The Anambra state Commissioner for Youth Entrepreneurship and Sports Development, Dr (Mrs) Uju Nwogu, has been awarded with the Nelson Mandela Pan-African Exemplary Leadership Award 2017, by youth from 25 African countries.
The youth, under the auspices of the African Youth Global Network (AYGN), were drawn from countries including Nigeria, Mali, Ghana, Togo, Ivory Coast, and Liberia.
Speaking during the award ceremony at the Sports Ministry’s conference hall, Paul Atsou from Ghana, who represented the President of AYGN, said the commissioner was carefully selected for the award in view of her excellent public service delivery and leadership acumen.
According to him, the commissioner would represent the country at the upcoming African Youth Global Network Annual Conference to be staged in Togo later in December.
Meanwhile, the AYGN representative in Nigeria, Mr Paul Matthew said the development of Africa rested on the shoulders of the African youths as they were the leaders of tomorrow.
He added that the association had been preaching against drug abuse and how it had jeopardised lives of African youth in different African countries.
Responding, the commissioner said she was humbled by the prestigious award, noting that it would spur her to do more for humanity.
She however noted that the award was not by her own making but through the help of the state governor, Willie Obiano, who she said was the brain behind the success story, adding that she was only an instrument used in discharging her duties in the state.
