Bukola Saraki (2nd left) receiving the Nana Akufo-Addo African Democracy Award from former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo (right), while the African Democracy Union (ADU) President Louisa Attah-Agyemane was present on Tuesday in Nairobi, Kenya
Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has been conferred with the Nana Akufo-Addo Africa Democracy Award in recognition of his “long-standing record as a champion of democracy and good governance in Africa”.
The Abubakar Bukola Saraki media office in Abuja announced the award in a statement on Wednesday.
Saraki was presented with the award in Nairobi, Kenya, at a ceremony organised by the African Democratic Union (ADU).
The event was centred on an exchange of ideas between policymakers, business leaders, academics, and international development partners on how to address Africa’s most pressing challenges.
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Delivering the keynote address on Tuesday, Saraki discussed how Africans can dismantle the pillars of dependency and improve the standard of living of citizens.
The former senate president spoke on “Navigating Africa’s strategic position in a multipolar world: Towards equitable and mutually beneficial partnerships”.
Accepting his award on Wednesday, Saraki thanked the ADU for the recognition and dedicated it to Raila Odinga, former Kenyan prime minister, who died on October 15.
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He described Odinga as an African patriot and recalled how the late Kenyan leader mediated and sought to ease relations between him and the late former President Muhammadu Buhari during his tenure.
Meanwhile, former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, after whom the award was named, charged the recipients to continue building institutions that outlast leaders.
“Wear the award lightly – your real validation is the verdict of citizens. Choose courage over convenience; refuse shortcuts that corrode institutions,” Akufo-Addo said.
“Use democracy to deliver schools that teach, clinics that heal, roads that connect, and jobs that dignify, because when services fail, democracy’s credibility suffers. Build successors, not echo chambers, because renewal is a democratic virtue.”
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The former Ghanian president expressed gratitude for the honour of the award in his name, noting that it was a reminder of his duty to uphold the constitutional order.
