(Press Release) His Excellency Alhaji Atiku Abubakar GCON, Turaki Adamawa and former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has emerged winner of the prestigious African Leadership Magazine Man of the Year – 2012. Mr. Abubakar will be decorated with this award during the forthcoming African Leadership Awards billed to hold on Wednesday 12 December 2012 at the Al Falak Ball Room, situated on the 27th floor of the magnificent Burj Al Arab, Dubai, U.A.E.
The selection team, comprising of leading African Business and political Leaders, in arriving at this decision took into cognizance his enormous contributions to Nigeria’s Socio- Economic Growth as an employer of repute, creating jobs for thousands of Nigerians and indeed Africans; and as a frontline political icon and astute manager of people and resources.
Atiku Abubakar had a distinguished career in public service, private business, and philanthropy – perhaps his most outstanding legacy was his founding and support of the American University of Nigeria, the outstanding private university in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Mr. Abubakar has funded hundreds of scholarships for Nigerians to study at home and abroad. He built hundreds of schools and health facilities and in 2004, he joined in partnership with the American University in Washington, DC to build the best private university in Africa – the American University of Nigeria.
No private businessman in Africa has worked harder for democracy or contributed more to progress of higher education than Atiku Abubakar.
The selection team particularly noted his overwhelming impact on the life and Economy of Yola, Adamawa state, Nigeria at large and indeed the rest of Africa, with the founding of Africa’s premier Development University, The American University of Nigeria; and the establishment of diverse range of manufacturing industries spanning publishing, media and communications, beverages, ICT and hospitality.
With this award, Mr. Atiku joins other past recipients of the Award like Dr. Mo Ibrahim, Founder Mo Ibrahim prize for leadership and founder Celtel; H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia; H.E. John Kuffour, former president of Ghana, and H.E. Xavier Luc-Duval, Vice Prime Minister of Mauritius. Other past African Leadership award recipients includes Dr.
Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank Group and Sanusi Lamido Sanusi of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
African Leadership Awards is the hallmark event put together by the group at the end of every year to celebrate Africa’s finest leaders, who have contributed immensely to the socio-economic development of the continent. The prestigious award has been held previously in Paris, London, Washington DC, Dubai and New York.
Expected guests at this event includes H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Former First Lady of Liberia, Senator Jewel Howard – Taylor, Sheikh Marwan Abedin, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Financial Support Fund, Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, Mr. Jagdish Thakkar,
Chairman, Mara Group Uganda, among other notable members of the business, political and diplomatic community from Africa and the United Arab Emirate.
