Pastor Tonye Patrick Cole was on Monday, May 2, 2022, conferred with the ICON award buy Kalabari Times Magazine.
The award was presented to him during this year’s Kalabari Leadership Summit and ICONS Awards in commemoration of the 8th anniversary of the Magazine.
The event took place at the NBA Secretariat Port Harcourt. According to the publisher of Kalabari Times, Pastor Selema Kalada Wokoma, the event was to honour illustrious sons and daughters of the Kalabari ethnic nationality who have not only made great marks in their chosen professions but also in one way or the other contributed immensely to the development of the communities and humanity in general.
According to him, the essence of this year’s summit and its theme was not just to celebrant Times Magazine’s anniversary but also to call on all and sundry to ensure that all hands be on deck so as to have a peaceful society that will usher in sustainable development.
Pastor Wokoma stressed on the need for proper orientation, sensitization, training and empowerment of the young men and women in Kalabari land in particular and Rivers State at large with the aim of inculcating moral values and leadership qualities in them to enable them become responsible future leaders.
In his response, Pastor Cole said the award would spur him for more work. “It’s a big honour to be recognized an ICON and lead role model. Our young ones need role models and we thank God that we have achieved a lot in life for the young ones to look up to,” he remarked.
Another honoree, Dr. Dawari .I. George said he was humbled to be considered for such the award particularly, the fact that the award was based on recognition, peaceful dispositions and the way the awardees carried out their activities as public servants.
According to him, he cherished the honour done him, and will go back home with the consciousness that more has to be done to reach out to more people so that together they can contribute to the progress of their communities and the entire state.
Dr. George also commended the organizers for such initiative, promoting the Kalabari spirit and solidarity. “What they are doing will promote good governance, peaceful coexistence and unity. I am sure that we will continue to do all we can do as individuals and even in the position we find ourselves to encourage things like this that can strengthen the bond of unity among the people together,” he declared.
