POV: You are one of Nigeria’s most influential businessmen and a globally respected philanthropist who is about to receive one of the highest National Honours in his country. It’s a great day, and you woke up at Transcorp Hilton Abuja, owned by Transcorp Hotels Plc, the hospitality arm of Transcorp Group where you’re the Chairman. A lovely day!
It is not strange for the most important personalities across the world to enjoy perfect stays at Transcorp Hilton Abuja; it happens every day. But it hardly ever happens that Nigerian leaders from different facets of life are all gathered in one place waiting to receive National Awards. From politics to business and traditional leadership, important people from all walks of life converged on Abuja to receive different national honours, and we are proud to have hosted a good number of the awardees at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. They all choose Transcorp Hilton Abuja for one reason; the assurance of a perfect stay for the most important moments in life.
Nigerian National Honours are a set of orders and decorations conferred upon Nigerians and friends of Nigeria every year. They were instituted by the National Honours Act No. 5 of 1964, during the First Nigerian Republic, to honour Nigerians who have rendered service to the benefit of the nation. National Honours are the highest honours or awards that a citizen can receive from his or her country for service to the country.
Chairman, Transcorp Group Mr. Tony Elumelu, CFR was one of the recipients of the award. The philanthropist has through the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) empowered millions of Nigerians, directly through the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, or indirectly through the jobs created across the value chain of impact the TEF entrepreneurs make.
Mr Elumelu, who is also the recipient of other national awards received over the years, including Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), joined other notable Nigerians such as Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, the DG of the World Trade Organisation and former Nigerian Finance Minister who was conferred with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) award. Others are Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, GCON the UN Deputy Secretary General, among others.
Asked what the honour means to him, Mr Elumelu, who expressed his excitement said “It’s good to be recognised by one’s own country. This honour is a recognition of what my colleagues at the Tony Elumelu Foundation and the wider Heirs Holdings Group and the United Bank for Africa is doing to catalyse economic empowerment for young Africans.
He added that “There’s a lot more we can accomplish in the area of job creation for our young ones, women inclusion in our economic agenda and most importantly working together to alleviate poverty”.
The days begin at Transcorp Hilton Abuja
