Notable Nigerians from different walks of life have been celebrating the governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma over his award for good governance by the prestigious Michael Okpara Leadership Prize.
Uzodimma who is also the chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum will today in Abuja receive the Premier’s Grand Prize, Gold Plaque Category award from the Michael Okpara Leadership Prize ” for his vision and programs for good governance and development in Imo state”
The governor, who will also be the keynote speaker at the event, will deliver a paper on the topic “Service Above Self: Lessons from the Leadership Philosophy of Dr. Michael Okpara.” “
Labour leaders, business moguls, traditional rulers, the clergy and members of the academia have all risen in unison to applaud Uzodimma for the award ,describing it as well deserved for the quantum development he has wrought in the state.
They were particularly impressed that an organisation with Michael Okpara imprimatur is honouring Uzodimma for his selfless service in the mould of that of the late Premier of Eastern Region
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), in an emotional tribute to Uzodimma, described him as a man who has emptied himself to God to be used for good governance in Imo state .
In a congratulatory message to the governor signed by the chairman, Rev. Dr. Eches, CAN, said the award was a testament to Uzodimma’s unprecedented and massive infrastructure and human capital development in the state.
It noted that just like Okpara, the Imo governor is focused on the transformation of the state, hence his policies and programmes aimed at the industrial and agricultural revolution for the good of the people.
In their tribute, the traditional rulers said they were not surprised that Michael Okpara Leadership Prize found Uzodimma worthy of the award.
” The Governor took after the late Premier and our own Sam Mbakwe. We are proud that what we have been witnessing, the development of our rural communities, other Nigerians, and groups have also noticed. So, naturally, we celebrate our governor for the award, Eze Ambassador Damian Emeada Obianigwa of Isi Ihiteowerri wrote on behalf of his colleagues.
They congratulated Uzodimma for bagging the award and urged him to continue to render selfless service to Imo State and Nigeria.
Similarly, labour organisations, including the Nigeria Labour Congress, Nigeria Union of Journalists, and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, have felicitated Governor Hope Uzodimma over the award.
The NLC, Imo State chapter described the award as highly merited, saying that one of the indices of good governance was actually the welfare of the people ” which the governor has excelled”
” Imo workers couldn’t be happier for this meritorious and deserving award to the most worker friendly governor in Nigeria,” they wrote.
Imo Journalists, on their part, said the Michael Okpara Leadership Prize merely confirmed what the people of the state have experienced since 2020 when Uzodimma emerged governor.
According to them, the people of Imo State have been bombarded with dividends of democracy ranging from durable roads, quality health care, and education, while Imo has become the fastest growing economy East of the Niger.
Billionaire businessman , Chief Tony Chukwu, industrialists, Chief Charles Amadi, and Chief Cliff Nzeruem, and former Federal Lawmaker,Chief Jerry Alagboso also spoke glowingly of Uzodimma and why he deserved the Michael Okpara Leadership Prize award.
Chief Tony Chukwu described Uzodimma as a pragmatic, result oriented, and focused leader whose inspirational leadership has impacted directly on the people of the state.
He said the award was an acknowledgement of the superlative performance of the governor in office and urged Uzodimma to leverage on it to gear up for more service to Imo State and Nigeria.
On his part, Chief Alagboso who represented Orlu,Orsu and Oru East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives lauded the Dr Michael Okpara Foundation and Verbatim Media Group for their vision in identifying a man of vision for the Okpara Leadership Prize honours.
He noted that after Dr. Michael Okpara and Chief Sam Mbakwe, Uzodimma has come to represent selfless leadership encapsulated in good governance and accountability in Igboland.
” Your Excellency, many of us who have known you over the years can attest to your commitment and dedication to selfless service just like the late Dr Okpara. You have become a beacon of hope and development. Your industrial masterplan will certainly make Imo the envy of all, “Alagboso concluded.