The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Aniekpeno
Mkpanang has honoured by the Akwa Ibom State Governor for his ingenuity and
outstanding contributions to the development of the State.
Mr. Mkpanang, the initiator and master-planner of the yearly AKSG
Christmas Carols Festival was honoured for his innovation and creativity
alongside other outstanding persons at a state banquet on Saturday at Le
Meridien Ibom Hotels and Golf Resort as part of activities marking the 30th
anniversary celebration of the state.
Mr. Mkpanang who is also the founder and presenter of the longest
programme on Akbc radio said he was humbled by the award and described the honour
bestowed on him by the Akwa Ibom State Government as an act of God’s
benevolence.
According to him; “Considering my humble background and for me to be
accorded with an award of this magnitude, can only be described as the faithfulness
of God”.
The man known for his organizational genius said “I started as a school
teacher and today that I’m before this galaxy of eminent people is a testimony
that God can open doors of opportunity to anyone who seeks Him diligently”.
Mr. Mkpanang thanked the Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel for giving him the
opportunity to contribute in the development of the State.
He also thanked Commissioner for
Culture and Tourism, Mr. Victor Antai for supporting him to discharge his
responsibilities creditably.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism also expressed
the appreciation of Ujo Ukanafun to the Governor and commissioner for Culture
and Tourism, Mr. Antai for the wholehearted support given to their son in the
course of his flourishing career and service to the State.
The citation of Mr. Aniekpeno Mkpanang read at the event indicated that
he has been an artist, broadcaster, teacher, compere, public servant,
toastmaster and event manager.
“Born February 26, 1961, the initiator and erstwhile presenter of the
longest running radio programme in Nigeria (Something to the Remember) also
served as State master of ceremony, moderating all important functions of
Government including the swearing-in-ceremonies, the double state visits of
former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, the visit of the then
Ghanaian President, Jerry Rawlings and that of then Vice President, Atiku
Abubukar.
“In the year 2000, when President Olusegun Obasanjo, the then President
of Nigeria visited the state, the Ukanafun-born Master of Ceremony was in his
element as he regaled the visiting President with stories of the latter’s life.
The highly impressed President directed that Mr. Mkpanang be moved to the
presidency with immediate effect to work with him.
“At Abuja, Mr. Mkpanang started off as the Assistant Director, Public
Relations in the Office of the SGF and was later named in June 2003 as Special
Assistant to the President and official Master-of-Ceremony at the Aso Rock Presidential
Villa.
“Apart from organizing the annual Christmas Carols Festival, Mkpanang
has organized other prominent events for the state including the world-class
official opening ceremony of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium. He
also organized the Akwa Ibom Unity Choir, an assemblage of the largest choral
group of 25,272 that clinched the Guinness World Record to become the Largest
Group of Carol Singers in the World in 2014”.
Mr. Mkpanang was honoured alongside General Ibrahim Babangida, Obong
(Arc) Victor Attah, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Senator Tunde Ogbeha, amongst
others. The award was presented to him
by ex-governor Godswill Akpabio whom he served as Director of Protocol for 8
years.
The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo who was the Special Guest at
the occasion described the award as significant because merit and hard work
were being recognized and people who laid the foundation for the greatness of
the state were being celebrated.
Prof. Osinbajo lauded Governor Udom Emmanuel for expressing gratitude on behalf of Akwa Ibom people to those who served them in the years past.
He also congratulated Mkpanang and other honourees for what he referred
to as well deserved honours conferred on them by Akwa Ibom State and thanked
God for those in attendance and for the blessed memories of those who departed.
Earlier, The State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel had recalled with joy the
landmark achievements of past leaders in the state and submitted that Akwa Ibom
was always blessed with good leadership.
“Let me say here that Akwa Ibom is blessed and we have always been
blessed in the past 30 years with good leadership”.
The Governor described Akwa Ibom as God’s own state with people of
vitality, zeal, patriotism and undiluted vision and paid tribute to General
Ibrahim Babangida for the creation of the state after 6 decades of struggle.
No comments:
Post a Comment