NOBEL laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, is set to add yet another diadem to his intimidating list of honours as he receives the maiden award of the Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership, an initiative of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation.
The Foundation, following a rigorous selection process by a panel of eminent Nigerians, had announced in December 2012 that Soyinka had been picked as winner of the prize.
The actual presentation of the prize, which consists of a plaque, medal and the certificate of award, will be made at a ceremony, expected to draw a wide array of distinguished Nigerians on Wednesday, March 6, 2013. Soyinka is expected to deliver a lecture on the occasion.
A dance performance, musical celebration, goodwill messages, as well as a documentary on Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the Foundation itself, set up in 1992 to preserve his intellectual legacy are highlights slated for the event.
The documentary on Awolowo, according to a statement by the Executive Director of the Foundation, Dr. Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, seeks to refresh the national memory concerning critical milestones in the sage’s political career with a view to teaching a generation, groping for direction and leadership renewal useful lessons.
Former Head of State and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Awolowo Foundation, General Yakubu Gowon, will chair the occasion, while guests of honour include other former Heads of Government, State Governors, traditional rulers and other distinguished Nigerians.
The idea of the leadership prize derived from the special dialogue of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation held in July 2011 with the theme, “Transformational Leadership and Good Governance: Lessons from the Awolowo Example”.
It was observed on that occasion that one of the greatest challenges confronted by Nigeria is the leadership deficit.
It was recommended at that dialogue that an Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership be instituted for the purpose of recognizing excellence and benchmarking key leadership attributes associated with Chief Awolowo.
Soyinka, whose nomination was unanimously made by the selection committee, headed by former Secretary General of Commonwealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, graciously accepted the nomination, describing it as the “crème de la crème of all the recognitions I have ever received, being at once so personal and universalist in vision”.
Nguardian
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