By FRED ITUA
The third edition of the Most Valuable Governor’s Wife Awards that took place on February 28, 2017, at the Sheraton Hotel in Abuja, by every standard, was an epoch-making event.
The night commenced with a red carpet reception, which saw the Governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Muhammed Abubakar, among other dignitaries, ushered into the venue amid a traditional guard of honour by an emirate council from Bauchi.
The night commenced formally with Mrs. Titi Atiku Abubakar, when she opened the award by delivering the keynote addressed centred on her humanitarian works for trafficked persons.
The theme for the night was “The Roles of Governors’ Wives NGOs in Helping the IDPs in Nigeria,” which was inspired by the wife of the President Mrs. Aisha Buhari’s Future Assured and the Get Involved component.
At the ceremony, several Governors’ Wives Foundation beneficiaries were shown on the stage, with each testifying about the benefits they have derived from each of first lady, while thanking the governors’ wives for being change agents, to have transformed them with valuable assistance.
Nassrawa State governor’s wife, Hajiya Mairo Al-Makura, received an award for her Talafi Women and Youth Foundation. Kebbi State governor’s wife, Hajiya Zainaib Bagudu, was recognised for her MedicAid Cancer Foundation, and the Bauchi State governor’s wife, Hajiya Hadiza Abubakar, was given an award for her BSWEEP Foundation benefits to IDPs in the North-East.
Others who received awards were wife of the Bayelsa State governor, Mrs. Rachel Dickson for her Friday Kong Foundation; the wife of the governor of Anambra State, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, received an award for her CAFE Foundation, while the Kogi State governor’s wife, Barr. (Mrs.) Amina Bello, received an award for her Hayat Foundation, and, finally, the Niger State governor’s wife, Dr. Amina Abubakar Bello, was recognised for her RAISE Foundation.