Buhari Congratulates Nigeria’s Noel Ifeanyi Alumona, On Winning AFS Award In US

President Buhari in a statement by his special media aide, Femi Adesina, noted that the responsiveness, kindness and sacrificial spirit of the Nigerian student, who is studying Special Education in Vanderbilt University, United States, and has already established foundations to cater for the needs of physically challenged, vulnerable and less privileged.

The president extoled Alumona for his outstanding character and dedication to helping others, particularly for attracting global spotlight to Nigeria, in recognition of his vigorous campaign to end violence against women and girls through proper orientation of boys on responsible behaviour.

Noel, who hails from Enugu State, beat other 500 contestants after a strenuous and rigorous selection process and interviews, from where 10 finalists were selected from over 200 applications. The winner, who is also a 2018 Obama Foundation Fellow of the African Leaders programme, explained that the inspiration for the formation of Boys Champion came in 2018 after his meeting with Barack Obama in Johannesburg as an Obama Foundation Fellow. It was an encounter that transformed his worldview and ignited in him the flaming zeal to make a positive impact in his community.

He disclosed that he and Chike Stf Nwoke, a PhD student at Carleton University in Canada, were collaborating on a research paper to analyse the first ever 2015 policy document and the level of implementation on special education in Nigeria. He said critical questions needed to be asked in order to chart the way forward for special education in the country.

“At the moment, Nigeria is at the end of the bridge on global rankings for special education support. I am happy to continue to offer my voice to conversations that will inspire change in Nigeria, Africa and across the world. As I always say, Africans will change Africa and I am happy to lead that change from my own community through Boys Champions and Hope for African Children,” he said.