Sir & Lady Goodluck Obi Foundation has won Champion Newspapers’ Heart of Gold Award of the year 2020 in the humanitarian service award category.
This is also as Dangote Foundation won Champion Newspapers’ Philanthropist of the year 2020.
The Group Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of Champion Newspapers, Dr. Mrs. Nwadiuto Iheakanwa; who presented the award to the recipients, said that the award is targeted at acknowledging the contributions of some outstanding individuals, organizations, agencies, and institutions to the development of Nigeria in particular, and humanity in general.
She recognized the role the foundation played in uplifting the lives of indigent Nigerians who were helpless, especially during the Covid-19 shutdown in 2020.
She said the selected awardees have not only identified the needs and challenges of the citizens but proffered holistic solutions, thereby uplifting the standard of living of the people and contributing their best to the country’s socio-economic and political development.
Responding to the award, Dr. (Sir) Goodluck Etom Obi, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Sir & Lady Goodluck Obi Foundation, who was accompanied by the wife Lady Amala Obi, expressed great excitement and thanked God for the recognition of their little efforts in service to humanity.
‘It is heartwarming to my humble self to be presented with a HEART of GOLD Award. I am not taking this award as an honour to myself but as a big push to spur me on to greater heights in providing succor to the needy within our society’, Obi stated.
According to him, ‘I have always asked myself these questions: what will be my joy if God blesses me so much and yet I cannot use this amazing blessing to uplift the lives of others? What is the joy of wealth if it cannot be used to liberate the indigent members of the society from abject poverty? What is the cost of putting a smile on the face of a needy person? So, the passion of the foundation is to put smiles in the faces of people.’
Sir & Lady Goodluck Obi Foundation is a humanitarian organization set up to care for the needy especially, orphaned children, widows, the sick and the oppressed in our society.
He used the opportunity to thank all the donors to the foundation, whose donations have made bringing hope to those who are less privileged possible. ‘We also thank the management and staff of Champion Newspapers, who has thought it wise to honour us this great way’, he reiterated.
Other recipients are Dr Adesola Adetuntan, Managing Director /CEO of First bank who emerged Champion Newspapers Banker of the Year 2020 and Access Bank Plc, who won Champion Newspapers Bank of the Year 2020 in the Newspapers Corporate award group.
Under the same category, African Alliance Insurance emerged Champion Newspapers Life Insurance Company of the Decade (2010 -2020) with the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG winning Outstanding Company of the Year 2020 with NSIA Insurance emerging the Most Innovative Insurance Company of the Year 2020 and Rites foods, Brand of the year.
Also, Charles Aigbe emerged Champion Newspapers Best Media Manager of the Year 2020.
In the political group, Governors of Osun and Ebonyi states, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola and Engr. Dave Umahi, emerged winners at the Champion Newspapers 2020 award. While Oyetola won a double award as the Man of the Year and Governor of the Year 2020, Governor Umahi emerged as Man of the Year on Infrastructural development.
Others include, the National Leader of All Progressive Congress (APC) Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Democracy Icon of the fourth Republic; Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Most Outstanding Public Servant of the Year; Dr. Innocent Chukwuma, Innovative Manufacturer of the Decade; Governor of Enugu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Most Outstanding Security-Conscious and Peaceful Governor; Hon. Sir Dr. Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu, Member Lagos State House of Assembly, as Champion Newspapers Most Outstanding Lawmaker of the Year 2020 and Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, as the Grand Peacemaker of the Year.
Sir obi has been a humanitarian to the core and in recognition of his giant strides in economic and social developments, he has been honoured by numerous groups. Some of these recognitions includes: Pillar Award (Association of Nurses and Midwives, National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi Chapter) – In recognition of his contribution to Patients care at National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos., Member of Board of Sports Association, Lagos State Sports Commission – Dec 3, 2018, Meritorious Service Award – by Education District IV, Oshodi-Isolo Zone 20, Ministry of Education Lagos State – March 10, 2016, Named “Co-Church Builder” at Nnewi Diocesan Anglican Communion by His Grace Most Rev. Prof. G.I Okpalo at the official opening of Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Umuanuka Otolo, Nnewi, Anambra State – Sep 23, 2018, Chairman, Nigeria Association of Small Scale Industrialist, Nnewi Chapter (NASSI), 1991, The LAWSA, Unizik Humanitarian Award, 1995, Radio Television and Theater workers Union of Nigeria, NTA Enugu (Economic Development) 1994, Conferred with the distinction of Fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Corporate Administration in grateful recognition of his proficiency in Business Administration – 1994, Knighthood in Anglican Communion – Knight of St. Christopher (1999),
Selfless Service Award – Rotary Club of Lagos West – 2016, Special Contribution in Sports development – Mr Flex Nigeria 2016, Excellence Award – Association of Anambra State Development Union 2018, Member of the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce – 2019, Recognition award by Umuanuka Community (Otolo Nnewi) for great contribution to the development and progress of the community – December 26, 2019
