Former Special Assistant to the President on Justice Sector Reform and the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial Candidate for Enugu West, Mrs Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu, has been honoured for her unbridled interest in the well-being and development of humanity, particularly, her contributions to the betterment of youths and women.
She was recently rewarded with the “Icon of humanitarian service” award by the Nigeria Youth Advocacy and Good Governance Initiative (NYAGGI); at a modest ceremony in Enugu.
NewsPortfolio gathered that her J. C. Ibekaku Hope Project (JCIHP) has empowered and given capacity to hundreds of women and youths, especially in Enugu West Senatorial District, where she is currently the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Through the well-managed Ibekaku multi-purpose cooperative society; many local women now have means of livelihood with petty traders among them having access to micro credit; just as the non-governmental organisation recently, organised free medical outreach in the five Local Government Areas of Enugu West zone; namely: Awgu-Central School, Awgu; Aninri-St. Nicholas Catholic Parish, Oduma; Udi-Christ the King Parish, Ninth Mile; Ezeagu-St. Mary’s Parish, Akama Oghe; and Oji River-St. Gabriel Parish, Aduachi.
Responding after her decoration, Ibekaku-Nwagwu who at some point was the acting Director, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said the nation cannot survive if politicians and corrupt civil servants were allowed to mindlessly loot the nation’s treasury.
“You cannot talk about providing scholarship if everybody is stealing money going away to invest in Dubai, UK, Malaysia; and what then do we have to invest in this country. So, you must support the Federal Government’s anti-corruption programme by ensuring that you vote for him (Buhari),” she charged the youth.
She lauded the group for noticing her modest contribution towards the recovery of stolen public funds by corrupt politicians and promised that though she is no longer in government, but will continue to provide her expertise to ensure that every stolen asset of the nation was recovered.
She therefore, pledged to be a clear voice for Nigerian youths and women if elected into the senate.
“I am impressed you are young people who are the future of Nigeria and we are no longer talking about the future of Nigeria for you, we are talking about where you can go. That was why the President signed the bill for the ‘Not Too Young To Run’. That is why when I go out to campaign; I tell our people that APC is a party for the young people. It’s a party of future and a party of today,” she said.
National Coordinator of NYAGGI, Aladi Abiodun while decorating the award recipient, extolled some of the qualities which according him, endeared her to the organisation; motivating them to appreciate and encourage her.
He described her as an advocate for the strengthening of women’s rights; human rights, and good governance institutions in Nigeria, stressing that her support for leadership and entrepreneurial development for women and youths, was novel.
Aladi said the recognition was neither influenced by political nor financial reason but that the group was out to encourage those who have distinguished themselves in leadership service like Ibekaku-Nwagwu, to do more.
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