Jonathan vows to promote excellence for development

Jonathan vows to promote excellence for development

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has assured of his administration’s commitment to the promotion of excellence for the rapid and sustainable development of the country.


Jonathan made the declaration on Thursday, while conferring the 2014 Nigeria National Order of Merit Award (NNOMA) on its lone recipient, Professor Niyi Osundare, at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Nigerian National Order of Merit Award is the highest and most prestigious honour bestowed on Nigerian citizens at home and in diaspora for intellectual and academic contributions of national and international significance.

This year’s edition carries a cash award of N10 million up from the previous N5 million.

Jonathan noted the effort of the Board of the Nigeria National Merit Award (NNMA) to promote excellence and promised to consider recommendations made to government by NNOMA laureates.

He said: “This administration will continue to promote excellence on merit as we strive to enhance rapid development and nationhood. In this regard, we welcome the new initiative by the NNMA to promote excellence.

“This government will not only study the recommendations in the communique of the seventh annual forum of the laureates, we will also continue to support your initiative, efforts and solutions to major problems in our country.

“The report of the committee on the activities of the Nigeria National Merit Award is also being studied by the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and recommendations from there would be implemented by government.’’

While congratulating Osundare for his well deserved honour for his remarkable intellectual achievements, Jonathan observed that he ‘‘is a prolific poet, dramatist and literary critic.”

He expressed delight that the integrity of the award had been preserved through its rigorous and painstaking recipient selection process since its inception in 1979.

Meanwhile, The Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Isaac Folorunso Adewole, has congratulated this year’s sole winner of the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) award, Professor Osundare, whom he described as a foremost African poet.

The vice chancellor said the conferment of the prestigious award on the poet laureate is a testament to his excellence in literary creativity and exceptional human rights activism in a statement by the university’s Director of Public Communication, Mr Olatunji Oladejo.

Professor Adewole also noted that Professor Osundare was an academic with excellent credentials and an exceptional international reputation, an amiable mentor, humane teacher and astute administrator, who contributed to the enviable status of UI’s Department of English, which he served as head.

According to the vice chancellor, Professor Osundare served as Head, Department of English, Faculty of Arts, with distinction and agreed with the Chairman, Governing Board of the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM), Professor Etim Essien, that, Professor Osundare had proved his worth in literary, academic and sundry human spheres.

Professor Adewole said, “On behalf of Council, Senate, Congregation, Management, Staff and Students of the University of Ibadan, I warmly felicitate with you. Ibadan is proud of you as a great academic, compassionate administrator and worthy alumnus. UI says you have upheld the traditions of excellence, discipline and forthrightness laid by the founding fathers of our institution as a golden legacy. You are a role model and an inspiration, both to younger colleagues and to students. You are the quintessential UI icon! Keep up the good work.

Source: Tribune