Presidency has congratulated the United Nations International Peace Advocate Ambassador, Prof. Nwaocha Ogechukwu, who won the 2022 Mahatma Gandhi International Award in Canada, for his unique contribution to the abolition of the caste system in Southeastern Nigeria.
The congratulatory letter with Ref. No HC/OTT/ADM.15/1 was signed by Ambassador Adeyinka Asekun, High Commissioner of Nigeria to Canada on October 21, 2022.
The award was presented to Ambassador Asekun, during the celebration of Mahatma Gandhi Day Dinner at the Convention Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Asekun said, “it is my honour to congratulate you on behalf of the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the recent conferment of the prestigious 2022 Community Development Award on you by the centre. You have earned this most commendable recognition for your outstanding contributions to the struggle for the abolition of the age long practice of the Osu Caste system in Southeastern Nigeria.
“While applauding you for this spectacular achievement, I urge you to see it as a call to greater service to humanity, particularly in the struggle for the eradication of all forms socio-cultural prejudices and discrimination not only in Nigeria, but across the world. I have no doubt in my mind that with firm determination and a united voice, this practice will altogether be completely eradicated in our generation.”
The don who is an Ambassador of Peace from the Bureau for Peace and Conflict Resolution (Government of Imo State) and a nominee for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, one of the leading Nigerian peace advocates to be nominated for such an award.
Also, his contributions geared toward peaceful cohabitation of Igbo families advocates human right development, promote human development via social equity and human equality, and the total unity of Igbo communities for proper integration for the nation’s peace building.
He has published many peer-reviewed academic works in international journals to that effect, and as a result became the first scholar to develop three (3) phase model, as a theory, for the abolition of the caste system in Africa which thousands of traditional rulers and rural communities used for the total abolition of ”the socio-cultural prejudice that has trado-religious root in Igbo culture.
The Professor is also shortlisted for another CAPCR award in University of California, United States of America, recently.
According to a statement signed by Dr. Davies Sasere, Ph.D,
Adjunct Faculty,
California State University, Sacramento, Division of Criminal Justice, USA, the jury of the Committee has shortlisted the don for the 2023 CAPCR African Peace Award in University of California, USA.
In his remark, Prof. Ogechukwu thanked the Presidency and the Nigerian High Commissioner for their support. He seeks partnership with the Federal Government and international organisations in continuation of his project in the abolition of Osu Caste and other of his activities in promotion of humanity in the country.