Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has been specially recognised for his quality representation and display of adept leadership skills in the National Assembly and Nigeria in general.
The recognition followed an award presented to him on Thursday by Dr. Michael Okpara Leadership Award, which is the 2024 Premier’s Prize by the the Advisory Board and Organising Committee for the 2024 Edition of The Michael Okpara Leadership Lecture and Award.
It will be recalled that Dr. Michael Okpara was the Premier of the defunct Eastern Region of Nigeria from 1959 to 1966.
Presented in commendation for Kalu’s “Quality Representation and Leadership in the Nigerian Parliament”, the award was received on behalf of the Deputy Speaker by his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Chief Daniel Akwari, at the event that held at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, and attended by Nigerians from all walks of life and business endeavours.
The award re-emphasised the leadership acumen of the Deputy Speaker.
It will also be recalled that Kalu who is the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Review sponsored the South East Development Commission (SEDC) bill signed into law recently by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Apart from other legislative interventions some of which have attracted numerous projects, Kalu recently also unveiled the Peace In South East Project (PISE-P), a social intervention mechanism used to preach peace and also tackle the menace of insecurity and other sociological challenges in the south east region through non kinetic measures.
The Deputy Speaker in his remarks appreciated Dr. Micheal Okpara Leadership for the award, saying he is spurred by the kind gesture to do more for the people of the south east and the country in general.
The event attracted the presence of former First Lady of Nigeria, Dame Patience Jonathan; former Senate President, Senator Pius Anyim Pius who is the chairman of the occasion; Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma; Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti (represented); Anambra State governor, Professor Charles Soludo (reprsented); Cross River State governor, Senator Bassey Otu, his two predecessors, Clement Eberi (co-chairman) and Liyel Imoke; Senator Osita Izunaso; Senator Ned Nwoko; Senator Chris Adighije; the Minister of State for Science and Technology, Innovation, Uche Nnaji; Oli mogul and notable business man, Chief Arthur Eze; the Secretary General of Ohanaze Ndigbo, Ambassador Okey Emuche; Chairman, Governing Council, Federal Polytechnic, Nakede, Chief Henry Ikoh; Chief Ugochukwu Onyema amongst other dignitaries.
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