The African Students’ Union Parliament (ASUP), on Tuesday, awarded the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA), Dr. Olusola Akande, with “PAN-AFRICAN LEADERSHIP AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE.”
The student body urged OYSHIA to key into its fight against drug abuse, by using every instrument at its disposal to help curb the menace in the state.
Speaker of the parliament, Rt. Hon. Kewul Abel, from 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 ASUP, Comrade Christopher David, the Speaker solicited for the support and the influence of the agency to help the union in their ongoing campaign against drug abuse across the continent.
He also noted that there is a vital need for the OYSHIA 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.”
Enumerating Akande’s accomplishment in the civil service, David stated 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.
Presenting the award on behalf of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, who led the ASUP delegation, Hon. Joseph Konan, said that the Executive Secretary “is a man of honour, 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 makes him an iconic patriot of our African society who is worthy of emulation.”
Reacting, Akande thanked God and acknowledged that every good and perfect gift comes from Him, adding that the award is special because it is coming from an external body, especially 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.
Akande also dedicated the award and expressed his profound gratitude to the management and members of staff of the agency for their ceaseless efforts 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 Parliament is an umbrella body of students across the African continent. The body, which was instrumental in 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.
