By Babatunde Ayedoju

Ondo State Commissioner for Water Resources, Public Sanitation and Hygiene, Mr Sunday Akinwalire has been honoured with the prestigious Ondo State Sunshine Role Model Award by Path News Magazine.

The award ceremony, held on Sunday in Akure, highlighted Akinwalire’s contributions to reviving water projects across the state.

While dedicating the award to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Akinwalire praised the governor’s commitment to improving the welfare of Ondo residents by ensuring access to potable water.

He remarked, “I dedicate this award to my principal and boss, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, for prioritising the welfare of the people of Ondo State. I thank him for giving me the opportunity to serve, and I promise that this award will spur me to do even more.”

The event featured a thought-provoking lecture by the guest speaker, Pastor Rufus Olalere, who spoke on the theme, “The Effect of Subsidy Removal on Nigeria’s Economy.”

Olalere criticised the handling of fuel subsidy removal, describing it as poorly managed and lacking comprehensive solutions to address its impact.

He argued that corruption within the subsidy system remains unresolved, stating, “We should have identified those involved in the fuel subsidy scam, and the government should have resolved issues in the NNPC. If these had been done, the impact of the subsidy removal would not have been so severe.”

Olalere also dissected the consequences of the naira devaluation, describing current economic policies as theoretical rather than practical.

He explained that while devaluation reduces the cost of goods locally, it hampers export opportunities as products become costlier abroad.

Highlighting the dollarisation of Nigeria’s economy, he lamented the naira’s instability and drew attention to how Nigeria’s past economy thrived on agriculture and regional autonomy.

He recommended a reduction in the cost of governance and a shift towards more innovative economic strategies.

Barrister Olumuyiwa Adu, a past recipient of the award, commended the organisers for recognising individuals based on merit.

In an interview with The Hope, Adu emphasised the importance of the award as a platform to challenge recipients to continue their selfless contributions to society.

Earlier, the publisher of Path News Magazine, Mrs Tonia Modupe, welcomed attendees and expressed her gratitude for their support of the publication.

She explained that the award celebrates those who have excelled in their fields and made Ondo State proud, regardless of their origins.

She added that the recognition seeks to inspire more individuals to contribute positively to their communities and encourage excellence across various sectors.