Buhari Rejoices with Ex-Foreign Affairs Minister, Olisemeka at 90, WAEC at 70

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has rejoiced with elder statesman and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ignatius Chukuemeka Olisemeka, on his 90th birthday. The president joined the career and political diplomats, who closely worked with him over many years, to celebrate the milestone.
The president also celebrated the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) on the 70th anniversary of its establishment.

The president in a statement by his Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, yesterday, felicitated with Olisemeka’s family, friends and associates as they rejoice with the nonagenarian, whose imprint on Nigeria’s international relations remains strong and relevant, sustaining relations with countries, multilateral institutions and foreign investors.

Buhari extolled the career diplomat’s discipline, diligence and social skills in winning and keeping friends for the country, building a strong network and inspiring younger diplomats on the value of healthy and functional relations, especially in attracting goodwill, which translates to growth and development in the highly globalised world.
Also yesterday, Buhari felicitated with WAEC on the occasion of its 70th anniversary, which also coincides with the 70th annual council meeting being hosted in Abuja, Nigeria from March 14 to 18.

As a proud founding member of the foremost examining board for the people of West Africa, Buhari affirms that Nigeria values the shared commitment with other Members of the Council and would continue to engage with other partners to achieve the Council’s mandate of maintaining quality educational standards that prepare the next generation to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

The president noted with delight that for the last 70 years, the West African examination body has brought the English-speaking West Africans together to encourage academic and moral excellence through a qualitative and reliable educational assessment.

As delegates to the 70th council meeting deliberate, reflect and celebrate the gains of the decades, the Nigerian leader urged them to remember the core values of excellence, integrity, professionalism, accountability and transparency, at the heart of WAEC, and stand firmly by them.

The president believed that just as member-nations have survived a difficult year marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and in some countries, previous years of internal conflict, this cherished education institution would continue to thrive as a world-class examination body.