President of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, has conferred the country’s National Award of the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit (Heungin Medal) on the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba.
The award was conferred on Agba on Thursday night at a ceremony for that purpose held at the residence of the South Korean Ambassador in Nigeria, Kim Young-Chae, on behalf of the South Korean President.
Young-Chae said that the award was in recognition of Agba’s personal achievements and contributions to strengthening the ties between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of South Korea.
He said the Minister was the first African recipient of the award (Heungin), which is one of South Korea’s highest civilian awards.
After he was conferred with the award, Agba acknowledged the Almighty God and His grace upon his life and the benevolence of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, for appointing him as part of his Cabinet.
“Therefore, I wish to dedicate the prestigious award to Almighty God, my lovely wife, Princess Catherine Agba, who has always supported me, and His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.
“I would further like to express my thanks to His Excellency the President of the Republic of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol; His Excellency, the Korean Ambassador to Nigeria and my very good friend, Kim Young-Chae and the Selection Committee for bestowing this prestigious award on me. It is a great honour to be recognised in this way, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve my country as a Federal Minister.
“This award extends beyond me as it also serves as a testament to my colleagues’ hard work at the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, particularly my sister and colleague, Mrs (Dr) Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, CON, the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning.”
He said that considering his position as the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, he had had the privilege of working on a wide range of initiatives that had allowed him to contribute to the field of diplomacy.
According to him: “From negotiating Economic Agreements to strengthening international relations, including technological and cultural exchange, I have been fortunate to be a part of some truly remarkable endeavours towards the prosperity of not just Nigeria but the common global development agendas shared by all nations, especially between The Republics of Nigeria and South Korea.
“Diplomacy plays a crucial role in today’s world, and it has the power to bring about positive change and promote understanding and cooperation between and amongst nations. I am committed to serving in this field and doing my part to make a difference in the world.
“To this end, various Agreements were signed between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of South Korea, with evident, resulting impact in addressing the challenges for a robust economy and a better quality of life for our teeming populace in Nigeria. Indeed, it has been a truly rewarding experience to be a part of the milestones achieved in the Nigeria-Korea Development Cooperation.”
Agba said: “I wish to pay glowing tribute to my dearly beloved wife and family members without whom my public life would have been a mirage. I also wish to specially acknowledge the tremendous support I enjoy from my Colleagues Honourable Ministers and their Spouses, including my Permanent Secretaries, the Chief Executive Officers of the parastatals in the Ministry and friends here present for gracing this auspicious epoch-making occasion of the conferment of the Heungin Medal on my humble self.
“I will forever treasure this momentous evening as I strive to preserve the honour accorded me and deepen the existing cordial relationship between the Federal Republics of Nigeria and South Korea.”
Among personalities present on the occasion were Minister of State for Power, Mr Goddy Jeddy-Agba, Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr Sunday Dare, Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and national Planning, Engineer Nnebolisa Anako and Statistician General of the Federation and CEO of National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Prince Adeniran Adeyemi.
