UNITED States President, Barack Obama has awarded a Nigerian journalist, Mr. Edwin Nwachukwu the President’s Volunteer Service Award.
The Volunteer Service Award is recognition by the United States President of individuals that have helped to address the needs of persons with disabilities.
Delivering the award, President Obama commended the Mr. Nwanchukwu “for helping to address the most pressing needs in the country.”
By this gesture, President Obama said that Nwachukwu has demonstrated that assisting people with disabilities “are duties that we do not grudgingly accept, but rather seize gladly, firm in knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit than giving our all to a difficult task.”
Showering more encomiums on the journalist who is the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Bureau Chief and North America Correspondent, Obama said “his volunteer service demonstrates the kind of commitment to his community that moves America a step closer to its great promise.”
While commending him for “devotion to service and doing all you can to shape a better a better tomorrow” Obama pointed out that while government can open more opportunities to serve our communities, it is up to each of us to seize those opportunities.
Also appreciating the journalist, Chief Eric Nwabueze Ufom, President of FESTAC – USA & Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities, said for support and contributions towards improving the image of Nigeria abroad, he deserves to be recognized and honored.
Ufom, whose organization is a foundation member of the International Disability Alliance ( IDA ) commended Nwachukwu for “being part of raising Nigeria ’s bar very high and setting an excellent standard for the country during the United Nations 5th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
He also thanked him, “for playing a very major role through all those your excellent publications about our side event at the Nigerian Mission, on the occassion of 5th Session of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), RI World Congress in South Korea, Election of Ms. Ekaete Umoh, as the Vice President, RI African Region.’’
A veteran journalist with over 15 years of international and local experiences holds a post graduate certificate in communication studies from the Lagos State University, Higher National Diploma (HND) in Book Publishing from the Yaba College of Technology and Advanced Diploma in Journalism from Times Institute of Journalism as well as diploma certificate in journalism from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos – Nigeria.
In the course of his journalism profession, Nwachukwu’s worth of experience has been built from various beats he had reported on, this includes general beat, aviation, politics, security and crimes, education, grassroots among others.
Nwachukwu is a recipient of Donald T. Sheehan International Fellowship Scholarship–Wharton Seminars for Business Journalists from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and Southwest Airlines Travel Scholarship -Wharton Seminars for Business Journalists, Wharton University of Pennsylvania, San Francisco, CA.
He also a beneficiary of the Transport Journalism and Information Management Course from the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Zaira, Airport Wildlife Hazard Management Workshop, organised by Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida, USA.
The journalist also attended Management, Advanced and Basic Courses for aviation journalists at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, Zaria, Interviewing Techniques for aviation journalists by Institute for Media and Society (IMS) in collaboration with the Friedrich Foundation among others.
Widely travelled, his international experiences includes the coverage of the 51st annual general meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in Kaula Lampur, Malaysia, 13th plenary session of the international labour organization conference (ILO) Geneva, and the 5th annual conference on air craft maintenance and engine overhaul in Africa, Cairo, Egypt.
Others are the 82nd Session of Africa Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), 8th Aviation& Allied Business, Leadership Conference Johannesburg, South Africa and the World Travel Market (WTM), a global event for travel industry – Excel London.
Nwachukwu had in 1992 be awarded “Alumnus Extra Ordinary (AE) of Nigeria – Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) in recognition of his participation during the inter West African Regional Programme between the Nigerian Institute of Journalism and Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ).
“I am indeed amazed and honoured for this, though I do not see anything so fantastic or extraordinary on what I did for the group by highlighting or promoting their activities during session but only carrying out my social responsibility as a journalist.
“It is my wish to effectively add positively to humanity, persons with disabilities inclusive,’’ Nwachukwu said.