Bill Gates, Fadugba, Elumelu, CNN Isha, others for honour in Lagos
…Obasanjo chairs event, Amaechi guest speaker
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NIGERIA: ON the day Nigeria marks its 55th independence anniversary, the US multi-billionaire and philanthropist, Bill Gates, and the former Chairman of the Lagos Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the General Manager (News), Raypower FM, Deaconess Funke Fadugba, would be honoured by a group, Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
Also other prominent Nigerians to be honoured include Founder of Tony Elumelu Foundation, Tony Elumelu,
Leo Ekeh, CNN Isha Isatu Sesay and Nima El Bagir, and a US-based organisation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo would chair the occasion which is the 8th MDG awards and has been scheduled to hold on Thursday October 1st, 2015 at the Banquet Hall, Lagos Sheraton.
Chuks Nwoko, the publisher of Global Magazine, which is behind the programme, made this known on Wednesday at a press conference held in Lagos.
He also said that ex-Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, will be the Guest Speaker while Otunba Olumide Osunsina would be the event Special Guest of Honour.
He said compassionate Prize winner for 2015 will be given to Little Saints Orphanage.
Nwoko recalled that 15 years ago, Obasanjo signed the Millennium Development Goals protocol inside the hallowed chamber of the United Nations on behalf of the Nigerian people.
Nwoko explained that the individuals being honoured have played very unique roles in the different objectives of the MDG which range from poverty reduction to health related issues and education, youth empowerment and social investment.
He stressed that the roles of the media in the attainment of the MDGs had been
extraordinary.
“Mention must be made of the Ebola epidemic and the unique role of the CNN duo of Isha Sesay and Nima El Bagir,” he said. “The enormous social investments by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in the Nigerian health sector, agriculture and women are strong reminder of the significance of creative capitalism in the contemporary world.”
Nwoko bemoaned that issues that led to the initiatives on the MDG global objectives still remains prevalent in Nigeria despite the huge budgetary allocations that were committed by the three tiers of government in the country.
Said Nwoko: “The present administration definitely has inherited a government that is burdened with lack of availability of accurate data. With all the fortunes that favoured Nigeria, unemployment, high level of infant and maternal mortality and insecurity to live and property are high.”
