Speaker of Abia State, Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji has been honoured with The Sun Public Service Award 2020, by The Sun Publishing Ltd, publishers of The Daily Sun, Saturday Sun, Sunday Sun, Sporting Sun, www.sunnewsonline.com and www.sportingsun.com.
The Speaker who received the Award personally in a well attended and colourful event held at the Expo Centre of the prestigious Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, said he never knew he would be honoured by one of Nigeria’s foremost media Houses for his service to the people saying that whatever he has done in the line of duty, whatever he has done for the people, he was only doing them in obedience to Divine statutes and his conscience.
After receiving the award from Guy Murray Bruce who did the presentation, Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji thanked the Board, Management and staff of The Sun Publishing Ltd for finding him worthy of the award and promised not to relent in pursuing the good of all people especially the downtrodden and vulnerable.
While presenting the letter notifying him of the award earlier, Managing Director of The Sun Publishing Ltd, Mr Onuoha Ukeh, had informed the Abia State Speaker that he emerged winner of The award “after a thorough scrutiny” by the media organisation.
Other awardees of the night were Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ambassador George Obiozor, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, Chief Obinna Iyiegbu (Obi Cubana), Chief Allen Onyema,First Lady of Ondo State, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akredolu, Chief Chris Igwe among others.
Government functionaries and dignitaries who were present to support Rt Hon Chinedum Orji at the event include the Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, Members of the Abia State House of Assembly, Secretary to the Abia State Government, Barr Chris Ezem, Chief of Staff to the Governor of Abia State, Prof-acb Agbazuere, the State’s Commissioner for Finance, Dr Aham Uko, former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Nnenna Ukeje, Abia State Head of Service, Sir Onyii Wamah, Chairman of Obingwa and Chairman of ALGON, Abia Chapter, Hon. Michael Nwoke, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Legislative Matters and former Member of the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon Mezie Nwaubani, a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party in Abia State, Chief Charles Ogbonna, GM of the Abia State Envirinmental Protection Agency (ASEPA), Chief Eze Okwulehie, GM of ABSEDA, Chief Okechukwu Ndukwe, a Commissioner Nominee in the State, Mr Ugochukwu N Emezue, Deputy Chairman of Bende Local Government Area, Hon. Promise Uzoma Okoro, Permanent Secretary of the State’s Ministry of Trade and Investment, Chief Michael Egwu, representatives of OGSSIAN, the Speaker’s alma mater, Class of ’82, former course mates of the Speaker at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Managing Director of Wizzy-Star Ltd, Mr Wisdom Chidiebere Nwaubani among others.
A former Govermor of Abia State and Chief Whip of the Senate, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu whom the Speaker extolled as a man who taught him some of the essentials of politics was also present while Gbenga Adeyinka was the compere. Kofi (the comedian) and Kcee entertained the guests.