Amaechi Gets Zik Prize For Good Governance

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Thursday was conferred with the 2010 Zik Prize in leadership for Good Governance.

The award conferred on Governor Amaechi by the Public Policy Research and Analysis Centre (PPRAC), was received on his behalf by his deputy, Engr Tele Ikuru. The event took place at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

Board chairman of the PPRAC, Prof Anya Anya, represented by the Executive Secretary of the body, Mr Peter Obasi, attributed the unprecedented transformation that Rivers State has witnessed in the past four years to the focus, commitment and determination of Governor Amaechi.

Other recipients of the award in the same category were Governors of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola and his Jigawa State counterpart, Alhaji Sule Lamido, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed got public service category award and Executive Secretary of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mrs Ifueke Omogui Okauru, were given the professional category award while chairman of First City Monument Bank, Otunba Subomi Balogun, was awarded in the Business category.

Anya emphasized that the recipients emerged from a meticulous process, noting that it was to ensure that the goal of the award, which aims at immortalizing the ideals of the first president and commander-in-chief of Nigeria, Late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, and approved by the great sage 16 years ago, was not defeated. He added that the recipients are “the best Nigeria can boast of.”

Responding on behalf of the recipients, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, thanked the organisers for the award, remarking that it was a rare privilege to be identified with the “Great Zik of Africa”, commending the PPRAC for the quality of awardees. According to him, “the choice of awardees cannot be faulted, the recipients represent change in Nigeria.”