Obasanjo, Obiano, Soludo, 45 Others For Red Cross Award In Anambra
By Nedum Noble
Nigeria former President Olusegun Obasanjo will on Saturday, be bestowed the Grand Commander of Humanity by the Nigerian Red Cross Society in Anambra State.
The chairman of the body, Hon. Justice Paul Obidigwe, who disclosed this in Awka, yesterday at the annual celebration of World Red Cross Day, said the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano, former governor of Central Bank, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo would also be honored by the organization.
He said the award to be bestowed on other personalities, totaling 48, were in recognition of their immense contributions to humanity and support to the organization.
He listed the objectives of the celebration to include provision of relief and peace to the injured, initiation of active efforts towards reducing casual death rates, empowering members, CSOs and local communities for immediate response to disasters, among others.
Also speaking, the State Vice Chairman of the organization, Prof. Peter Katchy described the Red Cross Society in the state as the most vibrant and proactive humanitarian agency with a total number of 45 paid staff, which he said was the highest across the country.
He said the body was involved in humanitarian assistance in no fewer than 65 fire incidents as well as three collapsed buildings recorded in the state last year.
Katchy however lamented the difficulties encountered by the body in accessing grants from the government, saying the N5million received from the government was the recent in the past four years.
Expressing appreciation to spirited individuals who he said have been very supportive to the organization, the vice chairman appealed for the provision of ambulances, pick up vans, stretchers, medicaments, among others.