Students of tertiary institutions in Northern Nigeria, operating under the auspices of the National Association of Northern Nigeria Students (NANNS) on Saturday conferred the prestigious Ahmadu Bello Sardauna Platinum Distinguished Leadership Award on the Executive Director of Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Ambassador Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu.

The award, according to NANNS Secretary-General, Comrade Ibrahim Isah Adamu , was in recognition of Dr Awolowo Dosumu’s exemplary contributions towards the development of Nigerian youths, Nigeria and humanity.

Comrade Adamu, who led the three-man delegation to the Tribune House, Imalefalafia, Ibadan, venue of the presentation, extolled Awolowo Dosumu for her principled stand on national issues, her incorruptibility, selflessness and desire to support the youths at all times, noting that the decision to confer the award on her was unanimous as all the students agreed she is a worthy candidate.

“Your exemplary leadership and Spartan lifestyle in the discharge of your God-given ability towards humanity is what provoked our superlative encomium to have come this far and on behalf of the association. We are delighted to present you with this prestigious award, as an Icon of National Transformation,” he said.

Shedding light on the objectives of NANNS, he explained that as a students’ association “it is non-governmental and non-partisan”.

The association, according to him, “was formed by students across the northern states and Abuja, irrespective of tribe or religion. NANNS is under the influence of our students in the northern states with the objective of promoting peace, unity, good governance, morals and education and producing sensible and reliable youths across the northern region and across the nation at large while also addressing social vices that are disturbing in the North and, of course, our youths.”

He disclosed that NANNS has organised lectures, seminars and orientation programmes to sensitise the youths and the general public to the problems bedevilling the region.

“Drug abuse has become a serious issue and is affecting many of our youths. Going by the recent statistics released by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in Kano and Jigawa states alone over three million bottles of codeine intoxicant are consumed weekly and a high percentage of those that engage in the consumption of the harmful substance are our youths.

“Secondly, on rape, sexual assault, gender and domestic violence, we have been partnering with some non-governmental organisations as well as the National Centre for Women Development in addressing such issues, particularly in the area of girl-child education which we believe is of paramount importance.”

Adamu also lamented the security challenges in the North, noting that, “Looking at the issue of insecurity in the Northern region, out of the 19 northern states, only three to four states are not being affected directly or indirectly either by Boko Haram insurgency, cattle rustling and herdsmen kidnappings or banditry.

“What we usually do is pay visitations to the IDP camps, donate food items to them, pick some of them and enrol them in entrepreneurship programmes and send some of them to school with the little we can. We also pay visitations to relevant stakeholders, such as the security agencies, traditional title holders, political office holders and discuss with them the way we feel our own organisation can contribute its own quota towards bringing an end to the menace of insecurity,” Adamu said, noting that the contributions of personalities like Dr Awolowo Dosumu have encouraged them in their self-assigned tasks of redirecting the youths towards being useful citizens to the society.

In her acceptance speech, Dr Awolowo Dosumu, who was represented by the Warden, Obafemi Awolowo Hall, University of Ibadan, Dr Adedoyin Aguoru, commended members of NANNS for their remarkable efforts in the North and deeming her worthy of the award, promising not to relent in her pursuit of the ideals and qualities that commended her for the award.

“I feel highly honoured. My father, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the Sardauna of Sokoto both had the vision of a great Nigeria. Their strategies for reaching that destination might have been different, but, between them, there was that great, mutual respect and an appreciation of each other’s patriotism and zeal in selflessly serving their people.

“It is, therefore, very significant, that this award, named after Sir Ahmadu Bello, is being conferred today on me, a daughter of Chief Awolowo. I do not receive it lightly. Indeed, your reaching out offers hope that with the right orientation in cross-cultural engagements, Nigeria can survive its present challenges,” she added.

Dr Awolowo Dosumu noted that the only way Nigeria can overcome its problems is when Nigerians acknowledge one another’s differences with the utmost respect, stressing that, “With this award, you have shown the way in this regard. It is my belief that if your generational compatriots also reach out beyond their various zones in Nigeria and you all strive to address the imbalances in education and privileges, we might finally embark on our journey to nationhood. I encourage you to continue on this path in order to achieve the Nigeria of our dream.”

“It is stating the obvious to say that the future of this country belongs to you, our younger ones. It is also clear from this award that it is possible for succeeding generations in Nigeria to resolve to deliberately avoid the pitfalls of the past. I wish to advise, therefore, that, throughout the length and breadth of this country, the youth should embrace the mindset that seeks solutions to the various problems militating against our country rather than seeking to win the arguments. You will be seen as pursuing this when, together, you challenge injustice and inequity whenever and wherever they occur and collaborate with one another for the good of all.

“I notice that your motto is ‘Unity and Education for Development.’ This, I must say, cannot be more apt given the fact that the plethora of challenges facing this country, particularly insecurity and mass poverty, stem from the unacceptably high illiteracy rate we still contend with within 2021 Nigeria. We will solve these problems if we give education the priority it deserves and ensures that the situation of having more than 13 million out of school children in Nigeria is properly addressed,” she said.

At the ceremony are NANNS National Treasurer, Comrade Abubakar Muhammed Gumel, and Comrade Suleiman Dalhat Richifa.

Also in attendance are Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, ANN Plc, publishers of Tribune titles, Mr Edward Dickson; Pastor Segun Olatunji; Editor, Nigerian Tribune, Mr Debo Abdulai; Editor, Sunday Tribune, Mr Sina Oladeinde; Editor, Saturday Tribune, Dr Lasisi Olagunju;; Group Business Editor, Mr Sulaimon Olanrewaju; Chief Accountant, Mrs Oluremi Olufisayo; Senior Manager, Human Resources, Mrs Bukola Ezeamaka; Dr Mrs Bolarinwa as well as students of Obafemi Awolowo hall of residence, University of Ibadan.

(Adopted from Sunday Tribune)

Update news