…By Maureen Chigbo

Paul Ejime, an acclaimed journalist and governance communications specialist and Bash Ali, a former World Boxing Champion are among eminent Nigerians honoured with the *West Africa Icon Award (WAIA) 2024.

At the award ceremony on Saturday, August 17, in Abuja, Darlington Momoh Umoru, Editor-in-Chief and Director of the Elation Magazine, a publication by Elation Communications, said the honourees were “high achievers whom the government and society have not sufficiently acknowledged for their contributions to human and societal development.”

Ejime, a Chevening Fellow, Global affairs analyst and an advocate of development journalism has been involved in shaping narratives and influencing policy decisions on governance and democracy in West Africa, through his role as a Communications Specialist, and contributing to the enrichment of the body of knowledge on cutting-edge communications and public information strategies.

Receiving the award, Ejime, who was accompanied by his wife Adeline and well-wishers including Mrs Josephine Kalu, a retired senior public servant expressed his appreciation to the Elation Magazine publishers, particularly Editor-in-Chief Umoru, his team and family.

He said their laudable gesture was worthy of emulation at a time when many citizens tend to look up to governments for transformative initiatives.

Other awardees included senior public servants such as Customs Officers, who have distinguished themselves in fighting smuggling and other crimes in West Africa, entrepreneurs with regional business interests, Chief Michael Emeka Onwuchelu, President of the Nigerian Community in Cote d’Ivoire, and Dr Chioma Amajoh, a renowned malaria expert and a retired Director from Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health.

Onwuchelu used the occasion to alert Nigerian authorities on the dangers of human trafficking, child prostitution and child labour.

“Girls from 11 to 18 years old are being trafficked under the guise that they will become salesgirls,” he said, adding: “They are recruited and sent to forests where they are mining gold. It’s happening in Cote d’Ivoire and other African countries. Human trafficking is a multi-billion-dollar business.”

Since he assumed office in 2021, Onwuchelu said his team has repatriated more than 900 girls to Nigeria, and the victims cut across the Nigerian States.

“We have put together a rapid response team. I am happy people take note of what we are doing. I and my team are working together to save lives,” he added.

While receiving her award, Amajoh, popularly called “Mama Malaria” because of her passion and contributions to efforts against the mosquito-borne deadly disease in Africa, called for a re-doubling of efforts to defeat the disease.

Another recipient, Dickson Orji, Co-ordinator of the Presidential Committee on small arms and light weapons, said the proliferation of these weapons has exacerbated insecurity characterised by banditry and other crimes in Nigeria.

He cited the kidnap of medical students a few days ago, saying the problem of insecurity, herder-farmer clashes and other crimes were traceable to illicit light weapons.

Orji said the problem could be addressed through good/proper parenting.
“If you train your child well, he/she will not be influenced or influence other people. Security agencies are doing a lot, but the little lapses are what we are seeing. If you see something, say something,” he added.

In a pre-award interview, Bash Ali, a former World Boxing Federation Cruiserweight Champion, said he had received many awards, “but this Award is coming from the grassroots. It means a lot to me even though I have the OFR (Officer of the Federal Republic), the highest given to any athlete in Nigeria.”

He insists: “I am still the champion of the world,” adding that when he was stripped of his title because he refused to fight again, he went to court to seek redress and was awarded compensation.

In his address, Umoru, a Security Consultant, who also, works with the Nigerian Football Supporters Club said he was “happy to see a gathering of this magnitude,” at the same time: “I feel a bit unhappy because awards are given to people when they are dead. I feel sad because some people who served this nation are not recognised.”

He cited the case of an Abidjan-based Nigerian businessman, Chief Ambrose Nwoye, a philanthropist, who supported Nigerians visiting or resident in Cote d’Ivoire, but died while watching a match involving the Super Eagles in the recent Africa Nations Cup competition.

“The man was buried recently and there was no representation from the Nigerian Football Federation. Only the Football Supporters Club sent representatives. Today, the organisers of this award are giving him (Nwoye) a post-humus award.

“On behalf of the organisers of this award, “late Ambrose Nwoye, who died supporting (Nigeria’s National flag of) Green, White, Green… will be rolling in his grave with joy,” Umoru affirmed.

He told the Awardees: “We are challenging you to do more.”

The WAIA Award has been given to 65 other prominent Africans including former late President Jerry Rawlings of Ghana, and former Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.