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Award Winning Writer Chimamanda Adichie Explains Why She Rejects National Honour From President Buhari
Award Winning Writer Chimamanda Adichie Explains Why She Rejects National Honour From President Buhari
Award-winning Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who was recently decorated with Harvard University’s iconic W.E.B. Du Bois Medal, has broken her silence over her non-appearance at Tuesday’s conferment of national honours by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Putting the records straight, a member of Chimamanda’s communications team, Omawumi Ogbe, told The Guardian that the author declined the honour.
Ogbe said in a statement: “Following the recent conferment of national awards by the President, there have been conflicting reports about one of the announced recipients, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Some social media users say the award-winning writer rejected the award, while others say she accepted it.
“The author did not accept the award and, as such, did not attend the ceremony. She, however, did not want to create undue publicity around it, so her non-acceptance was conveyed privately,” Ogbe said.
While conferring the award on 450 Nigerians and foreigners, President Buhari had justified the honours, saying the awardees had distinguished themselves in the service of the nation and humanity.
“We have among the recipients today, Amb. Prof. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Ms. Amina J. Mohammed and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who are doing our country proud on the international scene,” Buhari said. “Our dear sisters are a source of inspiration to our young women that through the dint of hard work and dedication, they can achieve greatness.”
This is not the first time an honouree will turn down a national honour from a Nigerian president.
Late Prof. Chinua Achebe, the world-acclaimed Nigerian literary giant and author of Things Fall Apart, rejected the national honours award in 2004 and 2011, leading to an uproar at that time.
Achebe said he rejected the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) award because he was dissatisfied with the handling of the country’s affairs by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration. In 2011, Achebe rejected the same award from the Goodluck Jonathan administration, saying the reasons for rejecting the offer when it was first made in 2004 had not been addressed.
Also, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, foremost human rights activist and lawyer, also rejected the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) conferred on him in 2008 by the Umaru Yar’Adua administration
Why We Honoured AfricentOCL UK, Several Other Top Businesses
Greater London Enterprise Awards’ organizers
Sahara Weekly Reports That SME News Magazine has announced the winners of its 2023 Greater London Enterprise Awards. Africentocl Uk Ltd is one of the prestigious recipients of the honour, for its contribution to the development of the maritime sector globally. AfricentOCL UK won the ‘Best Maritime Materials and Vessel Chartering Provider’ category.
According to a statement from the organizers, the awards event is held annually to honour outstanding top businesses for their special contributions in their sectors. Now in its seventh year, SME News’ ‘Greater London Enterprise Awards’, the organizers say, has continued to recognize SMEs at the very beating heart of the corporate landscape, as they continue to put their best foot forward on a daily basis. “Within the awards programme, we get a deeper understanding of what makes Greater London so bold as we delve into the businesses and individuals who live and breathe progression, compassion, and innovation,” the statement reads.
AfricentOCL UK was bestowed with the award, according to SME News, because of its excellent leadership in service, which distinguishes it and co-awardees and make them outstanding sector leaders. AfricentOCL is a leading global physical commodities and vessels chartering brokerage company, with a strong track record of success in the maritime sector with a unique quality of extensive experience and expertise in the physical commodities trading market.
Having developed a rare knack for managing people and resources, the AfricentOCL chief executive officer, Mr. Juwon Lawal Razaq, an official member of the Forbes Business Council and global ambassador and member of the Commonwealth Entrepreneurs Club in London, has made a remarkable impact on the maritime sector. With the courage and boldness of a lion, he has successfully confronted the daunting task of running one of the most strategic aspects of the maritime business.
His company, before the Greater London Enterprise Awards’ honour, has also been recognized both in Nigeria and abroad as one of the best marine companies in the world.
According to Kaven Cooper, the Greater London Enterprise Awards coordinator, “This 2023 edition of Greater London Enterprise Awards was a delight to host”, emphasizing that Africentocl Uk Ltd and other awardees were found to be “focused, determined, and soulful businesses reaching their clients and customers with pride and precision.”
“We pride ourselves on the validity of our awards and winners. The awards are given solely on merit and are awarded to commend those most deserving for their ingenuity and hard work, distinguishing them from their competitors and proving them worthy of recognition,” the organizers elucidate.
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Housing shortage in Nigeria: Firm pledges 300,000 units of affordable housing across 18 LGA of Edo State
Housing shortage in Nigeria: Firm pledges 300,000 units of affordable housing across 18 LGA of Edo State
By Elvis Omoregie
Sahara Weekly Reports That In a bid to mitigate the impact of housing shortage on residents, citizenry, a Firm, “Neighborhood turn key project” has committed to providing 300,000 affordable housing units in 18 local government areas in Edo State.
The company said the initiative which is a pilot project in the State expressed concern that recent studies have shown that 28 million Nigerians need homes.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Arc. (Mrs.) Cecilia Ovuarukpo Atohengbe disclosed this during the ongoing shelter conference in Benin City, Edo State capital.
Cecilia who is also the convener of the conference said participants would discuss housing, examine and profer solutions for the average citizens.
She stated: “Government over the years have come up with several projects to try and meet these housing needs of people leaving in shanties and slums”.
Continuing on the “turn key projects”, Arch. Cecilia said housing is key to reduce citizens desperation, corruption and criminality.
“And as a company, we have designed a solution to enable anyone who earns #40,000 to own a home within 12 months roads, water, light and other amenities are all included in the plan.
“Besides, aspiring house owners doesn’t necessarily need to be a civil servant or own a bank account. He or she moves into the house and start paying- it’s a rent own scheme”, she added.
FG Aims to Grow Creative Economy to $100 Billion by 2030
Sahara Weekly Reports That The Federal Ministry of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy (FMACCE) in Nigeria has unveiled a strategic roadmap to grow the country’s creative economy to $100 billion in GDP contribution by 2030.
The plan focuses on key sectors like music, film, software, museums, fashion, festivals, and the culinary arts. It aims to create jobs, empower creators, drive exports, and boost Nigeria’s cultural influence globally.
Major initiatives involve setting up creative hubs and cultural centers in cities like Lagos and Abuja to serve as incubators for Nigerian talent.
Funding will come from government allocations, public-private partnerships, investment funds, sponsorships, and other sources.
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