By Magnus Effiong
The Michael Okpara Foundation and Verbatim Media Group has concluded plans to honour Governor Bassey Otu with its highest prize, The Michael Okpara Leadership Award Premier’s Prize 2024 for Excellence in Governance, Service with Integrity.
A letter signed by the Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Michael Okpara Leadership Lecture and Awards, Tobs Agbaegbu and Secretary, Chief Uzodimnma Okpara Omekannaya, said the event would hold at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja on Thursday, August 22, 2024.
Organisers explained that the prestigious Award was for “leaders in Nigeria and Diaspora who currently represent exemplary leadership and impactful public service spirit of Rt Hon Michael Okpara, Premier of Eastern Nigeria, 1959-1966.”
Heaping encomium on the Governor, who is also scheduled to deliver a keynote address at the event, the organisers said the Governor’s “integrity in public service policy and good governance leadership style, which has brought widespread infrastructural development and accountability in resource management, is in line with Dr Okpara’s template.”
Describing him as “a national asset and hero,” they added: “In recognition of your success story in governance, barely one year in your 4 years tenure as Governor of Cross River state where Dr Okpara’s footprint of success exists at present, the Advisory Board and Organizing Committee of Dr Michael Okpara Leadership Award programme, hereby nominate you for Okpara Leadership Award (The Premier’s Prize 2024) Gold Plague Award Category.”
In their reactions, Cross Riverians who spoke to our reporter expressed excitement over the gesture and pledged to continuously lend their support as the Governor strives to restore the socio-economic dynamics of the State.
In a goodwill messages, Evang Michael Asuquo, Managing Director, Faithplant Global Services Ltd, described the Award as well deserved.
“Let me, on behalf of the Management and Staff of Faith Plant Global Services Ltd, hereby congratulate our amiable Governor His Excellency, Senator (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu as the Michael Okpara Foundation honours him with Leadership Award Premier’s Prize 2024 for Excellence in Governance and Service with Integrity.
“Your Excellency, this award is timely and well deserved considering the fact that in just one year in office, your success story in governance has become infectious and unprecedented in the history of our dear State,” he stated.
Another goodwill message, signed by eight members of the House of Representatives from Cross River, noted: “Our Dear Governor, this honour is a testament to your pragmatic leadership which, in just one year, has given our people hope of a better Cross River. With you, our dear State is in safe hands”
The Forum of Special Advisers in the State was not left out. In their goodwill message which was signed by its Chairman, Barr Ekpenyong Akiba and Secretary, Barr Gilbert Agbor, the Forum said the sky would not be the limit to the performing Odukpani-born Governor.
“The conferment of the prestigious Leadership Award Premier’s Prize 2024 for Excellence in Governance, Service with Integrity) by the Michael Okpara Foundation on our amiable Governor, points to the fact that the world itself is a witness to great socio-economic turnaround in Cross River state under the watch of our unassuming mentor.
“His Excellency, it is on this premise that we, members of the Special Advisers Forum, rejoice with you on this milestone honour. The sky will not be your limit, Sir. Bravo! The People First Governor,” the Forum stated.