National Association of Nigerian Student (NANS) has nominated and conferred on Mr. KayodeOkunoren, President, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), NationalOutstanding Leadership Award 2016.
The award which was presented to Mr. Okunoren at the NCRIB Secretariat in Lagos by the NANS President ably represented by NANS Vice President, Comrade Lawal Alpounds was in recognition of Okunoren’s contribution to Nigerian economy through his participation in Insurance Industry.
According to the NANS representatives, two Nigerians were nominated for the award from which Mr. Okunoren emerged the winner after a former ratification on the floor of NANS Senate held in Abuja.
In his speech, Comrade Alpounds lamented the dangerous trend of selecting politicians who have contributed nothing to the development of the Nation they were called to serve for awards, stressing that it further erodes the values and importance of awards.
He added that Nigerians Students under the aegis of NANS has distanced itself from doling out awards to people of questionable characters who could not add any meaningful value to the nation but rather look for means to exploit others.
One of the reasons for Mr. Okunoren’s emergence as the recipient of the award according to him was his recognition for the place of mentoring as part of values that could build a nation.
He further lamented the disposition of Nigerian leaders to education and employment, stressing that the educational system in Nigeria is in a state of comatose that needs quick intervention of philanthropists and individuals that have the passion. He also used the opportunity to explain what he tagged “NANS Endowment Fund”.
In his response, Mr. Okunoren eulogised and appreciated the doggedness of Nigerian Students in spite of the state of the nation’s educational system, using the opportunity to inform them of his mentoring programme that spanned beyond insurance but to all Nigerian Youths.
“I share your vision, I believe in you, especially, the endowment fund that is meant for indigent students among you. That has been my passion, and I am committed into it. It is my joy to mentor Nigerian Youths out of poverty. Your presence here today and this award will help me to double my efforts not to disappoint the students”, Mr. Okunoren noted.
Also speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Mr. Fatai Adegbenro stressed the need for the nation to pay more attention to the development of education adding that the best way to tackle terrorism is to educate the youths.