Conferment of awards on twenty-two awardees made up of twenty individuals and two organisations, offering of scholarships to three children of poor family background as well as clamour for global humanitarian services were the high points at the 2024 Global Affairs Magazine Awards (GAMA) which took place at Eko Hotels and Suites.
The Convener, Publisher/Editor-In-Chief, Global Affairs Magazine, Regina Robinson, said selection of awardees was discreetly done to ensure that excellent service awards were conferred on genuine humanitarians with insatiable appetite for service to mankind.
Notable individual awardees were Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Richway Microfinance Limited, Adenrele Oni; Aviation Professional, Nkechi Onyenso; Nigerian Television Presenter, Rufai Oseni; Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome, professionally known as Ali Baba; Deputy General Manager, Air Traffic Management/State Safety Programmes, Kate Nnanna-Ibemgbo among others. One of the organisations that also got the award was Global Transport Policy.
Scholarship beneficiaries were Samuel Oki, Ryan Atobatele and Ibrahim Atobatele, all of Global Dominion Nursery and Primary School.
“We looked at the beneficiaries philanthropic activities for them to be qualified while scholarship recipients were the pupils sent out of school for inability to pay their school fees who reached out to us. However, we have the challenge of those who come to tell lies in desperation to get something from us.
“Our advocacy centers on extending humanitarian services beyond the shores of Nigeria as we plead with Nigerians not to wait till they are wealthy before they remember the poor, noting that if they cannot give when they have little, they may not be able to give when they have plenty,” Robinson said.
Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Oluwasegun Musa said charity is not limited to donating funds but also extends to donating time, expertise and compassion.
He added that according to World Bank, 87 million Nigerians live below the poverty line while according to United Nations Children”s Fund (UNICEF), 10.5 million children are out of school, adding that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has also stated that Nigeria’s healthcare system requires urgent attention.
Chairman, GAMA Screening Committee, Dr. Tee Mac Omatshola Iseli, said the essence of living and the focus of every human being should be directed at creating meaningful and positive impacts even in the face of challenging and difficult economic circumstances.
Awardees, Rufai Oseni and Koffi Ayinde Idowu-Nuel, professionally known as Koffi Tha Guru, who was also the Master of Ceremony (MC), both enjoined Nigerians to shun all forms of inhuman activities, be truly patriotic, promote and constantly uphold integrity.
