The University of Jos Alumni Association, UJAA, has conferred its “Worthy Ambassador Award” on the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Kogi State Edward Onoja as part of efforts to honour some of its members who have distinguished themselves in their various endeavors. Onoja who graduated from the Geology & Mining Department of the university as one of the best 3 top students of the department in 1999 would be formally conferred with the award on September 28 during the 2017 Alumni Reunion and Dinner ceremony of the association at the Yar’adua center, Abuja.
The President of UJAA, Idris Yakubu, said the association plans to also use the ceremony to introduce the new Vice Chancellor of UNIJOS, Sebastian Maimako to its members.
“As part of the events lined up during the ceremony, Josites who have distinguished themselves in their areas of calling shall be honoured,” Mr. Yakubu said in the letter sent to Mr Onoja to inform him of his nomination.
“You have been identified as an achiever, a role model and a distinguished Josite whose activities over the years have impacted the lives of the people and Josites around you.
“We are very proud of you, Mr. David Edward Onoja, Chief of Staff to the governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello. We especially wish to confer on you the award of Worthy Ambassador of the University Of Jos Alumni Association (UJAA).”
In his reaction to the news of the award, Mr. Onoja commended the University of Jos Alumni association for the recognition and expressed his deep appreciation for the honour.
He said he was dedicating the award to the Almighty God for the many good things He has done in his life.
Born into the humble family of Mr and Mrs Amodu Onoja on August 9th, 1974, Edward Onoja, a Christian by faith, hails from Odidoko-Emonyokwu village of Ogugu District in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State. He was a founding members of the Natural Science Students’s Association, University of Jos and the second president of the faculty in 1997/98. He has worked in financial and Oil and Gas sectors of the Nigeria’s economy before joining politics in 2011 when he contested for Olamaboro State Assembly constituency under the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria.
Edward Onoja later directed and managed the Kogi Youth Arise Group for Buhari-Osinbajo 2015 which mobilised over 3,000 youths to campaign for the Change Agenda in Kogi State which successfully delivered the state to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in that year’s elections.
The Alumni will also Honour the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara and other 20 Legislators from the National Assembly, 4 Governors, 3 ministers, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, former Inspector General of Police, Sir Mike Okiro, 6 Vice-chancellors of Federal Universities, Captains of Industry and several other very distinguished Graduates of the University of Jos.
