Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Okamkpa Oil & Gas Limited, Mr. Francis Aja Chukwu, has received the Ebonyi State University’s Distinguished Business Leadership Award.
The award which comes from the stable of the Department of Economics of the institution is in recognition of his visionary leadership, entrepreneurship excellence, innovation and outstanding contribution to business development and economic empowerment.
The institution said, on Monday, the award recognizes business leaders who turn visions into values, challenges into opportunities, and transform ideas into audible profits with an impressive business acumen.
Speaking to journalists at event in Abakaliki on Monday, Chief Chukwu said he was honoured by the award and expressed his resolve to continually develop and uplift the business community.
He lauded Governor Francis Nwifuru’s peace initiatives, which according to him, has led to improvement in business activities and sustainability in the state.
He said, “I feel honoured and humble by this award given to me by the Ebonyi State University. I have passed through the four walls of universities and I know what it means to be identified with a university. So, I’m part of the system, I’m involved and I’m happy.
“You don’t need to deny your identity. I am an Ebonyi man. I come from Amaoso in Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. It’s only when you make your environment conducive that you can comfortably stay there. If there’s no peace, there’s no development. I a proud Ebonyi man. This is why all my businesses are in Edda.
“We have the Okamkpa Oil and Gas; we have the Okamkpa Farms; and we have the oil mill in Edda. This is what I wanted to do because it’s not ideal for a business person to go to elsewhere to develop while his own community is not developed. We have the responsibility of developing our communities, because of we don’t nobody can do that for us.”