[April 16, 2013] Leadership Annual Conference, Awards Ceremony Hold Tomorrow Tweet (AllAfrica Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) More than half a century after Nigeria gained independence, the nation-building process would come under rigorous scrutiny tomorrow as the 2013 LEADERSHIP Conference and Awards ceremony holds at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, at 10am. The theme of this year's conference is "Rebuilding Nigeria", which the guest lecturer, Niger State governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, is scheduled to dissect against the backdrop of past and current challenges in the nation-building process and chart a way forward for the country. The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III, and the Archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of Abuja, His Grace John Cardinal Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, who are the joint awardees of the LEADERSHIP Persons of the Year 2012 star awards that would be bestowed on them at the event, would also speak on the conference's theme. The 2013 LEADERSHIP Annual Conference and Awards programme will hold under the chairmanship of Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha, who will also give the opening speech. The chairman, LEADERSHIP Group, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, will be on hand to deliver the welcome address while the sterling audience expected at the event would have ample time to respond to the lecture. At the one-day event, the LEADERSHIP Awards for Excellence would also be bestowed on outstanding Nigerians who had shone brilliantly in various spheres of our national life, steadying the troubled ship of state and keeping hope alive in the country last year. In addition, deserving government organs and corporate entities would be honoured for the cutting-edge products and services they rendered to the Nigerian people in 2012. Aside Sultan Abubakar and Cardinal Onaiyekan, Akwa Ibom State governor Godswill Akpabio (LEADERSHIP Governor of the Year 2012); national publicity secretary, Action Congress of Nigeria, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (LEADERSHIP Politician of the Year 2012); and chairman, Daar Communications Plc, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi (LEADERSHIP Business Person of the Year 2012) would receive the star awards at tomorrow's event. Other distinguished recipients of this year's awards include the managing director/chief executive officer of the Bank of Industry, Mrs. Evelyn Ndali Oputu (LEADERSHIP CEO of the Year 2012); director-general, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Mohammed Sani-Sidi (LEADERSHIP Public Officer of the Year 2012); the paralympians, LEADERSHIP Sportspersons of the Year 2012; Olusegun Adeniyi, LEADERSHIP Author of the Year 2012; Mary-Ann Juma, LEADERSHIP Young Person of the Year 2012; and Iyanya - the Kukere Master, LEADERSHIP Entertainer of the Year 2012. On the corporate front, Arik Air will receive the LEADERSHIP Company of the Year 2012 Award; Airtel Nigeria, LEADERSHIP Telecom Company of the Year 2012; Zenith Bank, LEADERSHIP Bank of the Year 2012; Aso Savings & Loans, LEADERSHIP Mortgage Bank of the Year 2012; and Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), LEADERSHIP Government Agency of the Year 2012. Copyright Leadership. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]