Hon. (Dr) Abike Dabiri-Erewa: An honour, well deserved
By Abdur-Rahman Balogun
Allah says in the Glorious Qur’an 3: verse 26 thus: Say, “O Allah, Owner of Sovereignty, You give sovereignty to which You will and You take sovereignty away from whom You will. You honor whom You will and You humble whom You will. In Your hand is [all] good. Indeed, You are over all things competent.”
The foregoing verse further confirms to me that it is only Allah, our uncreated Creator that can only honour we the homo- sapiens creatures of His. Irrespective of what human beings tried, the Creator must sanction such honours and put the thoughts and actions in human beings to implement.
So when the letter of honour came to the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa that the authorities of Lagos State University, (LASU), Ojo, Lagos has deemed it fit to bestow on her the Honourary Doctorate Award during its 25th Convocation ceremony on Thursday March 24, 2022, it was one honour too many and an award well deserved.
To all those who have been following the selfless and proactive impactful life of Hon. Kafayat Abike Dabiri-Erewa, one will see that it has been rewarded and appreciated with too many awards, honours and recognition of excellence too numerous to list. At my last count, apart from those she rejected, she has received over 300 since she became a public officer in 2003 to date. Some of these include: (1) Educate Africa Institute (EAI) Merit Award 2021 for commitment to service delivery, outstanding contribution and service to humanity. (2) Centre for Ethics and Self Value Orientation Award as Integrity Icon of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Gold Medalist in Public Administration. 2021. (3) FOI Award of Excellence 2021, to mark the 10th anniversary of Freedom of Information Act in Nigeria. (4) Ansar-ud-deen Youth Association (ADYAN) 2021 Northern States Council Congress Merit Award. (5) Global Excellence Award by Afroglobal television, Toronto, Canada. (6) The 2021 NEWSDIRECT Award of Excellence for Exemplary leadership by News Direct Newspaper. (7) All Africa makeup (AFRIMAC) Conference and Exhibition award 2021 in appreciation of her outstanding contributions and immense support to the upliftment of AFRIMAC. (8) Royal Award by the Ayangburen of Ikorodu kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Engr.) Kabir Adewale Shotobi, for uplifting the standard of Ikorodu, Lagos State and Nigeria as a good ambassador. (9) Award of Excellence by H.E Dr. Benson Alfred Bana, the Tanzania Ambassador to Nigeria. 2021. (10) Citizens Advocate Ambassador Award of Excellence by the Photo Journalist Association of Nigeria (PJAN) for outstanding performance in promoting the interest of the Citizens first, and the country as a whole.
Others are (11) Induction into the Center For Black and African Arts and Civilization’s (CBAAC) Black and African Hall of Fame 2021 (12) The Guardian’s Award for the ‘Most Outstanding Female-led Federal Commission. 2021 (13) The Frontline Defender Award for Human Rights and Sustainable Development by Drum Major of Social Justice and Awards. 2021. (13) Lifetime Achievers Award, given in lieu of Sterling Leadership 2021. (15) Women Enterprise Alliance (WenA) List of Top 5 Sky-trampling Personalities for IWD2021. (16) ThisDay Style Magazine’s list of “50 Women We Admire: Titans of Our Time.” (Mother’s Day Edition 2021) among several others too numerous to list out.
In all of these awards, there is a high sense of fulfillment and elation that comes to one, when one’s community honour a person. This is what Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa must have felt when she was given award during the 30th Ikorodu Oga Day by the Ayangburen of Ikorodu Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Engr.) Kabir Adewale Shotobi, for lifting the standard of Ikorodu, Lagos State and Nigeria, as a good Ambassador.
Of all these awards, honours and recognitions since 2003 till date, none has change the nomenclature of her title than this latest one, hence its uniqueness.
In the letter of nomination to her which was personally signed by the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Ibiyemi I. Olatunji-Bello mni said “the conferment of Honorary Doctorate Degree on you is in recognition and appreciation of your immense contribution towards the development of the Lagos State University and by extension, Lagos state in particular.”
Henceforth, from Thursday March 24, 2022, the former Hon. Kafayat Abike Dabiri-Erewa will now be known and addressed as Hon. (Dr) Kafayat Abike Dabiri-Erewa. All former documents remain valid. Nigerians both home and in the Diaspora should take note.
I hereby join numerous well wishers to felicitate with Hon. (Dr) Abike Dabiri-Erewa on her conferment of Honorary Doctorate Degree from the prestigious Lagos State University and pray that more laurels await her in her future endeavours.
Like the Director General, World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said in an interview segment with Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, during the 2021 National Diaspora day celebration, that what was the secret to her success; which she replied: “When you are doing something you are passionate about, you will surely succeed.”
So being passionate to what you do, and believe in, will surely produce something out of nothing; even in the midst of obstacles.
For the indefatigable Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa, despite several challenges, she has managed to rise above it all; to put the Nigeria Diaspora on the global map.
This mantra of hers, has set the pace for others to follow through her relentless, energy and doggedness in service delivery to Nigerians in the Diaspora.
Allah says again in Qur’an 2: verse 247 thus: “…Indeed, Allah has chosen him over you and has increased him abundantly in knowledge and stature. And Allah gives His sovereignty to whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing [in favor] and knowing.”
Abdur-Rahman Balogun is the Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols of NIDCOM, Abuja.
E-mail: [email protected]
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