BY EMMAN OKUNS
Nigerian Professional Group (NPG) – a conglomeration of Nigerian professionals, students and entrepreneurs in various fields of human endeavors, recently held its maiden gala and award night, where it honored six Nigerians, identified as exceptional achievers in the Diaspora.
In his speech at the event, the President of the organization, Kayode Anifowose, who was introduced by his Vice President on global strategy, Ayodele Oguntubi, said the occasion, with the theme: Inspiring Excellence, was set aside to celebrate excellence.
It is a known fact that despite the global recognition of Nigerians as some of the smartest people on earth, with monumental achievements of many in their various fields of human endeavors, the negative activities of a few tend to loom large, drawing more publicity than their positive impact in the society.
With the media focus on drug and other crimes committed by few Nigerians, the image of Nigerians and the Nigerian nation remain heavily tainted, prompting concerned citizens, such as members of the Nigerian Professional Group to find a way of changing the narrative.
Anifowose noted, with commendation for resilience and perseverance, that despite the hardship occasioned by the emergence of and lingering COVID-19, many people have continued to chase their professional careers working from home, “staring at the wall or looking out a window and hopping from zoom call to zoom call.”
He acknowledged the work of those in the healthcare industry, whom he said had to keep working in the “eye of the storm,” endangering their lives to save lives.
“An industry that is too busy to relax and rarely celebrated for the important role they play in keeping us healthy.
“Tonight, in addition to launching NPG’s foremost annual event with the theme – inspiring excellence, we want to celebrate all those who helped our society and our community endure and overcome these tough times, through their commitment, hard work, and often at great personal sacrifice.”
He said during this critical year members of the organization have embraced transformation, innovation, resilience, and a new bias for action, expressing his gratitude to the organization’s visionary advisors, executives and volunteers “for demonstrating all those qualities and much more.”
“We cannot achieve our goals without you. We need your continued participation, feedback, ideas, and yes, even your constructive criticism,” he said.
Anifowose, who veered from his prepared speech for a moment, said in an emotion-laden remark that he considered himself lucky to have the right team with whom to actualize his vision.
His words: “Vision without the right people is a frustration.” He thanked them for hard work, smartness and tenacity of purpose.
NPG, Anifowose noted, was founded for transformative collaboration amongst Nigerian professionals in the Diaspora, adding: “Our membership is an unparalleled group of working professionals, entrepreneurs and students.”
The award was classified as follows: Visionary Award, recognizing leaders whose commitment, support, trailblazing work, visionary inputs impact the ongoing drive to shape the foundation of the Nigerian Professional Group.
The Impact Award honors leaders whose commitment, sacrifice and trailblazing work drives positive impacts in the community.
The Visionary Awards went to the following persons:
Olu kayode Olatilu, is the CEO and co-founder of EpicGRO Corporation, an organization that helps businesses transform their industries through technology.
He leads the delivery and operations of technology capabilities globally, as well as technology risk and information security, for which he has been an active proponent of IT security best practice.
Olatilu establishes IT strategies, policies, and procedures by evaluating organizational outcomes; identifying problems, evaluating trends; and anticipating requirements. He works as an advisor to senior executives of technologies that can improve their efficiency and effectiveness.
Ohi Omoruan is Vice President, Surety Plus, Liberty Mutual Surety and prior to that role he was the Senior Director for Liberty Surety’s portfolio and risk management team, within the contract organization.
In this role he is responsible for underwriting strategy, innovation, product management, product development, and underwriting operation initiatives across its contract business.
Omoruan was represented at the award night by Tomisi Kikama, who received the award on his behalf.
Dr. Ibrahim Badejo, is Senior Director, External Front End Innovations of Ethicon R & D – a prolific inventor, entrepreneur, and early-stage healthcare investor whose career spans many years in different roles in the Medtech ecosystem.
Badejo in his current role at Ethicon (a Johnson & Johnson Company), supports Ethicon R & D – in providing external innovation support and counsel to all platforms across the Ethicon Franchise, including identification and advancing early stage external opportunities aligned Ethical growth strategy.
Professor Nimi Wariboko, the Walter G. Muelder Professor of Social Ethics at Boston University. A Specialist economic analyst, he developed investment/commercial banking expertise in Nigeria and United States.
Wariboko also served as strategy advisor to the top 20 investment banks in the world, while working on Wall Street, New York.
In 2011, he was also a consultant to the Central Bank of Nigeria on the Financial System Strategy (FCSS2020), and in 2011 and 2012, he advised the National Security Adviser of Nigeria on the economic dimensions of national security. He is a visiting Professor of economics at the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
The Impact Award went to the following persons:
Ethel A. David, is the President and CEO of Premier Health Systems Inc. (PHS), an organization she started from scratch, with zero dollars. From a humble beginning, she had worked as Residential Counselor and Program Manager in the group homes for individuals with disabilities. Her story represents passion to purpose.
A biochemistry graduate from Edo State University, Ekpoma in Nigeria, her vision, hard work, commitment and determination gave birth to this Agency.
Over the last eight years, PHS has specialized in rehabilitation services to individual who cannot independently care for themselves. It has established itself as a relevant service provider in Massachusetts community serving individuals who have trauma and acquired brain injuries.
Frances Igiebor-Osagiede, is President and CEO of Angel Care, a company she founded in 2014: Her story is that of tenacity, selfless service, sheer faith, sagacity and extraordinary drive.
She came to the United States as a graduate of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State of Nigeria in 2010 and went back to school, beginning from the Middlesex Community College, and later to the University of Massachusetts, Lowell MA. At UMass Lowell, she received a double major in Management and Marketing.
In contemplation of the next career path to take, she decided to embark on her MS in Nursing at Northeastern University, Boston. Chasing her numerous passions and covering all the bases that formed the foundation for the establishment of Angel Care, she also studied for and acquired a real estate license.
Armed with the tools from her marketing and nursing background, Frances founded Angel Care VNA, a Home Health Care Agency focused on caring for people post-hospitalization.
Angel Care provides services, ranging from physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, nursing, social worker; for individuals and helps care for them and nurse them back to health.
They also care for individuals with chronic conditions that require continuous care, ensuring they help prevent re-hospitalization. Frances says she treats her employees as her primary clients – a business model which she said has led to the company’s growth.
Angel Care continues to thrive with five divisions; namely, Angel Care Visiting Nurse Agency, Angel Care Transportation, Angel Care AFC & GAFC, Angel Care Staffing and Angel Care Clinic.
The company has since grown from staff strength of one to over 150, with the stop gap transportation business boasting of over 40 vehicles in its fleet.
All award recipients thanked the organization for considering them worthy of the honors.
The gala and award night which featured cocktail and dinner and after award party, attracted guests from all walks of life, with a life band, led by DIPO whose rendition of Teddy Pendergrass’ “It is so good loving somebody and somebody loves you back” song put the audience in the memory lane and state of euphoria.
