By Jude Atupulazi
Prof Theresa Obumneme Okoli, Provost of Fed College of Education, Technical, Umunze, Anambra State, on Saturday, March 22, received the highest accolade from her home state, Anambra, as she smiled home with the Education Icon Award.
The Award, organised by the Anambra Man of the Year Group, was in recognition of her remarkable contribution to learning as an erudite scholar, the development of education in the state through her leadership as Provost, and relentless advocacy for gender inclusiveness in larger society.
While Prof Okoli won the prestigious Education Icon of the Year Award, the former Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof Charles Esimone, was honoured as the Public Servant of the Year; while the Lifetime Achievement Award went to the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof Benjamin Ozumba.
On the honours list was a Cambridge University Postdoctoral Fellow, Senior Visiting Fellow, Harvard University, Prof P.N. Okeke, who received the award as the Scientist of the Decade. Also, Prof Joseph Chukwurah Ezigbo won the coveted Man of the Year Award, while the Board Chairman of Keystone Bank, Lady Ada Chukwudozie, received the Woman of the Year Award.
The Chairman of the occasion, Dr Chike Obidigbo, vouched for the integrity of the awards, stressing that awardees were selected strictly on merit. According to him, there was no political undertone or monetary inducement for the selection of the awardees, but a due diligence scrutiny of their work and contributions to society.
The colourful event featured a red carpet reception where each awardee was invited to the ceremonial podium for public acclamation, citation and conferment of the award.
Dozens of personages who have made their mark in different sectors of the economy featured at the event, attended by the crème de la crème in Anambra State.
The curtain raiser at the event was the keynote presentation by a seasoned scholar from the Department of Linguistics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Prof Cecilia Amaoge Eme, who spoke for over 40 minutes in flawless Igbo Language. Her presentation held the audience spellbound, as she appealed to parents to save the Igbo Language from extinction by communicating with their children in their native language.
A veteran diplomat with over 30 years management-level experience in the Nigerian Foreign Service, Ambassador Ajulu Okeke, was celebrated with a Lifetime Achievement Award. She was the first female Ambassador Consul General in Nigeria.
In addition to these A-list actors drawn from both the education, political, entertainment and economic sectors, institutions were equally recognised for their outstanding contribution to the state.
Like a city on a hill that cannot be hidden, Christ the King College, Onitsha, won the Best Secondary School of the Year; while Grundtvig International Secondary School, Oba, emerged the Best Private School of the Year.
Various musical renditions spiced up the event, which was held at the expansive STANEL Dome, Awka.
