- President Buhari has commneded a former vice president, Alex Ekwueme
- Ekwueme will be 85 on October 21
- The president said Ekwueme ensured the enabling of a liberal and inclusive leadership structure currently in existent in Nigeria
President Muhammmadu Buhari has congratulated the former vice president of Nigeria, Alex Ekwueme, as he marks he 85th birthday.
The president in a statement released by the special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said Ekwueme's life journey had been a narrative of immeasurable grace, courage and candour.
Buhari also said he joins all former leaders of Nigeria, professional colleagues and friends of the Ekwueme family to facilitate with the former vice president.
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The statement read: "The President extols Ekwueme’s love for knowledge and search for wisdom from an early age, which led him into obtaining many degrees in various fields of study, including a doctorate in Architecture, and being one of the first Nigerians to gain the Fulbright Scholarship to study in the United States.
President Buhari commends the former vice president’s entrepreneurial spirit in setting up the first indigenous architectural firm in Nigeria, spreading its tentacles to more than 16 cities, until he accepted the national call to serve his father land in 1979 after a long commitment in building his community."
He said Buhari affirms that Ekwueme played a major role in mobilising the group of 34 eminent Nigerians in the 1990's.
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He said the former vice president succeeded in ensuring that the group moved against all odds in opposing military dictatorship in Nigeria.
He said action by the group also enabled the foundation of a liberal and inclusive leadership structure currently in existence in the country.
"President Buhari recalls, with fond memory, his many encounters with the former Vice President over the years, and his loving kindness, peaceful nature and deep commitment in seeing Nigeria become one of the greatest countries on earth.
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He prays that the almighty God will grant Ekwueme good health, longer life and more opportunities to share with humanity from his fountain of wisdom," Adesina said.
NAIJ.com earlier reported that the president congratulated the former minister of Agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina, for winning the 2017 World Food Prize.
The president said he recieved the news of the award with delight.
He also said although the news did not come to him as a surprise, Nigeria and its populace appreciates Adesina's contributions to the development of agriculture across the African continent.
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Source: Naij.com