The president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina, will Wednesday, March 6 receive the distinguished Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership 2023.
The Foundation in a statement by its Executive Director, Ambassador Dr Ọlatokunbọ Awolọwọ Dosumu, said Adesina’s choice followed a rigorous selection process by a panel of eminent Nigerians.
Dosumu said Adesina will deliver a lecture at the occasion. She said there will video documentaries on Chief Ọbafẹmi Awolọwọ, Dr Adesina and the Foundation.
The former Ambassador said the documentary on Chief Ọbafẹmi Awolọwọ seeks to refresh the national memory concerning critical milestones in his political career with a view to teasing out, in a didactic fashion, edifying lessons for a generation groping for direction and leadership renewal.
She noted that former Head of State and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ọbafẹmi Awolọwọ Foundation, General Yakubu Gowon, as well as Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Chairman of the eminent Selection Committee will be present at the occasion.
Special Guests of Honour include His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, several Visiting Heads of State, formerHeads of State from within and outside Nigeria, State Governors, Royal Fathers andother distinguished Nigerians. The event will be chaired by Her Excellency, SamiaSuluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania.
Dosumu said: “The event is expected to encourage the dignity of labour and sign-post the culture of productivity.
“The idea of the leadership prize, it will be recalled, derives from the special dialogue of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation held in July 2011 with the theme, Transformational Leadership and Good Governance: Lessons from the Awolowo Example.
“It was observed on that occasion that one of the greatest challenges confronting Nigeria is leadership deficit. It was recommended at that dialogue that an Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership be instituted for the purpose of recognizing excellence and benchmarking key leadership attributes associated with Chief Awolowo.
“The Foundation is gratified that Dr Akinwumi Adeşina, whose nomination was unanimously made by the Selection Committee, headed by the globally acclaimed technocrat and diplomat, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, graciously accepted the nomination, describing it as ‘deeply personal’ and ‘a treasured recognition that will inspire (him) for the rest of (his) life.
“The March 6 event seeks to mainstream and to celebrate a revered genre of outstanding contribution which at once uplifts the national soul and regales humanity. It is the Foundation’s hope that the prize for leadership, being made to such a globally acclaimed awardee, will assist in restructuring national values, as well as send a powerful message concerning the desirability of transformational leadership and a revival of productivity ethics.”
