Late Akwa Ibom First Lady, Late Bimbo Odukoya To Get Posthumous Honour At AIWRA

Late Akwa Ibom First Lady, Late Bimbo Odukoya to Get Posthumous Honour At AIWRA Awards 2025

Patience Umo Eno, late wife of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Uno and late Pastor Bimbo Odukoya of the Fountain of Life Church who tragically died in the 2005 Sosoliso plane crash at the age of 45 will be posthumously honoured at the upcoming African Iconic Women Recognition Awards (AIWRA) 2025 in recognition of their impact towards the improvement of humanity.

This is contained in a statement on Wednesday signed by the Project Director of Face of Democracy Nigeria (FDN), Alexander Ajagbonna, better known as Fajag.

He said though these figures may not be with us now, their legacies still live, saying the decision to honour them followed an approval by the selection board.

Others to be recognized at AIWRA 2025 Award includes, wife of the President, Sen. Remi Tinubu, former President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, immediate past First Lady of Ghana, Rebecca Akufo-Addo and the Director General of World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

This comes as the award organizers, Face of Democracy Nigeria (FDN) says nomination has been concluded for awardees in the 2025 edition of the annual award ceremony.

Awardees are usually selected from pool of nominees who were voted for conferment of award base on public rating.

The credibility is highlighted more on the benchmark put in place by FDN, which makes it impossible for nominees who fail to meet the minimum criteria to be awarded.

It has been described as Nigeria's largest hall of fame for women achievers who have left indelible legacies in their endeavours and in touching human life.

The award coming up May 23, 2025 will hold at Transcorp Hilton hotel Abuja.

AIWRA has recognised prominent personalities in the past. In the 2024 edition, notable women such as First Lady of Niger State, Hajiya Fatima Mohammed Bago, her Lagos counterpart, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, as well as wife of Ebonyi state governor, Mary-Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru were honoured.

Others conferred with AIWRA 2024 awards include, Zamfara First Lady Hurriya Lawal and her Katsina State counterpart, Zulaihat Dikko, former Minister of State for FCT, Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, a former governorship candidate in Adamawa, Aisha Binani and a former member of the Senate, Sen. Grace Bent, a retired Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police Aisha Abubakar, Mrs. Bola bola Shagaya, and more.