For setting the pace in Uncommon Transformation in Nigeria, the State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio was over the weekend presented with triple Awards by Senator Don Meredith of Canada, at Ottawa Ontario, amidst pomp and ceremony.
Governor Akpabio who was honored alongside his wife,Unoma, bagged the Award of Excellent Transformation and Modernization of Akwa Ibom State, Pillars of Honor Award and Honorable Membership of AkwaCross Canada, while Mrs Akpabio was conferred with Companion of Honor Award for her supportive and complementary efforts in the uncommon transformation of the State.
At the award investiture which was the high point of the first ever National convention Gala and Cultural Night of AkwaCross National Association Canada, the National President ,Engr. Patrick Obot extolled Governor Akpabio for his outstanding delivery of democratic dividends in Akwa Ibom state.
Engr. Obot stated that the honor was the Association’s way of celebrating and identifying with Governor Akpabio’s success story, describing him as a pride and inspiration to this generation.
Receiving the Awards, Governor Akpabio expressed delight for the internal and international ecognitions of his modest achievements in the State ,which he attributed to God and the support of the good people of the State,and thanked Akwacross Canada for finding him and wife worthy recipients of the inaugural Awards.
The State Governor who spoke through the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akan Okon, lauded indigenes of the two sister state of Akwa Ibom and Cross River in Canada, for coming together under one umbrella to foster love ,unity of purpose ,and progress ,promising to render support towards their proposed Community Centre in Canada which he described as a monument to preserve and showcase the socio-cultural values of the two states.
He charged them to be focused, law abiding, and to shun ethnicity and campaign of calumny on social media by remaining one indivisible entity.
He also called on those in the diaspora to come and witness the new Akwa Ibom, to key into the transformation program by exploiting the rich investment potentials that abound in the State to create wealth for more economic viability.
Governor Akpabio paid glowing tributes to the Government and people of Canada for being dependable ally to Nigeria and also used the medium to drum support to President Goodluck Jonathan, and prayers for the peace and unity of Nigeria.
In a goodwill message on the occasion, the Canadian Senator, Don Meredith who represented the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, Paris Christian, congratulated Governor Akpabio and other award recipients for the milestones.
He acknowledged the long standing relationship between Canada and Nigeria, which he said culminated in the signing of Canada-Nigeria Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement in May, 2014.
Don Meredith assured that Canada would continue in partnership with Nigeria through the development of appropriate framework to boost the socio-economic growth and prosperity in Nigeria, while also reaffirming their support in the fight against terrorist threat of Boko Haram.
The occasion , witnessed by Paliamentarian, the cream of Nigeria and international communities also featured fashion show, Governor’s ball, pop music and business expo. African cultural dance and uniform organizations also added color to the event.
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