Nnabuife bags West African Students Union Parliament’s ‘Vanguard of Nation Building Award’

By Nkechi Ikenwoke, Blessing Nnabuife, Ebube Okpala and Isaac Ogunfeyimi

DELEGATES of West African Students Union Parliament (WASUP), a body comprising students across West Africa, Friday,  visited  the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Anambra Newspapers and Printing Corporation, Publishers of National Light Newspaper, Ka O Di Taa and SportslightXTRA Newspapers, Sir Chuka Nnabuife at the organisation Headquarters in Awka.

Speaker of the group, Saint Solomon, who was presented by  the Director of  Logistics, Adewale Ismail, on behalf of the students and youths from 16 registered member countries of the WASUP, welcomed all to the  ceremony of courtesy visit and  conferring honor the Nnabuife,

who he described as  a man of honor, an intellectual juggernaut, a man with magnificent experience when it comes to media, administrative best practices, a rare gem, human developer with effective leadership direction and  an outstanding intellectual of impeccable credentials.

Speaking during the visit, Director Logistics of the union,

Adewale Ismail said the primary aim of the organization starts with the responsibility of training, building and celebrating good leadership through engaging in a lot of activities ranging from campaign against social vices, cultism, drug abuse and building leadership capacity/entrepreneurship among the youths in order to add values to their immediate society.

He said, “As we carry out these activities, we stick to find role models, outstanding institutions, people who are the best in service delivery as our mentors because we believe that experimental knowledge is too paramount in this calling.

What drives us in our palace is the idea of ‘Pan Africanism’. The idea of Pan Africanism is the building of Africa for Africans and by Africans. The WASUP has reckoned you as a man of courage who has zero tolerance for infectiveness, a noble champion who is ideologically focused in societal development, nation builder, youth personnel empowerment, among others.

Adewale, further stated that without fear or favour, Nnabuife has being found worthy to receive the prestigious Pan-African Exemplary Leadership Award of Excellence as ” Vanguard of Nation Building and  Societal Transformation in Nigeria in recognition of his outstanding strides in championing the course of effective service delivery, immense contributions to nation building, human capital development, peoples welfare, societal transformation and remarkable patriotism in Nigeria.

Also speaking, Deputy Majority Leader of the group, Paul Matthew expressed how happy he was to witness the beautiful culture of kolanut breaking as offered by Nnabuife, adding that as  a student and  future leader of Africa, “I consider everywhere I find myself as a classroom and today, I have learnt so much. You have proven to us that in whatever we do, we should not always live our culture behind.

This is a good massage that you are sending down to the generation yet unborn and that is one of the reasons we are here to present to you this award. I must say that you’re the man I have seen that has upheld culture, tradition and even the pride of Africa and as students, we seek to find ourselves role models and  mentors and who else better fits a position of a role model and a mentor than a man who is so passionate about the culture and tradition of Africa”.

Sir Chuka Nnabuife welcomed the delegates and thanked God for their arrival of WASUP, adding that God will continue to guide and protect them even as they plan to go back thereafter. He also prayed that they will be successful in achieving their aims across African continents as well as their academic pursuit.

Nnabuife appreciated the union for finding him worthy of the award, adding that he has taken good note of all that happened as a good listener even as he felt shocked over such recognition.

In his word, “I am really impressed. I have seen some commitment in you. I am happy and appreciate you all. As a child actually, in my teens, I became a member of Pan Africa Union, then led by Amusu Quado from Ghana. My father and mother were too.

As a student, I was also involved in various activities. For you to go this far in building Africa, there is hope for Africa.The massage of Pan Africanism is that Africa is one; that we must unite to fight the ghost of new colonialism which are the forces that keep us down in Africa.

 I will add to your campaign regarding the areas you mentioned. But most importantly is the philosophy of your campaign which is campaign against corruption, drug abuse and sex abuse. We will use our profession to also project PAN Africanism”.

In her vote of thanks, the Editor of  National Light newspapers, Rose Oranye said that she felt marveled towards all the speeches and presentation made by the delegates, adding that their  togetherness and activities portrays hope  for Africa  and that  youths are ready to  ensure a brighter tomorrow.

Oranye thanked them for the honour given to  Nnabuife and for organising themselves regardless of all the crises and backwardness in education in Africa, adding that the award to Nnabuife shows  it means that people are watching  all their performances across the world.

Staff of the organisation present include a consultant,  Mr Joseph Onugha and  Accountant,  Obiageli Odiaka

Other  members of WASUP in attendance during the visit were Nurudeen Yakubu, kobehi Kosa and Ugochi Nwagbo.