EKWEREMADU BAGS UDI-EZEAGU USA EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARD 2016

CITATION

UDI-EZEAGU USA EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARD 2016

His Excellency, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, P.h.D., CFR

The Deputy Senate President of Federal Republic of Nigeria

The Udi-Ezeagu USA, an organization of the people of Udi and Ezeagu living in the United States of America, at its 10th Anniversary & National Convention, with a theme; Sustainability of Udi-Ezeagu USA Free Health Education and Screening Centers, identifies community leadership as one of the instruments to achieve its strategic goals.  The idea is to encourage leadership-centered community development, one that encourages and emphasizes the importance of extending resources to reach the needy people deep at the grassroot level.

In recognition of his outstanding community leadership, contributions and support to the growth and nurturing of Udi-Ezeagu USA Health Education and Screening Centers located at 9th Mile Corner, and Mgbagbu-Owa both in Udi and Ezeagu LGA Enugu State Nigeria respectively, hence this citation:

Senator Ekweremadu is an astute politician who rose from the grassroot as President-General of his town union, elected Executive Chairman of Aninri local government area in 1997 and won the Best Local Government Chairman Award. In 1999 he was elevated to the Chief of Staff of the Enugu State Government House and subsequently the Secretary to the Government of Enugu State. Dr. Ekweremadu was elected a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2003 representing Enugu West Senatorial District on the platform of PDP, reelected in 2007, 2011 and 2015. While in Senate he was elected into the leadership as Deputy President of the Senate in 2007, 2011 and 2015.  He was also elected the First Deputy Speaker and subsequently Honorable Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament in 2011.  Senator Ekweremadu currently serve as the Chairman of the Senate Constitution Review Committee.  He is a detribalized patriot, whose love, dedication and passion for Nigeria are legendary.  His parliamentary participation and practice have led to several motions and bills.

Also, Dr. Ekweremadu is a dedicated intellectual who continuously contribute to knowledge through his published articles, public lectures and books.  In the words of one of his nominees, “following His Excellency, Dr. Ekweremadu’s public intellectual path, his lecture series, and his books, it is obvious to note that he is walking in the right direction.  He is providing the critical standpoint for assessing our political assumptions as he engages in scholarly discourse, engaging in the lifelong process of learning and sharing perspectives, ideals and experiences.  Intellectuals may not make good politicians however this particular politician-turned-intellectual, who has more than basic understanding of how experts in various fields think, and who is making waves today at his book launch, could be who Nigeria really needs to survive.” His recent book titled ‘Who Will Love My Country’, provides practical solutions significant to the political and socioeconomic development of Nigeria.

Furthermore, Dr. Ekweremadu is an accomplished philanthropist, who has generously supported programs touching the lives of the poor at the remotest level of the communities.  While dedicating a cathedral, one of the many edifies he has built for many communities, Dr. Ekweremadu unmasked his guiding philosophy to philanthropy in his own words: “As a young man growing up, I looked around me, both in my home, my local government, and the greater part of my state, and saw hopelessness.  Just finishing from secondary school, I went to church and we were asked to pray and ask God whatever we wished.  I said to God, Because of all the challenges I can see around me; if you make me an instrument for addressing these problems and make me successful in life, I will build a church for you.  And from that day, my life changed completely.  It has been one progress after the other”.  His  constituency and surrounding communities testify to his answered prayers.

Finally, Senator Ekweremadu is indeed a compassionate humanitarian who out of passion for the underprivileged women and youths committed his time, energy and personal resources to establishing the IkeOha Foundation in 1997.  The IkeOha Foundation has since grown to to be one of the leading and most financially stable charitable organization providing education advancement programme to indigents students of higher institutions drawn from five local government areas of Enugu West Senatorial zone as well as Enugu North and Igboeze South council areas.  In 2015, the IkeOha Foundation in collaboration with the Constituency Office of Senator Ike Ekweremadu established 32 Adult Literacy Centers for 10,000 adult learners, doled out 23.5 million Naira in bursary awards and scholarships to students in higher institutions, and donated two laptop computers each to 45 public secondary schools in the rural areas of Enugu State.

For his exceptional contributions to the establishment, nurturing and sustenance of Udi-Ezeagu USA Free Health Education Screening Centers with thousands of dollars donation in 2014, for the partnership with IkeOha Foundation, and for his dogged and immeasurable elevation of  the political and socioeconomic development of Udi & Ezeagu local government areas in particular, Enugu West Senatorial District, Enugu State and Nigeria in general, the Udi-Ezeagu USA, a U.S. registered non-profit organization, Dr. Ike Ekweremadu is granted, as an honorary recipient of the UDI-EZEAGU USA EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARD 2016. Congratulations Dr. Ike Ekweremadu, CFR
Chief Hon. Chris Obieje (Omekannaya)  
National President, Udi-Ezeagu U.S.A.