Nigerians Get Nkrumah Award

Newly appointed Gove-rnor of Central Bank, Professor Charles Sol-udo, has added another feather to his cap. He has won the prestigious Dr Kwame Nkrumah Africa Leadership Award in Accra, Ghana.

Other distinguished Nigerians who also won the award are the Works Minister, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe and the Director-General of NAFDAC, Dr (Mrs) Dora Akunyili.

Soludo won the award as an outstanding professional and technocrat who has gained international recognition in his chosen career. Until his appointment as CBN Governor, he was Economic Adviser to President Olusegun Obas-anjo and Chief Executive of the National Planning Commi-ssion (NPC). He is a celebrated macro economist and has for the past two decades been pivotal in shaping economic analysis and implementation in Africa. He has also worked and consulted for international organisations such as The World Bank, IMF, ADB and UNCTAD, among others.

Distinguished Nigerians who have received the award in the past include the Secretary to the Federal Government, Obong Ufot Ekaette and Chief Gani Fawehinmi, a renowned human rights activist and legal luminary. The award, packaged by the Kwame Nkrumah Institute in conjunction with West Africa magazine, held at the Accra International Conference Centre, Ghana, yesterday.

Dr Kwame Nkrumah Award is instituted to immortalise the memory of late Kwame Nkrumah who was the vanguard for African Unity and a powerful pan-Africanist. His legacy as a distinguished African Leader of his time has to a large extent guided the policy and philosophy of most world leaders. The award therefore is the highest African honour any achiever can aspire for.