Fashola, Obi Win 2013 Man of the Year Award by Silverbird

The presentation of Awards and honours by Silverbird Group took place at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, on March 2, 2014, Sunday.

Aside the two Governors, Babatunde Fashola and Peter Obi, Presidents of two African countries, and four others bagged different awards at the event.

Speaking during the award, Gov. Peter Obi thanked Silverbird group for the award. He said it was a challenge to him and fellow awardees to keep on working for the good of the society and advancement of the society. Describing the award as genuine, he said that with himself and Fashola winning awards, Nigerians should rest assured that it was not bought.

Speaking on his award, Fashola noted that of all the recipients, it was only Chinweizu that could not come on stage to receive his award because of his disability. He called on all builders, developers and civil engineers in the state to make sure that they took disabled persons into consideration while building, so that they (disabled) could move around without hindrance.

The full list of awardees is given below:

- The Governor of Lagos State Babatunde Raji Fashola - Man of the Year Award

- The Governor of Anambra State Peter Obi - Man of the Year Award

- His Excellency, President Paul Kageme of the Republic of Rwanda - Award of Distinction

- His Excellency, President Ernest Bia Koroma of Sierra Leone - Award of Distinction

- Chief Joop Berkhout - Lifetime Achievement Award for the giant strides in publishing

- Dr. Tunji Braithwate - Lifetime Achievement Award for his strides both in legal and political fields

- Dr. Chinweizu - Lifetime Achievement Award for his Afrocentricisms and uncompromising stance against colonial influences on original African thought.

- Stephen Keshi - Special Achievement Award.

The past recipients of the prestigious Silverbird Award include: Prof. Dora Akunyili, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, HE, Adams Oshiomhole, Chief Mike Adenuga, , Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi,Alhaji Aliko Dangote, HE, Godswill Akpabio, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala