News

Six Ex-Corps Members Bags Heroes Award

Published

3 years ago

May 13, 2023

…..As Obasanjo tasks awardees on more excellent services

Joel Ajayi

The National Daily has rewarded six Ex-Corps Members with the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira each, a plaque and a certificate for outstanding performances during their service year.
The recipients are; Omabe Chigozie Simon, Ejikeme Peter Chukwuebuka, Eze Daniel Uchechukwu, Okonkwo Ifeoma Cheta, Okoye Victor Chukwuemeka and Isiaka Mercy Lovely.

Also, the Director General of National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Yusha’u Dogara Ahmed, on behalf of the Scheme received the most strategic government establishment of the decade.
The Lagos Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwoolu got the innovation and infrastructure Governor of the year award while the Inspector General of Police, Mr Usman Alkali Baba received the man of the year award at the event.

The Special Guest of Honour at the ceremony, who also bagged Global Leadership and Peace Icon Award, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo congratulated the recipients for excelling in their different fields of endeavour.

He said their award is a challenge for them to strive and do more for humanity.

Obasanjo stated further that peace, security and stability are the essential basic ingredients for performance, growth, excellence and development.

He equally said peace is impossible without equity, fairness and justice.

He said over the years, he has been involved in peace-making assignments and mediation around the world.

“Without justice, equity and fairness, there will be no peace and without peace, security and stability, you would not get performance and also would not be able to manifest excellence”, he said.

The former President tasked leaders at all levels to exhibit good qualities that will enhance their performances.

He opined that if the right choice of leadership is made, there will be good performances that will enable excellent service delivery.

Obasanjo commended Nigerians in diaspora who excelled in their respective fields on endeavour adding that; “the way you lay your bed is the way you will lie on it.
The definition of success to me is making a place better than you find it. If you are going to be regarded as being successful, you must make things better”.

The Editor-in-Chief and Chief Executive Officer of National Daily, Deacon Sylvester Ebhodaghe, in his welcome remarks said the recipients were chosen on merit, adding that the award would spur them to make things better for other members of the public.

The award ceremony which featured different categories like; entertainment, special recognition, heroes award among others was held at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos and attended by a retinue of diplomats, captains of industries, business moguls etc.

Share on Facebook

News

AWESSA 2026: Customs Assures Border Cooperation for Women Entrepreneurs

Published

19 hours ago

October 25, 2026

The Gleamer

By James Samuel, Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service has said the nation’s borders must become gateways of opportunity for African women entrepreneurs, not obstacles that kill their businesses.

This was disclosed at the African Women’s Economic Sovereignty Summit and Awards (AWESSA) 2026 held at the Customs House, corporate headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service in Abuja.

Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, his representative, an Assistant Controller, said hosting the summit inside Customs premises was deliberate.

“That this summit holds within the Customs premises is no accident. It is a statement of intent,” he said.

“The border is where the promise of every African trader either comes alive or dies quietly. And the men and women of this Service have resolved that for every woman entrepreneur of this continent, that promise will never die.”

He said women account for an estimated 70% of informal cross-border trade in Africa and over half of agricultural labour, yet they face documentation, standards, finance and harassment challenges.

“Too often she meets the border as an obstacle rather than a gateway. Because she trades in small volumes, in cash, in informality without formal papers, capable business women are now trapped in informality, invisible to trade statistics,” he noted.

He added: “AfCFTA will not be delivered by treaties alone. It will be delivered at border posts, in conference halls, and in market stores.”

Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, represented by a Director, said women are central to Nigeria’s non-oil export sector.

According to her, NEPC’s focus is now on building export- ready competitive enterprises through programmes like the Women in Export Initiative, Export Clinic, and Zero to Export.

“Our focus is no longer on encouraging exports alone, it is on building competitive export-ready enterprises. We are supporting women to move beyond production into value addition, quality assurance, standard compliance, branding and market positioning,” she said.

She said AfCFTA offers a market of over one billion people, but women need knowledge, certifications and institutional support.

“Empowering women economically is one of the most effective tools for achieving poverty reduction, food security, job creation and inclusive growth,” she stated.

The Convener, Helen Okon, who is the Publisher of Business Review Africa & Africa Today Magazine, as well as representatives of NAFDAC DG and NEXIM Bank MD, reaffirmed commitment to supporting women-owned businesses access standards, certification and finance.

The summit, with the theme of positioning women as drivers of trade and sustainable development, is part of activities marking the International Year of the Women Farmer.

Share on Facebook