President Bola Tinubu has been conferred with the Distinguished EuroKnowledge Leadership Award by the international organisation, EuroKnowledge, at a ceremony held at the prestigious House of Lords, Palace of Westminster, London.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, received the award on behalf of the President during the EuroKnowledge Leadership Forum and Award Reception on Saturday.
In a statement on Monday, EuroKnowledge’s Vice President,Kate Sovdagari, said the award recognised Tinubu’s “ transformational leadership, bold reforms, and commitment to repositioning Nigeria as a global investment destination.”
Speaking at the event, Idris said the recognition was a tribute to the President’s vision of building a $1tn economy, bridging infrastructure gaps, promoting food security, and improving citizens’ welfare.
He said, “President Tinubu’s vision of building a $1tn economy is on course. He is committed to bridging the infrastructure gap, promoting food security, improving the living conditions of the masses, and bequeathing a prosperous nation to future generations.
“Today, Nigeria is a vast construction site, with over N2.5tn worth of road infrastructure projects approved this year alone — the highest ever in Nigeria’s history. The government is linking cities through signature projects such as the Lagos-Calabar and Badagry–Sokoto superhighways, and across all regions of the country.”
Also honoured at the event was billionaire businessman and owner of Premier Lotto Limited, Chief Kessington Adebutu, who received the Distinguished EuroKnowledge Lifetime Achievement Award in Business and Philanthropy.
The award was received on his behalf by the National Programme Manager of the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, Princess Aderemi Adebowale, who explained that Adebutu’s absence was due to his 90th birthday celebration in Nigeria.
“Chief Adebutu would have loved to be here but because of his 90th birthday celebration, he asked me to receive the award on his behalf,” she said. “He is a big philanthropist with a difference — one who has touched many lives irrespective of religious or political affiliations. This international award will motivate him to do more.”
Other honourees included the CEO of Konga, Prince Nnamdi Ekeh, who received the EuroKnowledge Award for Emerging Leadership in Digital Transformation and the Forbes Best of Africa E-Commerce Leadership Award; and MD/CEO of GText Global Properties, Dr Stephen Akintayo, who was also recognised with a EuroKnowledge Award.
In her goodwill message, the Chairperson of the Foreign Investment Network and Co-Convener of EuroKnowledge, Mrs Olayinka Fayomi, commended President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for restoring investor confidence and driving transparency and reform across critical economic sectors.
The event also honoured former UK Cabinet member and Parliamentary Member of the House of Lords, Baroness Sandip Verma, with the Award for Philanthropic Leadership & Community Advancement.
Former footballer Louis Saha, who played for Manchester United, Everton, and Tottenham Hotspur, received the EuroKnowledge Award for Sporting Excellence & Youth Empowerment through Sport.
The Mukul Madhav Foundation, founded by Ritu Hinduja Chabria, received the Award for Excellence in Humanitarian Service & Social Development, while Europe’s leading AI thought leader, Dalith Steiger of Swiss-Cognitive, was also honoured for Excellence in Humanitarian Service & Social Development.
Distinguished Nigerians present included the First Lady of Kwara State, Amb. Prof. Olufolake Abdulrazaq; Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi; NAFDAC DG, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye; Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Dr Olasupo Olusi; Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr Paddy Iyamu; and National Coordinator of the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office, Dr Funmi Olotu, among others.
