-As Osita Chidoka, others became Fellows
In recognition of their meritorious services to their father land, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, chairman, Board of Trustees, Professional Excellence Foundation of Nigeria (PEFON) has decorated three octogenarians and others with the Lifetime Achievement Award of PEFON.
The awardees include: Prof. J.O Irukwu; Engr. Shyngle Imogbo J. Wigwe; Elder Nathaniel C. Okoro; and Chief (Dr) Emmanuel C. Iwuanyanwu. While Dr Solomon E. Arase, fomer Inspector-General of Police; Ostia Chidoka, former Aviation minister; Otunba Kehinde A.Shitta; Akinlolu A.Akinwunmi, group CEO, Prima Garnet Africa; Layi Babatunde, SAN; Opeoluwa Seyi, SAN; and Mr Benedict U. Ujoatuonu, MD/CEO-Universal Insurance Plc, were all inducted as new Fellows of the association.
The investiture and induction ceremony of PEFON was held at the Hotel Victoria Palace (Smridu Nigeria Ltd), Victoria Island, Lagos, on Thursday, the 27th of April, 2017.
Congratulating the awardees, the BOT chairman extolled the motive behind the recognition, which he said was not for profit venture, but for the fact that the awardees have paid their dues during their service years in public sector.
He continued: “Out of the several groups in Nigeria, and NGOs, PEFON’s idea is the concept whose time has come for manifestation. The people invited for the lifetime award need no introduction as their profiles speak volumes about them. Most of them are in their eighties, but we have decided to honour them, because of the great roles they have played in their respective fields towards nation building”.
Earlier, the Founder, PEFON, Sir (Dr) Dipo Bailey, explained the idea behind the Foundation, describing it as a non-profit and a non-Governmental Foundation, established primarily to mitigate the dire shortage in the supply of professionally qualified and competent manpower for the various sectors of Nigerian economy.
The Foundation, was an offshoot of Bailey Professional Training and Development Center (BPTDC) was established in 1998.
The Foundation is superintended by a Board of Trustees comprising of Distinguished Professionals including Edet Amana, Mohammed Hayatudeen, Akinbayo Adenubi, Stella Okoli, and Sir (Pharm) Ifeanyi Atueyi. The Board is headed by Prince Julius Adelusi- Adeluyi.
PEFON’s major strength as a Foundation lies in its Board of Trustees, the Council and Distinguished fellows who are accomplished industrialists’, technocrats, qualified professionals in diverse areas, Present and Past Presidents of Professional Institutes and other core professionals who have excelled in private and public administration and who have distinguished themselves in various fields within and outside Nigeria.
The awardees expressed their immense gratitude for the award and promised to continue the good works, as God grants them life and sound health.
Sir (Pharm) Ifeanyi Atueyi, managing director, Pharmanews Ltd, gave the closing remarks by appreciating all participants at the event, urging them to always endeavour to be loyal ambassadors of PEFON, as they join hands in making Nigeria a better place to live.
