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Lawan, Zulum, Okoli named recipients of Zik Prize in leadership
BY NICHOLAS ABE
The Public Policy Research and Analysis Centre (PPRAC), has announced the award of the coveted Annual Zik Prize in Leadership to nine distinguished Nigerians who have excelled in different areas of endeavour.
The award defined in six different categories – Political Leadership, Public Service, Business Leadership, Professional Leadership, Entrepreneurial Leadership and Good Governance – is given in honour of first Nigerian President and Commander-in-Chief, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe.
A member of the Advisory Board of PPRAC, Prof Pat Utomi, who briefed the media on Thursday at a Zoom meeting, named the Senate President Dr Ahmed Lawan as winner of the award in Political Leadership.
Utomi, in a speech he jointly signed with the centre’s Executive Secretary, Prince Emeka Obasi, also named Delta State governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa; Engr Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Borno State governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, as recipients of the prize in the Good Governance category.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, for Public Service; Emzor Pharmaceutical boss, Dr (Mrs) Stella Okoli, Business Leadership and Pastor (Mrs) Ibukun Awosika, Entrepreneurial Leadership.
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The other recipients, according to Utomi, are the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Danbatta and the MD/CEO of UBA Plc, Kennedy Uzoka, both in Professional Leadership.
Utomi said the formal presentation ceremony of the awards, is planned for Sunday 6th December, 2020.
He described the 2019 award holding in the year 2020 as a landmark, as it marks the 25th anniversary of the Zik Prize. He added that the award had always recognised and encouraged outstanding leadership on the African continent and in the diaspora.
“It is indeed not surprising then, that in the course of the last 25 years, some recipients of the prize have included such notable leaders like; President J.J. Rawlings, President Nwalimu Julius Nyerere, Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim, President Sam Nujoma, Dr. Nelson Mandela, President Yonweri Muzeveni, President John Agyekum Kuffor, Senator David Mark, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, Otunba Subomi Balogun, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Alhaji Ahmed Joda and Mr Godwin Emefiele,” Utomi said.