The IVLP (the International Visitors Leadership Program) Alumni Association Nigeria has honoured Barrister Akeem Aponmade, a prominent Nigerian lawyer and human rights activist.
At an award ceremony held on November 16, 2017 at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, the association bestowed its IVLP Alumni Award for Excellence in Alumni Development, Volunteering and Intellectual Property Rights Protection on the Lagos based IP lawyer.
He was among other personalities that were so honoured among whom are the US Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. W. Stuart Symington, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, SAN, Mr. Olanrewaju Osho and Dr. Abubakar Bala.
In his opening speech, Mr. Symington urged every Nigerian to always see him/herself as the person who can help to make Nigeria better. He said he looked forward to members of the association continuing to make a difference in the world, one person at a time.
Barrister Aponmade, in his acceptance remarks, said he was inspired in his love for service by his late parents’ predilection for empathy and his secondary school motto which is ‘Act well your part’.
He said if many Nigerians would adopt that motto and act well their respective parts in whatever capacity they find themselves, Nigeria would be on the march towards greatness.
IVLP (the International Visitors Leadership Program) Alumni Association Nigeria is the umbrella platform for Nigerians who participated in the United States International Leadership Program to connect, engage and impact the society through various developmental initiatives.
The global program which was launched in 1940, helps to strengthen USA engagement with countries around the world and to cultivate lasting relationships by connecting current and emerging foreign leaders with their American counterparts through short term visits to the United States. The program has produced more than 200,000 Alumni including more than 300 current or former Presidents and Prime Ministers of various countries in Africa, Asia and Europe.
Aponmade’s thematic focus was on Protection of Intellectual Property Rights. On return to the country, he founded a civil society organization which has established IP Club in some secondary schools in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States with the aim of helping the youths to discover, develop and exploit their talents as a means to creating wealth and eradicating poverty in our society.
Packaged by Olayinka Agboola
