Independent Awards: History that’ll re-echo in eternity has been made – Ibekwe

Ibekwe Nnamdi Chimdi, the member representing Bende-North Constituency in Abia State House of Assembly and the winner of the 2024 Independent Newspapers Legislator of the Year (State) Award, has dedicated the award to God Almighty.

Speaking during the event on Saturday night at Eko Hotel, venue of the event, Ibekwe, while receiving the nomination for 2024 Independent Newspapers Legislator of the Year (State), said that the award is a testament that history that will re-echo in eternity has been made.
The lawmaker urged the management of the newspapers to sustain its nearly 25-year vision of celebrating and rewarding Nigerians and institutions worthy of recognition as a way of building a dynamic society and good governance.
He commended Abia State government for giving him the platform for service as a legislator.

Chimdi, who critisised the personalisation of offices by top government officials, canvassed for proper institutionalisation of government structure.
He said that this is critically needed to solve the many problems currently facing the country.
He said, “Elected office holders should see themselves as holding office on trust for the people and jettison the idea of seeing their positions as personal property as that is the only way they can leave a lasting legacy.”
He was also of the view that things are not working in the country the way they should because of weak structures, positing that when institutions are weak, the entire structure will suffer.
“I remember I wrote an article on the non-personalisation of offices and the need to have a strong structure as is done in other climes. When these two ingredients are lacking, there’s no way a country can move forward.
“I studied Public Administration and part of what I studied shows that when institutions are working, the principle of non-personalisation of office will come into force and that’s what Nigeria needed most now.”

Chimdi described United States President Donald Trump’s immigration policy as a wake-up call on African leaders to develop their countries and create an enabling environment for their economies to grow so as to discourage their citizens from migrating to Europe and America seeking greener pastures.
“When I was interviewed by The Guardian Newspapers some time ago, the reporter was expecting me to condemn President Trump on his immigration policy but rather than do that, I said no because I see it as a wakeup call on African leaders to develop their economies.
“I said this because if African leaders decide to make Nigeria, Benin Republic, and Togo great, their citizens can travel anywhere in the world as proud Africans because we have what it takes in both human and natural resources to make this continent great.
“When our institutions are working and the economy rebounds, there won’t be any need for people to send their children abroad to acquire education. So, if President Trump says don’t come to my country, what he’s doing is challenging other world leaders to do things that will make their countries great.
“In essence, what I am saying is that we should make our hospitals and schools to work, like what I did in my constituency in the area of education. With what I have provided, my children can go to that school. Even the students’ enrollment in the school has increased from 56 to 112 last session and that’s what I want to see other leaders do.”
The lawmaker was also emphatic that when the country’s education system is working, and the hospitals are no longer consultation rooms, the issue of medical tourism will be a thing of the past and people will no longer travel abroad for medical care or send their children abroad to acquire education. In the process, the country will save money.”
Earlier, while presenting the letter to him, Steve Omanufeme, Managing Director, Independent Newspapers said Chimdi received the award in recognition of his effective representation, which the people of Bende-North Constituency are enjoying within the period covered by the award.
Omanufeme said that this recognition is particularly for his advocacy to ensure the declaration of a state of emergency on the erosion menace ravaging the constituency, which has been washing away houses, farmlands, and crops worth millions of naira in communities within the Local Government Area.
The Managing Director also identified some of the bills Chimdi sponsored on the floor of the House and his intervention in the boundary dispute between a community within his constituency and another in neighbouring Ebonyi State.
In addition, the installation of solar lights, construction of culvert erosion control drainage, and sponsorship of several training programmes on modern agriculture methods for various communities, among others, are part of the reason he was chosen for the award.
Responding, Chimdi thanked the Board of Editors of the Independent Newspapers for finding his contributions to his constituency and the society worthy of the recognition and the 2024 Independent Newspapers Legislator of the Year (State).
Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde earned the flagship of the award as ‘Man of the Year 2024’ while the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Remi Tinubu emerged as the ‘Woman of the Year 2024.’
Other recipients in different categories include Governors Charles Soludo (Anambra); Bassey Otu (Cross River); Abdullahi Sule (Nassarawa); Usman Ododo (Kogi); Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo) among others.
Other awardees are Pa Bisi Akande, former governor of Osun State, Peter Odili, former Rivers State governor and Otunba Mike Adenuga (Chairman, Globacom).
Independent Awards was indeed a gathering of best Nigerians in 2024, reflecting on their landmark achievements despite all odds.