leadership (Abuja)
Isaac Aimurie
19 November 2008
It was a day of honour for the Managing-Director and Chief Executive of the Oceanic Bank International Plc, Dr. (Mrs.) Cecilia Ibru in Accra, Ghana, when she, along with other eminent African personalities, was honoured yesterday in Accra, Ghana, with the Kwame Nkruma African Leadership Award.
Two other state governors, Chief Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State as well as Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State were also conferred with the leadership award held at the Koffi Annan Centre, Ghana, by the All African Students Union (AASU).
The ceremony was part of activities marking the International Students Day.
It was indeed a day of appreciation of efforts of the personalities whom the African students said towered above others, in the recognition of the place of students in the affairs of the society through deliberate actions geared towards youth emancipation.
To show their appreciation to the Amazon of the Nigerian banking industry, some of the students were clad in shirts, with her photograph embossed at the back, singing her praises over the involvement of Oceanic Bank in the development of schools across the country.
They pointed out that Ibru had lived selfless and exemplary life that youths across Africa could be proud of, and the governors had given youths chance to prove themselves by their appointment into key positions in Imo and Delta states and therefore the need to recognise these gestures through the award.
Other dignatries at the occasion included, Nigerian Ambassador to Ghana, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Representative of Ghanaian President, John Kufor, Ovation publisher, Dele Momodu, Members of State Executive Council of Imo and Delta States as well as Speakers and leaders of the state House of Assemblies.
General Secretary of the AASU, Mr. Oludare Ogunlana said the recognition given to the personalities was meant to spur others in their position to action, saying the students and the youths have suffered so long in the hands of undemocratic government across Africa, but are now happy that there are still others who still see the youths as leaders of tomorrow, and would do all within them to enhance the well-being of the youths.
After going down the memory lane on how the association has fared over the years, Ogunlana commended the spirit of the award recipients for standing out and identifying with the youths and education in their respective country.
In her speech themed "The State of African Union", which was delivered on her behalf by her representative, the Oceanic Bank Executive Director, Corporate Banking, Mr. Oti Ikomi canvassed the need for all in Africa to coordinate and intensify cooperation and efforts towards achieving better economic, political, and educational prospects for Africa, and Africans in the Diaspora.
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