Port Harcourt NIWA Boss Celebrated With Nelson Mandela Award Of Excellence

According to Ireporter Online, the Port Harcourt Area Manager of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Bernard Ekawu, has been honoured with the Nelson Mandela Leadership Award of Excellence by the Stay-Africa Youth Development Initiative (SAYDI-AFRICA).

The award was presented in Port Harcourt by the President of SAYDI-AFRICA, Ambassador Mensah Dominic, who described Ekawu as an exceptional African leader whose influence extends far beyond his official duties. Dominic noted that Ekawu was chosen after what he called a rigorous assessment of his professional achievements and public conduct.

He highlighted Ekawu’s administrative discipline, his transformative contributions to the NIWA Port Harcourt office, and his consistent support for the agency’s policy direction under President Bola Tinubu as major reasons for his selection. The organisation stated that the honour is reserved for individuals who demonstrate selfless leadership, foster peace and cooperation, uphold community values, and promote principles that strengthen unity across Africa.

Dominic added that Ekawu’s long-standing service to the nation, his commitment to efficient public administration, and his embodiment of Pan-African ideals have made him a worthy role model for young people across the continent. He stressed that recognising leaders of Ekawu’s calibre is part of the group’s mission to inspire and nurture a new generation dedicated to building a prosperous and unified Africa.

In his acceptance speech, Ekawu expressed heartfelt gratitude to SAYDI-AFRICA, describing the award as both encouraging and deeply humbling. He said the recognition reinforces his belief that sincere efforts never go unnoticed and pledged to further strengthen his commitment to fulfilling the goals of the current administration.

Ekawu dedicated the award to his team and the entire NIWA workforce, assuring that the Port Harcourt Area Office would remain focused on excellence, enhanced service delivery, and responsible engagement with the public.