Kwara First Lady, two others to receive Diplomatic Leadership Award in Abuja

The First Lady of Kwara State, Ambassador Prof. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, is among three prominent personalities set to receive the Diplomatic Leadership Award at the Diplomatic Digest 5th Year Anniversary Lecture scheduled for Thursday, July 31, 2025, at Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja.

Abdulrazaq, who also serves as the Chairperson of the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum (NGSF), will be recognised for her contributions to leadership, diplomacy, and humanitarian service both locally and internationally.

The event will feature the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, as the Special Guest of Honour, while the Director-General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC), Rt. Hon. Dr Yusuf Buba Yakub, is billed to deliver the anniversary lecture. The lecture is themed: “Nigerian Technical Aid Corps and President Tinubu’s 4D Foreign Policy: The Journey So Far.”

At a pre-event media parley held in Abuja, the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Diplomatic Digest, Kennedy Ikantu Peretei, expressed appreciation to the diplomatic community for their continuous support over the past five years. He also commended the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, particularly the Honourable Minister, for his dedication to repositioning Nigeria’s foreign policy.

Peretei specifically praised the Foreign Affairs Ministry for its recent successful rescue of stranded Nigerians in the Central African Republic, describing it as a testament to Nigeria’s strengthened diplomatic engagement under the current administration.

Also set to be honoured at the event are:

Hon. Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, Special Envoy on Inter-faith and Ecumenical Relations to Ghanaian President John Mahama

Ambassador Davisha L. Johnson, Goodwill Ambassador to the State of Georgia, USA, and a global advocate for building opportunities for Africans in the diaspora through strategic collaborations

Peretei further lauded Dr. Yusuf Buba Yakub, the NTAC DG, for accepting the responsibility of using his agency as a platform to reflect on and promote President Tinubu’s 4D Foreign Policy, which focuses on Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora.

The event is expected to draw members of the diplomatic corps, policymakers, civil society leaders, and international development partners.