21 December 2008
Lagos — THISDAY Awards, the 14th in the series, are here again. Every year, THISDAY honours the best and brightest who have made invaluable contributions in various fields of human endeavours. At a rigorous screening by THISDAY Board of Editors, 30 distinguished Nigerians emerged as winners of the Lifetime Achievement Awards. The lifetime Achievement Awards honour elder statesmen and illustrious Nigerians who have served the country meritoriously in various capacities. Last year, at the 13th edition, eminent Nigerians who bagged the Lifetime Achievement Awards included former head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon; former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Dr. Ola Vincent; former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof. Grace Alele-Williams; former World Court judge, Prince Bola Ajibola; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Allison Ayida; former Ambassador to the UN, Chief Arthur Mbanefo, and former Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), late Chief Sunday Awoniyi, who bagged the award posthumously. This year, the awardees are ..
Jacob Ade Ajayi: Ade Ajayi is a Professor Emeritus of History. He was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos between1972 and 1978. Before then, he was Dean Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan and was later promoted Deputy Vice-Chancellor. As an early writer of Nigerian and African history, he is widely known to have brought considerable respect to African research and this recommended him to THISDAY Board of Editors for the Lifetime Achievement Award. Ade Ajayi was born in Ikole-Ekiti in May 1929. He read history at the University of Ibadan.
Lateef Adegbite: A legal practitioner and Islamic leader, Adegbite was Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs of the Western State of Nigeria from 1971 to 1973 and Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice,1973 to 1975. Former University lecturer, Adegbite has contributed immensely to the development of the Nigerian judicial system and federalism. Adegbite has been a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1966. He is the Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs. Adegbite was born on March 20, 1933 in Abeokuta. He was educated at the University of Southampton from 1959 to 1962 and University of London-1962 to 1965. He became a barrister at law, Gray's Inn in 1965.
Ayo Adebanjo: A chieftain of the defunct National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Adebanjo is a prominent politician and a leader of Afenifere. He is also a lawyer. He was one of the founders of Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 1998. He was a leader of NADECO, which fought for the de-annulment of the June 12 election. He suffered untold deprivation as he was harassed and detained by the operatives of the late Abacha regime. Adebanjo was picked for the Lifetime Achievement Award for his consistency in politics and pursuit of social justice over the years. He was born on April 10, 1928. He was Crime Reporter and later Commercial Editor at the defunct Daily Service. In 1957, he travelled to England to be trained as a lawyer and was called to the English Bar in 1961.
Alhaji Abubakar A.: A technocrat, Abubakar Alhaji had a chequered career in the civil service. He was at various times Permanent Secretary in the ministries of Trade, Industries and Finance. Abubakar Alhaji was Finance Minister under the defunct General Ibrahim Babangida regime. As Sardauna Sokoto, his traditional title, Abubakar Alhaji was known to be very influential in and out of government. He was Nigeria's High Commissioner to London from 1992 to 1998 and is a Knight of the British Empire. THISDAY Board of Editors is honouring him with the LifetimeAchievement Award for his numerous contributions to the country. Born on November 22, 1938 in Sokoto, he attended the Bournemouth College of Commerce and Technology, UK and University of Reading also in UK among others.
Olanihun Ajayi: A legal practitioner, Olanihun remains one of the driving forces behind Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-cultural organisation. He is also one of the surviving associates of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. As a committed Awoist, he was a member of the House of Representatives in the Second Republic on the platform of UPN. Olanihun is also one of the brains behind The Patriots, a group of some elder statesmen and prominent Nigerians, which constantly reviews the state of the nation.
Oludolapo Akinkugbe: A pharmacist and industrialist, Akinkugbe was President of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) from 1970 to 1974 and former President, Ibadan Chambers of Commerce. The Lifetime Achievement Award is coming to Akinkugbe for his industry and contributions in Nigeria's corporate world. He was born on December 5, 1928 in Ondo, Ondo State and was educated at St. Steven's Primary School and Ondo Boys' High School Ondo from 1935 to 1945. He also attended School of Pharmacy, Yaba, Lagos, from 1946 to 1949.
Francis Arinze: Arinze is a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the sacraments at the Vatican and Catholic Bishop of Velletri-Segni. Cardinal Arinze was one of the principal advisors to Pope John Paul 11.Born in Eziowelle, Anambra State on November 1, 1932, cardinal Arinze became the world's youngest bishop in 1965, at the age of 32. Arinze was called to the Vatican in 1984 and elevated to cardinal in 1985. He is being honoured for his achievements at The Vatican.
Bolarinwa Babalakin: A retired Supreme Court justice, Babalakin has had a distinguished judicial career. He headed the committee inaugurated by President Olusegun Obasanjo to review the report of the Justice Kayode Eso Commission on the performance of judicial officers in the country. He produced the popular Babalakin report on electoral commission in the country. THISDAY Lifetime Achievement Award is a further recognition of his invaluable contributions to the country's judicial system. He is the father of Olawale, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and scion of the Babalakin family. Justice Babalakin is in his 70's.
Ado Bayero: Bayero is the current Emir of Kano. He was very young, barely 33, when he assumed the throne in 1963. As Emir, he is said to be immensely popular. Bayero, a former Native Authority Police Officer, is a businessman and former Nigeria's Ambassador to Senegal. He is the 13th Fulani Emir since the Fulani War of Usman dan Fodio, where the Fulani took over Hausa city-states. He was born on July 25, 1930 in Kano. He is a son of the late Abdullahi Bayero dan Muhammad Abbas Abdullahi, who also was an Emir of Kano.
John Pepper Clark: A celebrated poet and novelist, Prof John Pepper Clark used his works to pass across his powerful political messages. As a renowned playwright, Clark has affected Nigeria and beyond with his works and it's for this accomplishment that THISDAY is honouring him with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Born on April 6, 1935 in Kiagbodo, Western Ijaw, Delta State, Clark was educated at the University College, now University of Ibadan, 1956-60; and Princeton University New Jersey, US, 1962-63.
Theophilus Danjuma: Lt. General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (rtd) is a Jukun from Taraba State. A politician and businessman, Danjuma was Minister of Defence in the Obasanjo regime. He was also Chief of Army Staff under the Murtala/Obasanjo military regime. THISDAY is honouring him with the lifetime Achievement Award for his numerous contributions to the development of the country. Apart from playing crucial roles in the military and politics, Danjuma is also on the board of many blue chip companies. He is the Chairman of South Atlantic Petroleum (SAPETRO) among others. Danjuma is in his 70's.
Etim Inyang: Inyang is a former Police Inspector General. He served under the military regime of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. A dedicated officer, he rose to the position through the ranks. Inyang also instituted an in-house reform policy, which was deemed both honest and modest. It was aimed at drastically changing the negative profile of the police and securing efficiency. This unfortunately did not survive his tenure as it was met with stiff institutional opposition and condemnation.
Newton Jibunoh: Jibunoh is an engineer and environmental activist who has crossed the Sahara Desert twice alone. Speaking about his exploits, he told an online newspaper early this year: "I crossed the Sahara alone in 1965. It was an adventure for a crazy young man who had finished his studies in London and was ready to face the world. The 1960s were the decade of the Space Race and social change, and I was looking for the best ways to be a part of that era." For his exploits, THISDAY is giving him the Lifetime Achievement Award.
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