The Anambra Irish Professionals Association (AIPA) successfully collaborated with Anambra State Association’s (ASA) Women’s wing in Ireland for the second annual Leadership Lecture and Award series at the Radisson Blu Hotel Dublin Airport recently.

The themes of this year’s event were ‘Leadership and Overcoming Security Challenges: Governor Obiano’s Formula as Panacea for Economic Development’ and ‘Redefining Leadership: Changing the Culture and Behaviour of Governance’.

Award recipients at the event included Ebele Obiano, wife of the Anambra State governor, who was represented by Engr Emeka Okoye, senior special advisor to Anambra State on special projects. 

In her speech, she expressed appreciation of efforts of AIPA and ASA Women Ireland in showcasing to Ireland that Anambra State is a worthy investment destination in Nigeria.

Obiano was recognised by the Irish Red Cross, AIPA and ASA Women Ireland for the charity work of Café, her NGO in Anambra State. 

Other recipients on the day included An Garda Siochana, Fingal County Council and Olusola Iginla, outgoing charge d’affaires of the Nigerian Embassy in Ireland.

Those in attendance included David Stanton, Minister of State for Justice, who was represented by Dr Carol Baxter, as well as speakers Cllr Kate N Anolue, former mayor of Enfield in the UK; Barr Ekaette; Luke Lacey of An Garda Siochana; and Laura Harmon of the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI).

The event was also graced by dignitaries such as Pat Carey, former minister and chair of the Irish Red Cross; Fingal Mayor Mary McCamley, Iyabo Iginla, Joe Newman, Rares Mihai Nicula of the New Communities Partnership (NCP), Kutloano Pheko, Esther Molemohi of the Embassy of Lesotho and Denise Roche.

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