200 Nigerians for Nkrumah Award

Over 200 Nigerians are storming Ghana later this month to honour the late Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

Among them are 30 prominent Nigerians, who will join other eminent personalities from other countries of the world to receive the prestigious Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Africa Leadership Awards 2004, slated for April 30, in Accra, Ghana.

The Nigerians include Chief Aleogho Raymond Dokpesi, Chairman, DAAR Communications Limited - owners of the Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower Radio Stations, as well as Mr. Kanu Godwin Agabi, a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, who is now Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo on Ethics and Good Governance.

Others are Professor Ishaya Audu, the National Chairman, Governing Cou-ncil, National Health Scheme and Dr. Samuel Adedoyin, a doyen of industries in Nigeria and Chairman, Doyin Group of Industries.

The other Nigerian personalities, who will receive the prestigious award, include Governor Bukar Abba Ibrahim of Yobe State, his counterpart in Bauchi, Governor Mu'azu and Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, the Hon. Minister for Works.

An lnternational Confer-ence with the theme: Dr. Nkrumah the Power Of His_Absence", along with the award is billed for the classy La Palm Royal Beach Hotel.

The conference/award ceremony is being jointly organized by West Africa International Magazine and Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Foundation (KNF), in Accra, Ghana. It will be chaired by Prof. Takyiwah Manuh, a frontline Ghanaian University don, while both Professor Francis Nkrumah (Son of the late sage) and Mr. James ButlerAggrey of the United Kingdom would be Guests of Honour at the occasion.

The Special Guest Speakers for the conference include President Sam Njuoma of Namibia, Hon. Justice Muhammed Akanbi, Chairman of Nigeria's Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Professor Akilakpa Sawyarr, a renown academician of international repute, Dr. Edward Mahama, a veteran politician and Nkrumahist, and Dr Vladimir Antwi-Da-nso, a University of Ghana don.

And listed along with the 30 Nigerians as recipients of Nkrumah Africa Leadership Awards 2004 were selected world political leaders, professionals, technocrats, manufacturers, industrialists and captains of industries with outstanding records of achievements.

For example, Chief Dokpesi has been picked for the award in recognition of the unique contributions of DAAR Communications Ltd. to the development of cultural, social and economic development of Africa, among others.

Some past recipients of the award include Governor Bola Tinubu, Chief Gani Fawehinmi and Chief Femi Falana, both celebrated Human Rights Activitists in Nigeria, Chief Kola Daisi, former Chairman, Nigeria Investment Promotion Cou-ncil, Professor Akpan Hogan Ekpo, Vice Chancellor, University of Uyo, Nigeria, and Chief Ufot Ekaette, Secretary to the Government of the Federation of Nigeria.

Other past recipients of the award include President John Agyckam of Ghana, Professor Kofi Awoonor, a renown poet and University don, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Ghana's leading Heart Surgeon, Ernest Bediako-Sarpong, foremost manufacturer of major drugs in Ghana, Mrs Zainab Bangura of Sierra Leone, and Mano Diallo of South Africa.