Nostalgia As Silverbird Honours Past Heroes
The audience went into deft silence as the video citation relayed the lives and times of those who had fallen in the service to humanity and Nigeria.
The posthumous awards were presented to Professor Tam David West, Professor Dora Akunyili, Chief Alex Akinyele and Alhaji Ahmed Joda.
Tam David West, teacher and former Minister of Petroleum was a virologist who made a great mark in national development.
Speaking, the representative of the family thanked the Silverbird group for the honour. He said that West loved Nigeria so much and that his dream was to see a prosperous Nigeria. “We pray to fulfil this dream,” he said.
Alex Akinyele was the Executive Chairman, National Sports Commission who was nicknamed Mr. Fix it Reacting to the award, his son said that the family is highly honoured by the Silverbird group for the honour. He said that Akinyele propagated good virtues of this country. “We are most grateful,” he said.
Speaking about his mother, Professor Dora Akunyili, her son, said that the former Director General of the NAFDAC was a giant who built a shade for the youths of this country to live.
Akunyili fought against illicit drug and fake substance and later became the Minister of Information and Communication.
“My mom was the Silverbird Man of The Year in 2005. She was a giant and an inspiration. I feel like a giant because of the shade that my mother had planted,” he said.
Ahmed Joda rose to the zenith of civil service with great value of uprightness and accountability.
