One Year Anniversary: Egwu, Anyim receive highest state award from Gov Nwifuru

Former Senate President and former Secretary to the government of the federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and the first Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, Senator Sam Ominyi Egwu, have received the highest Ebonyi state Honours Award from Governor Francis Nwifuru.

 

The Honour, Great Grand Commander, Ebonyi Hall of Fame, GGCEHF, was bestowed on Egwu and Anyim during a state banquet held Tuesday night at the Banquet hall, Old Government House, Abakaliki.

 

The banquet was part activities organised by the State government in commemoration of Governor Nwifuru’s one year in office anniversary.

 

Also awarded was a former senator who represented Ebonyi North Senatorial district, Senator Chris Nwankwo who was given the honours of Grand Fellow Ebonyi Hall of Fame

 

Other awardees included an Anambra indigenous traditional ruler and business man, one of those who pioneered Lorry transport business in Abakaliki, Igwe Alphonsus Okpalaechelue, popularly known as ‘Spera in Deo’ Limited who was honoured with Commander, Ebonyi Hall of Fame.

 

Two elderstatesmen, Senator Andrew Nwankwo and Chief Benson Egede were also recognized respectively with Grand Fellow, Ebonyi Hall of Fame and Commander, Ebonyi Hall of Fame.

 

Presenting the awards, Governor Nwifuru commended the recipients for their outstanding contributions in their various spheres of endeavor and positions which have cumulatively benefitted the state in greater measures.

 

He emphasized that Senator Sam Egwu, being the first Executive Governor sacrificed a lot to lay a strong foundation for the state which subsequent administrations have continued to build upon.

 

Nwifuru noted that Egwu first raised the bar of human resources in the state by building people of the state and their capacities.

 

While congratulating the awardees, Nwifuru urged them to eternalize those virtues for which they were recognized.

 

He further urged Ebonyians who have excelled in business and productive industries to think home, bring their investments to the state so as to create more economic and capacity building opportunities for the people.

 

The banquet was massively attended by politicians, businessmen, traditional rulers and the Clergy across the State, including former Governors Senator Sam Egwu and Senator David Umahi; former and serving national Assembly members from the state, among others.

 

Recall that the Ebonyi State Honours Award was introduced by the immediate past Governor, David Umahi in 2021 as a reward system for outstanding Ebonyians through an act of the State Assembly.

 

Then title GGCEHF was exclusively reserved for the sitting Governor.

 

However, Governor Nwifuru after assuming office initiated a process to amend the law to accommodate former and present holders of outstandingly high national positions: former Governors, Senate Presidents, Vice presidents and the likes in the highest state honour.