The Elulu of Mopa and Chairman Mopamuro Traditional Council, HRM Oba Olufunsho J. Joledo JP in conjunction with the Board of Trustees of Mopa Welfare Society have approved the conferment of the prestigious Mopa Star Awards on some diligent Mopa citizens.
Major General Bayode Adetoro an accomplished soldier and the first Mopa man to reach the prestigious rank in the Army, alongside Dr. Toyin Akinlade the current Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interiors shall be leading others to receive the prestigious award on Mopa Day 2023 which also coincides with the 80th anniversary of Mopa Welfare Society and comes up on September 9 2023.
Speaking with journalists recently, Comrade Samuel Elere, the National President of Mopa Welfare Society, said the awardees have been nominated for the enormous goodwill that their accomplishments in their chosen fields have brought to Mopa people all over the world and the inspiration from their contribution to nation building, particularly Mopa.
“As you know that Mopa has been a bastion of exceptionally brilliant, credible and hardworking people across Nigeria so it is not out of place to celebrate the spirit of grace that that God bestowed on us via such activities as this. If you recall in 2018 two young Mopa people broke national records. At 16 Master Oluwaseunara Arotiba became the best candidate among almost two million students across West Africa that sat for WAEC that year. Also, at 24 years, Miss Deborah Bolanle Motilewa bagged a PhD, making her the youngest in Nigeria to ever do so. The youngsters were brought home to Mopa day and honoured; so it is a tradition for us to always thank God as we honour our own,” he said.
Among those that have received merit awards from Mopa in the past are Late Chief S Ade John the first Permanent Secretary from Okun land in the Northern civil service who went on to become the first black African MD of Leventis PLC. Also, Late Chief SB Daniyan (CON), the first Nigerian MD of Nigerian Industrial Development Bank, first Minister of Budget and National Planning, and the first and only Kwara/Kogi person to be President of Nigerian Stock Exchange. Another achiever was the Late Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum, the biggest and most influential association in Northern Nigeria, Senator Sunday Bolorunduro Awoniyi (CON), one of the few public servants ever referred to as Super Permanent Secretaries.
Among those to be honored this year are 28 years old Mr. Victor Daniyan CEO of Yourridder/Nearpays who recently represented Nigeria and won the GITEX Africa contest for best Fintech and Blockchain category in Morocco and will be representing Nigeria/West Africa in the global contest coming up in Dubai later this year.
Others include Dr. Femi Akande the CEO of Treasures the best eatery in Lokoja, ACP Bamidele Awoniyi one of the youngest officers on his level, Engr. Samuel Bolorunduro Olaiya an exceptional brilliant Engineer with diverse multinational experiences and Mr. Olorunmeyan Raphael an intelligent, young and dynamic officer.
The award is prestigious because it goes only to those upholding the tenets of our founding fathers in whatever they do in life, that is they are hard working, brilliant, credible, courageous and patriotic. HRH, HE, RT. HON Oba Clarence Olafemi JP, Oba of Okedagun and Balogun of Mopa , former Minority leader of the Kogi State House of Assembly, former Speaker of the same Assembly and former Governor of Kogi State will be leading the Award ceremony.
