Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, venue of the award ceremony, wore its usual serene ambience. Guests and award recipients walked into the venue with measured steps to the serenading music at the background. Resplendence and posh were the aura that pervaded the entire place. Being an event put together to honour some select women, the razzmatazz and glamour were on point.
Unlike the usual “African Time” associated with most events in Nigeria, the 2021 African Women Industrialization Award ceremony, kicked off at precisely 2:00pm. The import of the event was made even more poignant with some awardees outside the shores of Nigeria joining via virtual participation.
According to the organisers, the award was put together to celebrate, acknowledge and show recognition to African women around the world. Tagged: CELEBRATING AFRICAN AMAZONS @ 60, the event was an assemblage of women that are impacting lives and society in their various stratas.
In her speech, the Chairman of the ocassion and First Lady of Ondo State, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, urged women to double their efforts and commitments in upholding the virtues of womanhood. While congratulating the awardees, Mrs Akeredolu charged them to see their awards as a call to greater selfless service to the society.
Among those honoured on this auspicious occasion was Chief Christie Obiaruko Ndukwe, President and Founder of Citizens’ Quest for Truth Initiative, a non-governmental and non-profit organization that has committed to advocacy for good governance in Nigeria, with special focus on the Niger Delta region.
In her acceptance speech, Chief Ndukwe, thanked those behind her nomination and the organisers for finding her humble contributions worthy of the global award.
In a goodwill message, Citizens’ Quest noted that “the journey of Chief Christie Obiaruko Ndukwe has been one dotted by daunting challenges. Interestingly, she has met such challenges with equal courage and determination to succeed. As one that is not given to average, Chief Ndukwe always expects resounding results whenever she delegates responsibilities. We therefore applaud her spirit of excellence and strong character.”
The group went further to state that “By this award, not a few African women will be challenged to face the unsettling task of home building in the face of meeting their professional targets in a rather partriachial setting. This is an award well deserved.”
