By Hamid Ayodeji
Starlite Newspapers has conferred on notable businessmen, state governors, University vice chancellors, and many others the Leadership and Business Icons of the country awards.
Some of the recipients of the awards were the Executive Chairman and Founder of XL Africa Group Limited, Mr Charles Nwodo Jnr; Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu State; Governor Willie Obiano, Anambra State; Governor Yahaya Bello, Kogi State; Prof Charles Arinzechuwkwu Igwe, Vice Chancellor University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) among others.
According to a statement, the awards were presented at the newspaper’s second annual award and lectures series held recently at the UNN, Nsukka, with the theme: “Economic Diversification and the Self-sustainability options for Enugu State.”
According to the Newspaper’s publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Mr Harrison Ogara, the awards were presented to the individuals as recognition of excellent leadership and contributions to the growth of Nigeria’s economy through cross sectoral private sector activities in Nigeria and across West Africa.
“It is important to identify people who have contributed immensely to the economic growth of this nation as it is popularly said, give honour to whom honour is due”
Speaking at the event, the chairman of the occasion, Prof. Osita Ogbu, noted that the theme of the occasion is coming at a time when diversification for structural change is needed.
He said: “there is need for diversity to provide a cushion for the turmoil in Nigeria as it will help build a resilient economy”.
In his keynote address, Chief Nnia Nwodo said there was need to develop skills, activate local potentials, and expand production capacity for economic growth and self-sustainability.
He decried the negligence of farm produce by the State and Federal governments that have the potentials of improving the economy of Nigeria. He stated that, “there is need for reorientation of ideas that will make us grow as a people and as a nation”.
