The Selection Committee, Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership, on Wednesday named Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, the recipient of the maiden edition of the award.
Making the announcement in Lagos at a press briefing, Chairman of the Selection Committee and former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, said the prize, which would be awarded every two years, consisted of a medal, a certificate and a plaque.
He said after a careful consideration, the committee unanimously concluded that of all the nominees presented before it, Soyinka emerged the most qualified for the award.
Anyaoku noted that nominees for the prize were expected to have demonstrated, to a substantial degree, the attributes considered to have characterised the leadership style of the first Premier of the Western Region. These attributes, he said, included integrity, credibility, courage, selflessness, accountability, tenacity of purpose, visionary and people-centred leadership, respect for the rule of law and press freedom.
He said, ‘‘The prize consists of a medal, a certificate and a plaque. The emphasis is on the intrinsic value of the award, which, in itself, not only confers considerable honour and recognition on the recipient, but also serves as a strong incentive for the pursuit of excellence in leadership and good governance.’’
According to him, an appropriate citation for Soyinka would be read at the official award ceremony billed for March 6, 2013 to coincide with the birthday of Awolowo.
Anyaoku added that Soyinka had, in various ways, demonstrated many of the core values that had been associated with Awolowo, and which the prize sought to encourage and reward.
He also named members of the Selection Committee to include Justice Muhammadu Uwais, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Bishop Emmanuel Gbonigi, Olorogun Felix Ibru, Mr. Niyi Adegbonmire, Bishop Matthew Kukah and Mr. Bola Akingbade. Others are Profs. Akin Mabogunje, O. Akinkugbe, Adetokunbo Lucas, Anya. O. Anya, Funmi Soetan and Ladipo Adamolekun.
In her remark, Executive Director, Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, noted that there was no monetary value attached to the prize.
She said, ‘‘The Obafemi Awolowo Leadership Prize is instituted by the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation on the basis of one of the major recommendations of its Special Dialogue on ‘Transformational Leadership and Good Governance: Lessons from Awolowo Example’, held in July 2011.”
She stated that the prize was instituted in the honour of Awolowo to reward leadership and good governance. Awolowo-Dosunmu said Soyinka would deliver a lecture on the day of the award presentation.
The event was attended by spokesman for the Save Nigeria Group, Dr. Yinka Odumakin; Prof. Ayo Olukotun, Ajayi, Adebanjo, Ibru, Senator Anthony Adefuye among others.