Entrepreneur and politician, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim was among eminent Nigerians honoured on Thursday by a Lagos based media outfit, TimelineNG.
Others included Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, billionaire industrialist, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; and Chairman of the Independent Media and Policy Initiative, Dr. Niyi Akinsiju.
According to the organisers, Olawepo-Hashim was honoured with ‘Inspiring Leader and Philanthropic Icon’ award for ‘regularly contributing to the polity positively through numerous interventions, politically and socially to the development of Nigeria’.
In his citation, read by an On Air Personality, Mrs. Niyi Olayinka, the award recipient was described as ‘one of the few Nigerian leaders who combined solid business record with strong political background.
‘A successful entrepreneur with a 30-year impeccable business history, Olawepo-Hashim started exhibiting leadership qualities from elementary and secondary school days. A national bridge-builder and complete detribalised, charismatic and excellent negotiator, Olawepo-Hashim’s experience is deep rooted in the broad political sphere that is useful in formulating a national consensus for the unity of a nation at a time of great division. His understanding of political economy and the global architecture of international finance are invaluable for an economy that desperately needs growth and development and a people that urgently need prosperity.
‘In 1990, Olawepo-Hashim became the National Administrative Secretary of the National Consultative Forum, led by the indefatigable patriot and democrat-extraordinaire and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Alao Aka Bashorun.
‘In 1998, working closely under the supervision of Prof. Jerry Gana (Secretary), he and two other young political leaders; Late Senator Dahiru Ahwesu Khuta and Dubem Onyia, Olawepo-Hashim assisted during the years of the G-34 initiative, in the formation of political parties.
‘For his passion for people’s welfare, his business acumen and, most importantly, his commitment to the principle of internal democracy, transparency and good governance, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim is hereby honoured’.
Publisher of TimelinesNG, Mr. Yusuf Adeoye, who was the convener of the award, prayed that God would give Olawepo-Hashim ‘more grace to continue to contribute to the development of Nigeria as a nation’.
Responding, the recipient’s Special Adviser on Media and Communication,
Mr. Oluwasegun Abifarin, regretted the inability of his principal to be physically present for the award. He explained that Olawepo-Hashim was out of the country and thanked the organisers for counting him worthy of recognition.
The organisers said that the sixth edition of the ‘Timeline Awareness Initiative Lecture/Awards’, was to celebrate the best Nigerians who had shined like stars in various endeavours.
The topic was, ‘Importance of the Media in Information Gathering, Disclosure in the Face of Security Challenges’, The event was presided over by Akpabio, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Constitutional and Legal Matters, Dr. Monday Ubani, who urged ‘media professionals to treat national security as a shared responsibility, and to draw a line between freedom of expression and the freedom to endanger’.
