Nigeria’s foremost independent parliamentary monitoring organisation, OrderPaper hosts twenty-three performing members of the outgoing Ninth National Assembly at Night of Glamour, inducts five federal lawmakers into country’s first-ever Most Valuable Parliamentarian Hall of Fame
READ ALSO: OrderPaper rewards 18 NASS Members for valuable contributions in lawmaking
The much anticipated ‘Night of Glamour’ heralding the induction of the best-performing lawmakers in the 469-member Ninth National Assembly into Nigeria’s first-ever Most Valuable Parliamentarian Hall of Fame has been held in the nation’s capital.
The Night of Glamour, which was held on Sunday, May 21, 2023, at the NAF Conference Centre in Abuja, had a long list of attendees, including the Kaduna State Governor-elect, the Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. O.A Ihejirika (Rtd) CFR, past and serving lawmakers, Heads of Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), members of the civil society, the academia, media and other high profile guests from all walks of life.
Convened by OrderPaper Nigeria; the country’s foremost parliamentary monitoring organisation and policy think-tank, the Most Valuable Parliamentarian (MVP) Hall of Fame which is the first of its kind in Nigeria’s legislative history, is designed to applaud and encourage a distinct class of legislators who have proven to be performance-driven, excellence-inspired, and public-spirited in the National Assembly.
READ ALSO: “Why we are instituting the MVP Hall of Fame” – Oke Epia
The very colourful ceremony featured red-carpet interviews and goodwill messages from the Speaker of the 4th House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Umar Ghali Na’Abba, members of Civil Society, the Media and Development Partners, while guests were treated to light refreshment and sonorous music by an A-list band in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Minority Whip of the 7th National Assembly, Rt. Hon. Samson Osagie, who spoke on behalf of the former Speaker, commended the initiative by OrderPaper Nigeria.
“It has become very important to state that what OrderPaper is starting to do now, is a commendable effort. We therefore urge the incoming 10th National Assembly to use this platform that OrderPaper is making to determine the individual connecting actions and roles in the 10th National Assembly to be able to shape a perception that Nigerians and the general public have about the whole of the legislature without which the legislature will be look down upon by other people in government and our Nigerian public,” he said.
The event also featured the premiere of a documentary on the journey to the MVP Finals, presentation of Certificates of Recognition to 18 of the 25 Semi-Finalists shortlisted in April for possible induction into the MVP Hall of Fame, and the eventual unveiling of finalists for the initiative.
READ ALSO: DOWNLOAD: The MVP Hall of Fame Publication (Semifinal Edition)
Some of the semifinalists so honoured and presented certificates include Hon. Davou Mwadkwon (PDP, Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency, Plateau), Hon. Dachung Musa Bagos (PDP, Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency, Plateau), Hon. Onofiok Akpan Luke (PDP, Etinan/Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency, Akwa Ibom), Hon. Waive Ejiroghene Francis (APC, Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu Federal Constituency, Delta) in the category of Top Performers for House of Representatives Newbies.
Others are Senators Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), Ifeanyi Ubah (YPP, Anambra South), and Mohammed Sani Musa (APC, Niger East), who were also recognised for their performance as Top Senate Newbies, while the lawmaker representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Unyime Idem (PDP) also got a Special Recognition for Valuable and Impactful Motions sponsored.
Five of the semifinalists considered as performance-driven, excellence-inspired and public-spirited by the organisers and a Panel of Experts who conducted oversight over the final selection process were thereafter inducted into the Most Valuable Parliamentarian Hall of Fame and presented with plaques/certificates as well as special regalia by Abubakar Kanike, a representative of the President of the 8th Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki.
READ ALSO: 9th NASS: OrderPaper inducts five lawmakers into MVP Hall of Fame
The inductees; Senators Uba Sani (APC, Kaduna Central), Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe (APC, Kwara Central), Yahaya Abubakar Abdullahi (PDP, Kebbi North), Rt. Hon. Mohammed Tahir Monguno (APC, Monguno/Marte/Nganzai Federal Constituency) and Hon. Sam Ifeanyi Onuigbo (PDP, Ikwuano/Umuahia North/South Constituency), had earlier signed the induction register in a session presided over by Prof. Ladi Hamalai MFR and Prof. Ali Ahmad; Chairperson and Secretary of the MVP Panel of Experts (MPEs) as well as Oke Epia; Executive Director of OrderPaper and Convener of the MVP Hall of Fame.
The event’s high point was the presentation of a plaque to the Senator representing Kaduna Central and Governor-Elect of the state, Uba Sani as the Most Valuable Parliamentarian (MVP) of the 9th National Assembly amid pomp.
