Lagos State did not just become the third-largest economy in Africa all by itself, it took the collective effort of business-minded people; the likes of Dr Aderemi Emmanuel Awode to put the building blocks, sweat wherewithal and sheer dedication in their little corners to conspicuously put Lagos State on Africa and the world economic market.
It is therefore in recognition of this that history was made on Sunday 14th November 2021 when the humble entrepreneur who sits atop a strictly conceived and birthed, proudly made in Lagos conglomerate, Special Apostle Aderemi Emmanuel Awode, was conferred with the prestigious honour of Lagos State Man Of The Year Award, (LASMAYA) 2021.
The organisers of the awards, Centre For Policy Development And Political Studies (CEPODEPS) had shortlisted a number of credible men and women contributing to the growth of Lagos State from various fields and sectors of the state in a transparent public participation vote in announcing Dr Aderemi Awode as the people’s choice for the honour having polled over 6,000 votes.
The 10th Edition of the event, which will go down in the annals of Lagos State and indeed Nigeria, truly has the trappings of A-listers in the manufacturing, business and banking world. Dr Aderemi Ifaolopin Aderemi, the Chief Organiser, in his speech, reeled out the good virtues of Dr Remi Awode.
With the recipient’s antecedents, it was of no surprise that top royal fathers from Lagos State brought their weight to bear as a testimony to the laudable achievement of Dr Awode, for whom it is not a big deal, but in actual fact a second nature to positively affect his host community in bringing succour to them in whatever capacity it is needed.
These royal guests all pulled the stops to felicitate with the amiable man of honour. Legal luminaries, academicians from both government and private citadels of higher learning, businessmen and women, all did the needful by turning up in force and solidarity under the Blue-Roof of LTV-8 Agidingbi, Lagos to celebrate the unassuming, self-made billionaire in paint manufacturing and other allied products.
Being chosen as the Lagos State Man of The Year 2021 is not an honour in the likes of others being given out, it is unique and in a class of its own, because it is an honour earned as a reward for service sincerely and judiciously rendered to society, humanity and for posterity.
The Conferment ceremony was witnessed by Rector, The Polytechnic, Ibadan Prof. Adekunle Adebiyi Kazeem, Oba David Olukayode from Ikorodu, Dr Barrister Laide Osinjo, Sp. Apostle Adegoke, Mrs Sesan Rufai, Mr&Mrs Solomon Nwachukwu, Prophet Tolani, Prophet Alugbo, Sp. Apostle Ogundele, G.A. Agboola, Dean of Post Graduate School, KST Eniola from JABU, Mr Dapo Adeniyi-Registrar, Mogaji Solabello Adewole, Oladipupo Coker to mention a few.
The beautiful citation was read by famous Obafemi Greg.