Hilton Garden Inn, a highbrow recreative centre in Washington DC/U.S. Capitol, near the nation’s presidential seat, is hosting today, a ‘US-Nigeria Faith Heroes Award Gala’ event, organised by the Save Nigeria Group-USA (SNGUSA).
Via a press statement issued few days and, abd endorsed by SNGUSA’s President, Mr. Stephen Osemwegie, and Mr. Victor Ben Onyeka, its Media Director, SNGUSA stated that the award ceremony is the second stanza of a double-event, with the first, ‘Save Nigeria Rally’, held three days ago in the same presidential neighborhood.
The rally, which marked the official opening of the dual event, was attended by civil society groups, rights activists and public-spirited individuals of Nigeria, America and other origins, to amplify the voices of millions of bi-partisan people, who demand accountability and efforts to end the insurgency, mass killings, religious persecution and local community sacking, that continually plague Nigeria and its populace.
The dual event and the entire program of religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence in Nigeria, are carried out by over 35 US-Nigeria Civil Society Coalition, including SNGUSA, a registered US charity, and Save Nigeria People’s Initiative (SANPI), a springboard of the group’s activities in Nigeria, as convened Tony Erha, an activist.
The award event, slated for 6:00 pm (ET) US time, is to honor key groups, and personalities; including policy makers, human rights activists, diplomats, political leaders, faith-based leaders, and others that fight relentlessly against terrorism, insecurity, religious extremism, and giving more support to democracy and good governance.
Awardees are US and Nigerian-based Christian clergies, political leaders, policy makers, civil society leaders and others.
These include Mr. Wes Moore, American poiltician, business man, who current 63rd governor of the State of Maryland, Mayor Muriel Bowser, the female Mayor of Washington, DC and some others.
Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Maj. Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd), would receive on behalf of ‘Nigerian Soldiers’, a befitting award for their resilience in the fight to free the country from terrorists and insurgent groups.
Honorary guests include US Secretary of State, Mr. Marco Rubio, civil rights activists and congressmen Christopher Smith of New Jersey and Riley Moore of West Virginia.
Posthumous honor will be bestowed on the late Reps Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, Nigeria’s Miss Leah Sharibu and Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, for lending their voices and time against religious extremism and terrorism.
The event, officially confirmed to be attended by the US President, His Excellency, Donald Trump, as Special Guest of Honour, have guests as Amb. Sam Brownback, Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, General Overseer of RCCG Worldwide, Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Col. Lateet Are (rtd), Evang. Alveda King, Pastor Donald Eason, and others.
