By Victor Okoye
High Chief (Dr) Christopher Ndubuisi and High Chief (Dr) Kenneth Ifekudu, OFR have been honoured and celebrated by Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, the Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines at the Ark in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ndubuisi and Ifekudu were celebrated
at a dinner party reception on Sunday night organised by Okonkwo to recognise and celebrate the two awardees who were recently confered with prestigious awards as men who had distinguished themselves and left indelible martheir various fields of endeavour.
High Chief Dr. Christopher Ndubuisi, the Chairman of Pinnatech Group Abuja, emerged the winner of the Sun Investor of the Year 2024 and Champion Newspapers’ 2024 Manufacturer of the Year Awards respectively.
While, High Chief (Dr) Kenneth Ifekudu, OFR (Agbalanze), the Managing Director of Diamond Leeds Limited, scooped the Sun Business Man of the Year award as well as Champion Newspaper Philanthropist of the Year 2024.
In his remarks, the CEO of Air Peace, Barr. Allen Onyema noted that Ndubuisi and Ifekudu had indeed etched their names in the history books of the nation as good ambassadors of the Igbo race and thus were well deserving of being honoured and celebrated by every Nigerian.
Onyema stressed that the era of unhealthy competition was over, adding that Nigerians must learn to work in peace and unity as well as become one another’s keeper for the progress of the nation.
He noted that even though he and Prof. Okonkwo were in the same line of business. They were still best of friends, saying that it is the way to go.
“We share so much love because both of us believe that the sky is too big for everybody.
“There is no need for devilish competition. There is a need for collaboration. It is about our nation, Nigeria, and we have to make it move.
“So, we don’t have to compete devilishly. He is my friend. We discuss together and find out ways of improving our services together,” he said.
He said every Nigerian must imbibe the spirit of love and unity, void of ethnic or religious sentiments.
“All of us come from one God. Whether muslim or christian or hindu or whatever. We all come from one God, and except we all understand this, we know no peace.
“Whether Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Efik, Ibibo, Gbayi, Nupe, Fulani, all of yoruba all of us, we are from one God.
“So when you hate people because of their tribe or God, you are killing yourself. It is not the person you hate.
“It is like you are drinking poison and expecting somebody to die for the poison you are taking. You always be the myopic.
“It won’t take you anywhere. So love is the name of the game,” he said.
He also appreciated the host for choosing to celebrate the two awardees, adding that his attitude and kind gesture show that he is a great man.
The CEO, United Nigeria Airlines, Obiora Okonkwo, also heaped praise on the awardees, adding that they were ‘stars’ who have been a shining light in their various fields of endeavour and paved the way for others to follow.
He stressed that honour must be given to whom honour is due, adding that everyone must learn to work in love and unity with one another.
He also noted that he and Onyema saw themselves as brothers rather than rivals.
“We are not rivals. We are brothers, we are associates, we are allies. It is that spirit we are preaching.
“It can work with you. It can work with anybody if they believe in it.
“We thank God, we called to celebrate two of our very own Abuja Stars, and I’m glad they responded, and we had fun.
“We give God all the glory. I pray He will continue to shower His grace upon me and upon all of us, so that we will always do his will, which will in turn benefit the rest of humanity and glorify His name,” he said.
An elated High Chief (Dr) Kenneth Ifekudu, OFR (Agbalanze) expressed joy and appreciation to the host Obiora Okonkwo for honouring him, adding that the awards he received was a testament to the fact that hardwork pays.
“Today, our brother, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, PhD, decided to honour me and my friend, Ikenga, for the countless awards we’ve received from some notable newspapers of repute in the country.
“I was awarded the Sun Businessman of the Year 2024 and Champion Newspaper Philanthropist of the Year. So you do feel that it’s worthwhile celebrating people who are doing well, especially here in Abuja.
“What our host, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo has done today is all about brotherhood, and that’s the spirit we all must emulate as Nigerians.
“He has admonished us to imbibe the culture of love. We must drop the idea of hatred (onyeaka na’m) or put me down syndrome.
“He has tried to showcase that by working together in love and unity, we can achieve greater heights, irrespective of the fact that you might be in the same business with another person.
“So, the message here is that each and every one of us must be our brother’s keeper.
“Talk good about your brother. Show your brother opportunities, carry your brother along while rising up, knowing that together, you will succeed,” he said.
NAN also reports that Chief Ifekudu is a big player in the field of work contract business.
His company, Diamond Leeds, is known for executing large-scaled projects all over the geo-political zones of the country and the ECOWAS Sub region.
In the same vein, High Chief (Dr) Christopher Ndubuisi (Ikenga Umuawulu) also appreciated the host for going out of his way to ensure he and his friend were well celebrated and pledged to continue on the path of sustainable business growth for humanity.
An entrepreneur and investor of over two decades, High Chief Ndubuisi is popular for his integrity, humility, generosity, and massive investment in construction.
He has asphalt plants and owns construction equipment, with which his Pinnatech Engineering Nigeria Limited engaged in real estate, roads construction, and rehabilitation, bridge construction, rehabilitation of water system, drainage constructions and road maintenance amongst others.
The versatile entrepreneur’s remarkable philanthropical works in Umuawulu, his home town in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, through his foundation —High Chief Christopher Ndubuisi Foundation include: building of civic halls, health centres, roads, classrooms, boreholes.
Also, he offers educational scholarships, supports SMEs financially as well as build houses for widows and indigents.
Dr Ndubuisi is applauded for his gigantic creative investment in ICT, real estate, and construction, amongst others, which have given employment to thousands of Nigerians(NAN)