The African Students Union Parliament, ASUP, on Tuesday, awarded the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Health Insurance Agency, Dr. Olusola Akande, with the ‘Pan-African Leadership Award for Excellence.’
ASUP also called on the Oyo State Health Insurance Agency to key into its fight against drug abuse, by using every instrument at its disposal to help curb the menace in the state.
The Speaker of the parliament, Rt. Hon. Kewul Abel, from the University of Professional Studies, Accra, Ghana, made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary in Ibadan.
Speaking through the Nigerian Coordinator of African Students Union Parliament, Comrade Christopher David, the Speaker solicited for the support and the influence of the agency to help the union in its ongoing campaign program against the alarming rate of drug abuse across the continent.
The speaker of the parliament also noted that there is a vital need for the Oyo state Health Insurance Agency to help push the Pan-Africanist ideology and principles, being one of the core pillars upon which the union was built, saying, “Pan Africanism is the development of Africa by Africans.”
Presenting the award on behalf of the speaker, the deputy speaker, who led the ASUP delegation to the agency, Hon. Joseph Konan, said that the Executive Secretary, Dr. Akande, “is a man of honor, a detribalized Nigerian, and a charismatic personality, whose credible credentials of efficient and effective service delivery, high administrative acumen, capacity building, medical service delivery, health care development, dedicated leadership, patriotism, nation building, public enlightenment and community service yet unsung marks him an iconic patriot of our African society who is worthy of emulation.”
Enumerating Dr. Akande’s accomplishment in the civil service, Comrade David revealed that ASUP recognized him as an intellectual juggernaut, a man of magnificent experience when it comes to public service delivery, a seasoned public servant, and a medical director of high repute.
He therefore urged him to keep up the good work and not relent, because the sky is his starting point.
Reacting to the award presentation, Dr. Akande extolled God and acknowledged that every good and perfect gift comes from Him, adding that the award is special because its coming from an external body, most especially the body of international students across the African continent.
He however dedicated the award to the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, who gave him the opportunity to lead the agency without any interference.
In addition, he dedicated the award and expressed his profound gratitude to the management and members of staff of the agency for their ceaseless effort and sacrifices at ensuring that the vision of the agency is kept alive.
As an administrative icon, the Executive Secretary was also given an ASUP five-star General medal that carries the spirit of aluta as well as a matching certificate.
The African Students Union Parliament, an umbrella body of students across the African continent and is instrumental to promoting African nationalism at the time when colonialism held sway in Africa, was founded by Ladipo Solanke.
Presently, the union has over 50 million students under its umbrella.
