By joshua 
Kogi @ 33: Comr. Hamza Aliyu Emerges The Nigerian Post Newspaper Promoter of Good Governance, Accountability Award.
The Executive Director of the Initiative for Grassroots Advancement in Nigeria (INGRA), has emerged the Nigerian Post Newspaper Social Development Worker for Promoting Good Governance and Accountability in Kogi State.
Comr. Amza will be conferred with the prestigious award amongst other selected Social Development Workers in the State at the forthcoming The Nigerian Post Newspaper annual public lecture slated for August 26 at EdgeDrive Hotel Lokoja.
The award is in recognition of his contributions to the civil society space in the last one and half decade with particular emphasis to his impact on the lives of people.
Comr. Amza is a social activist, a partner in Nation building, and a conscience of the government, often times holding the government accountable by his numerous engagements and publications.
The award would be bestowed on him at the forthcoming The Nigerian Post Newspaper annual public lecture slated for August 26.
The Nigerian Post is Nigeria’s fastest growing print and online newspaper, is set to hold the annual edition of its Lecture & Gold Prize Award themed:
Sustaining Kogi’s Unbroken Unity – Prospects & Possibilities, This House Must Not Fall.
The award is scheduled to take place at the EdgeDrive Hotel Lokoja at 10:00am, will have Gov. Usman Ahmed Ododo as the Special Guest of Honour.
His Excellency, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, former Governor of Kogi State, the Minister for Steel Development, Prince Shaibu Audu Abubakar alongside other very important personalities within and outside Kogi State will also serve as Guests of Honour at the event.
The 2024 public lecture will be Chaired by Prof. Stephen Ikani Ocheni, former Minister of State, Labour and Employment.
His Royal Majesty, the Ohimegye Igu Kingdom, Alhaji Saidu Akawu Salihu would serve as the Royal father of the day.
Speakers at the event will include; Prof. Marietu Tenuche, Vice Chancellor, Prince Abubakar University, Anyigba, Prof. John Alabi, Dr. Salisu Usman Ogbo, Rector , Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja and Ambassador Hamza Aliyu, CEO, Connected Development.
Recall that in 2023, THE NIGERIAN POST held it Annual Lecture and Gold Prize themed “Sustaining Nigeria’s Democracy. This House Must Not Fall”, with Prof. Akinwumi Olayemi, Vice Chancellor, Federal University Lokoja as the guest speaker of the event.
This year’s event will feature a special presentation by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr. Deedat Ozigi, on “Towards Grassroots Development: Gov. Ododo’s Example, So Far, So Good.
The 2024 edition “aims to celebrate and critically examine the creation of Kogi State 33 years after, by discussing its unity as cardinal to future prospects and possibilities”.
According to a statement by the Publisher of THE NIGERIAN POST, Mr. Abu Michael, this year’s event will honour some distinguished personalities who have contributed to the development of the State.
Other individuals for the Gold Prize Award include: Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Isa Kutepa, CEO, Walter Smith Oil, Sen. Tunde Ogbeha while late Prince Abubakar Audu, first Executive Governor of the State would be honored posthumously.
“The Gold Prize Award for Grassroots Development will also be presented to some selected former Caretaker Council Chairmen in the State and other individuals who have demonstrated outstanding contributions to the development of the State.
The former Caretaker Committee Chairmen of Lokoja, Igalamela, Kabba Bunu, Ijumu, have been listed for recognition following their outstanding repositioning of their Council administration when they served.
“Our 2024 Awardees are persons who made the critical differences in the discharge of their duties, with uncommon zeal and commitment to the common good of the citizens and the State in particular,” the statement read.
Comr. Amza Aliyu’s Profile.
HAMZA ALIYU
Early Years and Education.
Born Hamza Aliyu August 13th to the family of Alhaji Aliyu Ahmadu Autanyaya in Kaduna State.
Hamza Aliyu spent his growing years in the cities of Kaduna and Lokoja. He completed his Secondary School in Labayi International School in 1992 and gained admission thereafter to study Chemistry in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he bagged a Bachelor’s Degree.
In 2010 he bagged a Masters Degree in Early Child Education.
Beginning of Civil Society
Hamza Aliyu’s interest in Civil Society stemmed from observing his mother, Hajia Hajara Aliyu, who was one of the pioneer Civil Society champions in Kogi State. Her burning passion for community development ignited a spark in the young Hamza and she went on to nurture this spark into a fire that spurred him fully into Civil Society work. Hajia established the Initiative for Grassroots Advancement where Hamza’s journey in Civil Society began.
Civil Society Work and Accomplishments
Mr. Hamza carved a niche for himself in Civil Society work in Kogi as a social activist, a partner in Nation building, and a conscience of the government, often times holding the government accountable by his numerous engagements and publications. He has dedicated his career to promoting good governance and accountability in the State.
His distinguished career has spanned over 15 years during which time he has made significant contributions to the state, including serving as an analyst on the Public Financing of Agriculture (PFA) from 2019 to 2021, serving as part of the Stop-VAWIP coalition group, serving as a research consultant on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene to the Kogi State Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Office.
As the Executive Director of the Initiative for Grassroots Advancement in Nigeria (INGRA), Hamza leads the implementation of various good governance projects and public health initiatives in the state including championing the passage of the Kogi HIV Anti-Discrimination Bill by the 9th Assembly of the State. In addition, he holds multiple other important roles in the state, including serving as a state facilitator on the Open Government Partnership (OGP), Zonal Coordinator of the Civil Society on HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (CISHAN), State Coordinator for the United Action for Democracy (UAD), and a State Executive Member of the Anti-Corruption Revolution (ANCOR).
Family. Hamza is a family man, married with children.