CONFERMENT OF NATIONAL HONOUR OF COMMANDER
OF THE ORDER OF THE NIGER, CON, ON
GOVERNOR GODSWILL AKPABIO
Governor Godswill Akpabio will on November 14, 2011 be conferred with a National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger, CON by President Goodluck Jonathan.
In an Official Release of the Federal Government of Nigeria, signed by the Secretary, National Honours Merit Award Committee, Mr Adeyemi Tunde, the Akwa Ibom State Governor and other recipients will be honoured for distinguishing themselves in various fields of human endeavours.
The selection of Governor Akpabio is without doubt, well deserved and an acknowledgement of his Uncommon Transformational strides in Akwa Ibom State.
To this end, the Government of Akwa Ibom State wishes to very specially thank Mr. President, and indeed members of the Screening Committee for the indubitable choice of His Excellency, Governor Godswill Akpabio for the National Honour.
Also, Government wishes to appreciate the good people of Akwa Ibom State for their continual support, steadfastness and confidence, which led to the colossal achievements recorded so far by Governor Akpabio and consequently, the National Honour of CON.
Whilst we particularly congratulate His Excellency, Governor Godswill Akpabio for this exceptional national attainment, we also wish to note and congratulate other Akwa Ibom indigenes who have similarly been found worthy of national honours alongside our icon of purposeful and selfless leadership.
It is pertinent to note that the national honour is coming on the heels of several honours and awards bestowed on the Governor by reputable institutions and the media across Nigeria and beyond. Recently, the governor was honoured by Nigeria’s elite military institution, the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, Kaduna, with an award of an honorary degree of Doctor of Management Sciences, during its 22nd convocation ceremony.
It should also be noted that Governor Akpabio was honoured with a Congressional Certificate of Recognition of the United States Congress which was presented by Congresswoman, Sheila Jackson Lee in a well-attended ceremony in Houston, USA.
Governor Akpabio’s strides in Akwa Ibom further gained international recognition when he bagged The Gold Humanitarian Services Award, a national honour of the Republic of Niger. The award was presented by the country’s ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Alhaji Mousa Ibrahim. In the same vein, Exam Ethics International, Ghana, honoured Governor Akpabio with Exam Ethics Marshal for declaring free and compulsory education in Akwa Ibom State, while Ben TV, London, in 2009, named Governor Akpabio as Best Governor in Infrastructure Development.
The transformational leadership style of Governor Akpabio has equally been acknowledged by the academic community. This was evidenced in the recognition accorded him by Nigeria’s Premier University, The University of Nigeria, Nsukka; The University of Calabar and the University of Uyo, which at different times, bestowed on the Governor, award of Doctor of Law, Honoris Causa.
Moreover, the Governor also bagged honourary doctorate degrees in Public Administration from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra State. He is also a fellow of the Hussein Adamu Federal Polytechnic Kazaure and The College of Education, Bichi.
To underscore the superlative performance of Governor Akpabio, it would be recalled that Chief Akpabio was recognised as Nigeria’s Emerging Tiger by ThisDay newspaper in 2009; Man of the Year by Daily Independent in 2009; Governor of the Year by The Tribune newspaper 2010; Man of the Year by National Daily in 2009 and 2010; and given an Award of Excellence for Outstanding Performance by the Nigeria Union of Journalists in 2010.
The priority that Governor Akpabio has accorded issues of security of lives and properties also projected him for a golden award by Security Watch Africa, in faraway Banjul, Gambia. He was honoured for his positive contributions to issues of security and safety in the State and the West African sub region, with particular reference was his creative security management approach which led to the peaceful conduct of the 2011 general elections in Akwa Ibom.
It is gratifying to mention that even the critics of Governor Akpabio who had engaged in pernicious propaganda and lies to obfuscate the outstanding performance of Governor Godswill Akpabio have agreed that indeed, he is a transformational leader whose achievements in different sectors can no longer be denied.
As a mark of honour to His Excellency, Akwa Ibom indigenes, at home and in the Diaspora, especially members of Akwa Ibom Association, USA, UK and Akwa Ibom Diaspora Network, friends, supporters and indeed, critics, whose criticisms helped spur the Governor to work harder for the uncommon transformation of Akwa Ibom, are invited to join in celebrating this national affirmation of good governance.
All Akwa Ibom citizens, irrespective of ethnic, political or religious affiliation, should, by this token of national recognition, remain unwavering in their support for the man who has brought Uncommon Transformation to bear on our land.
Aniekan Umanah
Hon. Commissioner