No less than 21 prominent persons have been nominated by the Federal Government for the National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) award. Those who were nominated include Aliko Dangote, Leo Stan Ekeh, Tony Elumelu and Oba Otudeko, Prof Olanrewaju Adigun Fagbohun and Prof Ishaq Oloyede, among others.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige disclosed the nominations to the icons in a letter signed and channelled appropriately.
Details on the award: The National Productivity Order of Merit award is a recognition of high productivity, hard work and excellence from the government to deserving Nigerians.
According to the letters distributed to the nominees, the award has been approved by President Muhammadu Buhari and is scheduled to take place at the NAF Conference Centre and Suites, Kado, Abuja on Thursday, November 28, 2019.
A brief look into the profiles of some nominees
Aliko Dangote: Africa’s richest man and Chairman of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has built a business empire that has accommodated major investments in real estate, banking, transport, textiles, oil, and gas. The company has employed more than 11,000 people and is the largest industrial conglomerate in West Africa.
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Leo Stan Ekeh: Ekeh, a serial digital entrepreneur, can best be described as Africa’s technology guru. He has remained at the forefront of the democratization of technology in Nigeria and beyond for the past three decades. Indeed, his story is one of many firsts and a series of landmark achievements in his chosen field of Information and Communications Technology.
The Zinox Group Chairman holds the Nigerian national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR). Furthermore, he was honoured as an Icon of Hope by former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on the occasion of Nigeria’s Independence Anniversary on October 1 2001 for his sustained pioneering efforts in the area of Information Technology and also as a pride to modern Nigeria.
Tony Elumelu: Elumelu is one of the most recognized names in Corporate Nigeria. The economist, entrepreneur and philanthropist is the chairman of Heirs Holdings, the United Bank for Africa, Transcorp and founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation. Elumelu holds the Nigerian national honours, the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) and Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR).
Oba Otudeko: Otudeko is a renowned businessman who is the founder and chairman of the Honeywell Group. He also serves as chair of FBNHoldings and founder of the Oba Otudeko Foundation.
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