A coalition of Nigerian youth and students group has congratulated the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on her nomination for the award of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).
The coalition made this known in a statement made available to journalists, signed by its chairman Comr Khalifa Adamu and secretary Engr. Joshua Wang.
Dr Okonjo-Iweala, a Nigerian-American economist, made the list of 5 persons who were nominated by the federal government to receive the prestigious GCON awards. She holds the record as the only female and first African to lead the WTO.
The four others nominated are Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed; President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan; Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, and former Chief Justice Tanko Muhammad.
The coalition described her as a beacon of hope for Nigeria and a global scholar with love for humanity, adding that the nomination is not a misplaced one.
The statement reads: “The Coalition of Nigerian Youths and Students Group have greeted with joy the ENLISTMENT and CONFERMENT of Dr Mrs Okonjo Iweala with one of the prestigious awards of the GRAND COMMANDER OF THE ORDER THE NIGER (GCON).
“Mrs Iweala deserves every support, encouragement and commendation for all and sundry because her dedicated and high professionalism keeps her in a sphere of her own. Dr is a very good example to be sited. She’s a beacon of hope for the Nigerian state and youths; an irresistible global scholar with love for humanity. No wonder the international community has been head over hill to schedule her with tasks that only geniuses can perform. We’re truly proud of this rare creation.”
The coalition therefore commended Buhari and the award committee for spotting her for such a prestigious award.
“As we join her well wishers in celebrating this long awaited CONFIRMENT, we won’t be carried away by euphoria and not “bench” in an exclusive reception for historical purposes and identification of an exclusive citizen, tap from her reservoir of knowledge and open up a corridor of cooperation for mentorship for the Nigerian youths/students,” the statement said.
