Double Honour For  RichyGold Chieftain as Nigerian Red Cross Society, Institute of Public Administration Make Him Patron, Fellow

Precious Ugwuzor 

It was an exciting moment for the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of RichyGold Group of Companies, Chief Richard Ifeanyichukwu Agbapuru as the Nigerian Red Cross Society and the Chartered Institute of Local Government and Public Administration honoured him last Saturday for his outstanding contributions to humanity in various spheres.

Officials of the Lagos State Branch of the Nigerian Red Cross Society led by the Vice Chairman, Mr. Segun Olabanji Akande were at Lagos Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, to honour Chief Agbapuru as a Patron/Platinum Member of the Red Cross in view of his remarkable financial, material and other contributions to the Society, particularly towards the welfare of the Motherless babies at its orphanage.

The RichyGold boss, well noted for his philanthropic gestures over the years had a shining moment as the Red Cross officials took time to give a brief history of the Society and why personalities like him have occasionally been chosen to be honoured due to their commitment to the ideals of the Swiss businessman Henry Dunant who inspired the establishment of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in 1863.

Historically, Dunant had begun the Movement after being upset with the suffering of thousands of men on both sides of the Battle of Solferino in 1859.  Many of the fighters were left to die due to lack of care.

As the Red Cross officials performed the investiture ceremony, there was a thunderous applause from members of Hazie Masters International Club; a well reputed organization largely made of professionals, entrepreneurs, industrialists and other businessmen ably led by Chief Agbapuru.  

The members had earlier gathered for their 2023 annual general meeting before the investiture event commenced.

At the same venue, Agbapuru was conferred with a Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Local Government and Public Administration.  

According to the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the Institute, Dr. Uche Okereke who came with other officials of the Institute, Chief Agbapuru who was listed as No.5 among the 23 Fellows officially inducted at the Institute’s 21st Induction Ceremony which held on 9th December, 2023 at the University of Lagos could not make it to the induction ceremony hence the Institute had chosen to use another occasion to officially present him with his certificate and other accoutrement.

The Registrar pointed out that conferment of the Institute’s Fellowship on anyone comes with a very credible evidence of what the honoree had done to merit it. 

He emphasized that Agbapuru noted for his astuteness in human and resource management and administration rightly deserved the Fellowship and should be proud to be an ambassador of the Institute.  

However, he did not hesitate to advise the RichyGold boss to remain deserving of the honour as the Institute reserves the right to withdraw any Fellowship from an honoree who chooses to abuse the honour in future through indulgence in unlawful activities.

The Chartered Institute of Local Government and Public Administration as a professional training institute, was founded in 1996 and became chartered by Act of Parliament No.1 of 2017.  While highlighting the background of the Institute and the enviable place it occupies in the country, Dr. Okereke enjoined more Nigerians particularly people from the South-East part of the country to aspire to belong to the Institute and other professional bodies.  

He explained that acquisition of university degrees and other academic qualifications was not enough in positioning anyone to face contemporary professional challenges and has therefore enjoined Hazie Masters International Club members and other Nigerians to take advantage of the Institute’s programme to improve themselves professionally as many of them may seek public offices in the years to come.  Meanwhile, apart from Chief Agbapuru, another Hazie Club member Mr. Onwumere Anthony Eke was among the 23 Fellows inducted at the 21st Induction ceremony.  

As part of its 2023 activities, some other worthy Nigerians across various states of the Federation have recently been inducted as Fellows and Members of the Chartered Institute of Local Government and Public Administration.  

Notably, the Law which established the Institute empowers it to grant Diplomas, Certificates, Associates, Members and Fellows and other titles to deserving individuals. 

Currently, the Institute’s President is Prof. Adekunle Meshach Awotokun, a Professor of Local Government Studies, at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.