By Cecilia Ologunagba

New York, March 6, 2022

The UN Staff Recreation Club (UNSRC) Nigeria Association has honoured Mr. Obi Emekekwue, former UN Resident Correspondent / North America Bureau Chief of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) with an Excellence Award.

The UN Correspondent of NAN reports that Emekekwue was honoured for initiating the establishment of the UNSRC Nigeria Association and spearheading its registration.

UNSRC also honoured two distinguished Nigerians, Prof. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, Nigeria Permanent Representative to the UN for his contributions to the association and Mrs. Olajobi Makinwa, the first female President of UNSRC.

The incumbent President of UNSRC, Ms. Tolulope Lewis-Tamoka, in her remarks at the hybrid inaugural award ceremony at Nigeria House, New York, said the association honoured the three Nigerians for their contributions to the association and the Nigerian community at large.

“We had planned to organise this event much earlier, but we were held back due to the COVID restrictions and are pleased now that we are reopening for business.

“We are in difficult times globally, which even calls for greater solidarity and togetherness within and amongst our communities.

“This is why we are taking the time to honour our own; each of them distinguished in their respective fields of endeavour as we will soon hear their bios and citatíons,’’ she said.

Mr. Chikezie Anyanwu, a member of the association, reading the citation of Emekekwue, said he became the founding President of the association in 2012.

“He first came to the UN as North America Bureau/ UN Resident Correspondent of NAN, becoming the only African resident correspondent at the UN.

“He also served NAN as Senior Political Correspondent, Business Correspondent, Editor, Sub-Editor, and Sports Correspondent.

“After, he worked for 18 years at the UN, serving both at the Headquarters in New York and in the field.”

“His UN experience included stints as Public Information Officer in the Department of Public Information, Media Specialist and programme Specialist in several key agencies, including the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and UN Population Fund (UNFPA).’’

Emekekwue retired from the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in April 2020 after serving as the Director and Global Head of Communications and Event Management, and Secretary of the Management Committee.

He currently serves as President of DelReeve Konsult Limited, a specialist consulting firm that provides Africa-focused strategic communications and business advisory services.

During his career, he lived and worked in four countries on three continents – Nigeria, the UN, Papua New Guinea and Egypt – and has travelled to more than 52 countries.

Lewis-Tamoka, reading the citation of Muhammad-Bande, said he had had an outstanding career as a scholar and diplomat and had contributed immensely to the growth of the association.

“As Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (2018-2019), Muhammad-Bande worked with colleagues from all regions of the world to achieve common objectives.

“On June 4, 2019, the United Nations General Assembly elected the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations as President of the 74th session.

“Before then, Mohammad- Bande served as Vice-President of the 71st session of the General Assembly and was active in several forums, including as Chair of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (C34).”

“He also served as a member of the Advisory Board of the UN Counter-Terrorism Centre, and Chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Group.’’

In the same vein, Makinwa who served as a senior adviser in the Office of the President of the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly, was honoured for her outstanding leadership as the first female President of the UNSRC.

Reading Makinwa’s citation, Ms. Hauwa Umar said she is the Head, Transparency and Anti-Corruption, UN Global Compact, responsible for the UN Global Compact’s tenth principle of transparency and anti-corruption.

She was the Chief of Intergovernmental Relations and Africa for the United Nations Global Compact where Makinde led high level interactions among government, private sector, and civil society.

Prior to joining the UN Global Compact, Makinde was the Executive Director of Amnesty International South Africa. Previously, she served as a Legal Officer with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

Responding, Emekekwue thanked the association for recognising his service and commitment to the community, saying, “I feel humble to receive this award and I appreciate the association for finding me worthy for this award today.”

Emekekwue, the founding president of the association, also thanked those who believed in his vision and supported him to start the association as well as the leadership of the association.

“Thank you for keeping the association. After 10 years, the association is still waxing stronger. I pray it will continue to be stronger as time goes on,’’ he said.

Similarly, Muhammad-Bande appreciated the association for the support, noting the support the members gave to him when he served as the UN General Assembly President.

NAN reports that Amb. Lot Egopija, the Consul-General of Nigeria in New York attended the event.