On September 28th, 2024, in the city of Hannover, Germany, Hon. Kenneth Gbandi was finally presented with the prestigious Inclusivity and Leadership Global Honorary Award for 2024. This significant accolade was presented to him during the 14th-anniversary celebration of the Miss Nigeria Germany contest and the Nigerian Independence Day festivities—an event that holds deep cultural importance for Nigerians living in Germany and across Europe.
The award, established by Ambassador for Peace Ada Nwachukwu under the M.R.F Global Honorary Awards initiative, seeks to “Bridge The Gap” by promoting inclusivity, unity, and peace in global endeavors. Ambassador Ada Nwachukwu, the visionary behind the award, traveled from the UK to officially present Hon. Gbandi with this distinguished honor. She expressed pride in associating her organization with the exceptional work Gbandi has been doing for peace, unity, and humanitarianism in Germany and Europe. According to Ambassador Nwachukwu, there was no more fitting occasion to celebrate Gbandi’s achievements than at the Miss Nigeria Germany event—a symbol of cultural pride and unity within the Nigerian diaspora.
Hon. Gbandi, who has long been recognized as a leader within the Nigerian diaspora, expressed deep gratitude for the recognition. His emotional acceptance speech resonated with the audience as he reflected on the current challenges facing Nigeria. While overwhelmed by mixed emotions of joy and concern, he urged Nigerians in the diaspora not to lose hope in their homeland, despite the country’s troubling realities. Gbandi emphasized that giving up on Nigeria would send the wrong message to future generations in the diaspora, with potential consequences for cultural identity and the nation’s future.
Hon. Gbandi reiterated the need for perseverance, unity, and continued efforts toward peace and humanitarian causes while hint that it might be the right time to oasspass the mantle to new generations of Nigerians in Diaspora to continue with the struggle for inclusion, recognition and visibility. The award stands as a testament to his unwavering commitment to these values and his profound impact on the Nigerian community in Germany, Europe and beyond.
