Mohammed Oluwatimileyin Taoheed reports,
The Governor of Enugu State, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has honoured by the Students of West African sub-region under the umbrella of the West Africa Students’ Union (WASU) with a recognition award of “The Chief Custodian of WASU in Nigeria.”
Comrade Romans O. Pillah, the Leader of the WASU, explained that the honour was in recognition of the governor’s dedication to peace and good governance as well as his friendly outreach to education and wellbeing of students “at the national and regional student leadership structure and support for leaders of Enugu State extraction at various echelons including Comrade Chidi Ilogebe – immediate past NANS President, and others”.
While presenting the award at the Government House in Enugu, he added: “our study has proven that your leadership has benefited the national and regional student leadership structure”.
The WASU president told Gov. Ugwuanyi that the award was also “in recognition of your tremendous/consistent empowerment of students/youths, community and humanity in general within Nigeria and beyond”.
Comrade Pillah, who was in company of other leaders of the body, noted that their mission to Enugu State was on invitation to come and hoist the WASU flag in Nigeria, saying that the focal office in Nigeria is hosted by the state.
In an interview with Track News Nigeria shortly after the event, the Students’ Leader said: “When we completed the assignment, we moved round and discovered that the governor of this state (Ugwuanyi) has done so much for students and in other areas of societal development.
“And it was wise for us to come and identify with him so that we take back the message of what he has done in Nigeria as a governor.
“Having discovered that he is one of the best performing governors in Nigeria in terms of education, promotion of students’ wellbeing and sponsorship, we have bestowed on him the Chief Custodian of WASU because this is our constituency and community.
“Anyone who does well to our community is worthy of appreciation and we couldn’t do better than bestowing on him (Ugwuanyi) as the Chief Custodian of WASU in Nigeria”.
The student leaders, therefore, called on the Governor to remain focused and committed to his uncommon leadership style which has entrenched peace and good governance in Enugu State, wishing him success in his endeavours.
In his joyous response, Gov. Ugwuanyi, who welcomed the WASU leaders to Enugu State, expressed his appreciation to them for the honour and encouraged them to continue to promote peace and regional integration as well as other set objectives of the body geared towards the wellbeing of the students.
Track News Nigeria says member countries of WASU include Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Ivory Coast.
Others are Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Saint Helena, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
The Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, the Permanent Secretary/Liaison Officer, Enugu State Liaison Office, Abuja, Chukwuka Ugwu and the Special Assistant to the Governor on Students’ Affairs, Comrade Ilogebe were all at the event.
