The Board of Directors and Custodians of the Hall of Grace (HoG) Awards has unveiled the awardees for the 2017 edition of the HoG Awards. Speaking at a Press Briefing as it is customary with the HoG international, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Custodian of HoG, Mr. Rupert Ojenuwa who was flanked by the Head of Project and Director of Media, Mr. Julius Taiwo and Mr. Kenneth Okafor told the press that this year’s ceremony would be an absolutely unique one as the Awards will for the very first time in its sever- year history give out an ALL TIME AWARD. ‘I am here to address you, gentlemen of the press today as we normally do when we are close to the annual HoG Awards Ceremony.’

‘This year’, he continues ‘we shall be giving out an ALL TIME AWARD and I am pleased to announce to you that the awardee or recipient of our all-time award is His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice President of Nigeria. For the first time there was a unanimous agreement by Board Members to honor him for his many strides in Nigeria. Atiku Abubakar is one name that resonates in Nigeria but only very few people know that he was actively involved in the quest to return the nation to democracy during the pre-99 era. During his time as Vice President, he headed the economic team of President Olusegun Obasanjo led Federal government, during which time he helped establish bi-national ties that helped grow our GDP. Let me also mention that he was a major player in the botched third term agenda which would have spelt doom for our democracy as well as helping to save the democratic institution severally’ Ojenuwa said.

The CEO added in reply to one of the questions thrown at him, ‘Only those who want to play politics with the truth will argue the fact that Atiku Abubakar has greatly contributed to the growth and development of Nigeria’s democracy and since the HoG Organization isn’t a political one, we are free to say the truth the way it is.

On other awardees for the day, he said since the 7th anniversary of the HoG Awards which is scheduled to hold on the 21st of May at the Civic Center, Lagos was dedicated to Celebrating Democracy, the organization has picked three governors, one from the North, another from the South and the third from the Central plain who will also be celebrated for delivering dividends of democracy to the nation. The CEO revealed further: “We shall issue a press release on them next week. Other awardees of the day include Wilma Aguele and Waheed Olagunju who will be honored for their excellent strides in Agriculture and in Bank of Industry, BoI. These people are simply phenomenal.”

You will recall that the HoG Awards was inaugurated in 2009 under the Grand Custosdianship of a former honorable Minister of Information, Chief Alex Akinyele. The HoG has a Deputy Grand Custodian and Chief Validating Officer, Prof. Dupe Olatubosun and Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi respectively. Its Board is littered with several distinguished Nigerians and has since inception honored people like Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina of AfDB, Babatunde Fashola, Dr, Abdulfatah Ahmed, Sen. Kwankwaso, Alh. Aliko Dangote, Captain Idris Wada, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and a host of others.