The World Habitat Humanitarian and Philanthropic Awards for Excellence is designed to encourage notable Nigerians to do more in the area of human and capital development.
Chief Sunnie Chukumele, the Chairman, Board of Trustee of the World Habitat Ambassador Foundation (WHAF), made this known on Saturday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Chukumele also said that the award was to mark the UN World Habitat Day.
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia says, “World Habitat Day is observed every year on the first Monday of October throughout the world.
“It was officially designated by the United Nations and first celebrated in 1986.
“The purpose of the day is to reflect on the state of our cities and towns and the basic human right to adequate shelter.
“It also aims to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the habitat of future generations.’’
According to Chukumele, it is also aimed at promoting environmental sanitation, personal hygiene and healthy livings, while encouraging human capacity building through schemes and jobs creation, promote culture, cultural pride, intercultural communication and religion tolerance.
“It is also aimed at encouraging and promoting social and environmentally sustainable human settlements, development, urbanisation and shelter for all.
“WHAF is working to help people to access decent, healthy and secure shelter through identifying innovative housing policy, practices and promoting these ideas through programmes, events, summit, workshops and conferences,’’ he said.
Chukumele also said that essence of the World Habitat beauty pageant was to give young women the opportunity to come together, regardless of their background, tribe or religion to build and foster better relationships.
He said that the pageant was to inspire and empower young women to develop and utilise their inner strength and qualities positively to impact on their society and the world.
The WHAF chairman, Board of Trustee, said that the foundation, annually gave a maximum set of awards to celebrate and appreciate the efforts of certain individuals, organisations, corporate bodies and government parastatals agencies.
“These are organisations that have shown dedication to the growth and development of Africa and have been in the forefront in addressing issues affecting urbanisation, environment and human capital development.’’ he said.
According to him, the 2017 awardees are selected on criteria set by the Advisory Governing Council of WHAF.
The 2017 awardees include Retired Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh, the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the President Amnesty Programme and DIG Emmanuel Inyang, Department of Training and Development, Force Headquarters.
Chukumele said that the 2017 Miss UN-World Habitat winner, Miss Fawaz Zahra, won the crown in a highly-contested competition.
He said that the first runner-up was Miss Goodnews Otor; second runner-up is Miss Rosella Iferike; third runner-up Miss Joy Israel, while Miss Joy Salami, emerged the fourth runner-up.
By Collins Yakubu-Hammer
