TimelineNG, a Lagos based media outfit on Thursday, organized the 6th edition of the “Timeline Awareness Initiative Lecture/Awards”, to celebrate the best Nigerians who have shined like stars in various endeavors.
With a topic, “Importance of the media in Information Gathering, Disclosure in the face of Security Challenges,” the event, and chaired by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who was represented by Dr. Monday Ubani, his Special Adviser on Constitutional and Legal Matters, used the “opportunity to urge all media professionals to treat national security as a shared responsibility, and to draw a line between freedom of expression and the freedom to endanger.”
Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim was among the few Nigerians who got honoured for “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, (OAP) Mrs. Niyi Olayinka at the event,
“Dr. Olawepo-Hashim is one of the few Nigerian leaders who combine solid business record with strong political background.
“A successful entrepreneur with a 30-year impeccable business history, Olawepo started exhibiting leadership qualities from elementary and secondary school days. A national bridge-builder and complete detribalized, 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, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Alao Aka Bashorun.
“Born in Yelwa, Yauri, Kebbi State by a Yoruba mother to a Hausa father, Olawepo-Hashim was mentored into partisan politics by the progressive stock of politicians led by the duo of Late Chief Solomon Lar and Alhaji Abubakar Rimi. Olawepo-Hashim had at one time functioned as the National Publicity Secretary of the National Democratic Party, under the joint chairmanship of Ambassador Jolly Tanko Yusuf and Alhaji Yunusa Kaltungo.
“In 1998, working closely under the supervision of Professor 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.
After the election of President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999, in the intervening transitional period, Olawepo-Hashim served as member/secretary, Youth and Women Development Sub-Committee of the General T.Y. Danjuma Policy Advisory Committee with Late Hajia Laila Dogonyaro as Chairman of the Youth and Women Sub-committee.
‘In 1999, Olawepo-Hashim was elected as the first Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the then ruling Party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was a highly influential national officer and became the founding chairman of the Group of 54 NEC members. The group had His Excellency, Dr. Chris Ngige as Secretary and Alhaji Ahmed Gusau, former Minister of Mines, as Deputy Chairman.
“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.”
Responding, Mr. Oluwasegun Abifarin, his Special Adviser on Media and Communication who collected the Award on his behalf regretted the inability of Dr. Hashim to be physically present for the award because he was out of the country and thanked the organisers for counting him worthy of recognition.
Mr. Yusuf Adeoye, Publisher of TimelinesNG and convener of the Award added that “the Awards organizers really appreciate and pray that God will give Dr. Hashim more grace to continue to contribute to the development of Nigeria as a Nation.”
Other winners of the awards included the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, Business man, Aliko Dangote, Dr. Niyi Akinsiju and others.
