By Patrick Ochei
The Nigerian Association in Australia – a multi ethnic group established to seek the inter-tribal cooperation, development and welfare of its members in diaspora, has honoured one of its own and renowned Prince of Egbudu-Akah Kingdom in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, Prince Barr. Daniel Iweanya Obi-Okolie with Excellence in Leadership Award.
This award is in recognition of Prince Obi-Okolie’s outstanding leadership of the Anioma Association in Australia – a sub-group that has metamorphosed into a cynosure of all eyes in Australia and beyond.
The account of the Excellence Award on Prince Obi-Okolie, indicated that he initiated the idea of the Association over 11 years ago, elected as its first President and worked assiduously to ensure it is well rooted as a sociocultural group seeking to unite their people and ensuring their welfare and dignity of life in Australia.
Prince Obi-Okolie is not just a leader par excellence, his unwavering commitment to community development has no comparison. He has been pivotal to the return of peace and harmony in Egbudu-Akah kingdom, which was enmeshed in kingship crisis after his father, HRM Agbogidi Obi-Okolie passed.
Not taking side or getting angry to abandon his community, he has been a major factor for some of the developmental gains of the community during festive periods, through the grading of the roads to enable vehicular movement within the community.
According to him when asked to speak about the award that has become an international concern, he simply said he has only made himself available for the service of his people.
He added, “I came to Australia to work and to represent my country in good light. I have only contributed my quota to making our people here in Australia, comfortable and to conform to the laws of their host country. I am an ardent believer in a Nigeria that must work and her people seen as responsible and honest citizens anywhere in the world.
“Whatever I have done in Australia to bring our people of Anioma together, and contribute to the development of our community back home, is just my modest way of giving back to my root. It has nothing to do with politics; I am only a man on a mission to see things work the right way”, Obiokolie said.
