Foremost Ijaw leader, High Chief Michael Johnny has been bestowed with the prestigious Kwame Nkrumah Leadership Award of Excellence by the West African Students Union Parliament, WASUP.
The revered philanthropist and politician was decorated with the award for his contributions to nation building, youths and societal transformation in Africa.
During the presentation event in Warri on Friday, the WASUP emphatically lauded Johnny for remaining through and through in the course of driving development, change and empowerment.
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Presenting the award, the umbrella body of student unions across West Africa led by its Deputy Speaker, Austin Kwase, said;
“WASUP has always been in the quest for avenues to exude our confidence in the African policy to show to the rest of the world that Africans posses the requisite human and leadership sagacity to do Africans proud.
“In doing this, we seek to find ourselves role models, outstanding institutions, and mentors in life as we have found in High Chief Michael Johnny, a thorough-bred manager of men and resources, an administrator/technocrat with unquantifiable wealth of experience in advocacy and leadership best practices.
“A patriotic Nigerian, a distinguished personality, a benevolent Nigerian who provides an avenue for tutelage of young african youths irrespective of where they come from, the faith they profess or their social status.
“He indeed is a man of integrity and an outstanding nation builder per excellence.
“High Chief Michael Johnny has proven himself as a man og charisma who can stick out his neck for the course he believes in.
“WASUP has reckoned you as a man of courage who has zero tolerance for ineffectiveness, a noble champion, a vanguard for an enhanced societal system with the youth as an integral part of it. A youth leader who transforms lives of people around him, one who propagates peace, good leadership and is ideologically focused in advocacy, activism best practices and nation building.
“Without fear of favor, you have bee found worthy to receive the prestigious Kwame Nkrumah Leadership Award of Excellence as “ICON OF NATIOM BUILDING, YOUTHS AND SOCIETAL TRANSFORMATION IN AFRICA” in recognition of your outstanding strides in championing the course of good leadership, immense contribution to nation building, huma capital development, true leadership, educational development, youth upliftment, workers welfare, societal transformation and remarkable patriotism in Nigeria, outstanding services to God, humanity and West Africa at large.”
In his remark, Johnny described the decoration as a challenge for him to contribute more to the society, while vowing to support future programs of WASUP.
He said;
“It is a very remarkable day in my life. I’ve received different awards in the past but this is quite different and motivating.
“This award is a challenge to me that I need to contribute more to the society. In our own little way, we’ll support ourselves.”
The WASUP entourage was made up of Abuo Ben Adams – speaker representative, Igwe Ikechukwu Franklin – Nigerian representative, Nwakwo Joseph – Nigerian Programs Director and Oyinola Coker – Gender and Charity.
Other dignitaries present include Chief David Omare, Chief Clement Tekedor – APC House of Assembly candidate, Warri South-West Constituency, Elder Saturday Timinimi and Amb. Timi Coleman – Senior Legislative Aide to the Deputy Senate President.
