The Special Adviser on Strategic Investment and Liaison with Federal Agencies to the Governor of Kogi State, Ambassador (Chief) Hassiat Ozavize Suleiman, has been honoured by the Youth Coalition for Education in Nigeria (YOCEN-Nigeria) with its Nobel Prize for Excellence, recognising her as an “Amazon of Societal Transformation in Nigeria.”
The award was presented during a courtesy visit by the leadership of YOCEN-Nigeria to Ambassador Suleiman in recognition of her contributions to youth development, education, sustainable development, good governance and nation-building.
The organisation described Ambassador Suleiman as a role model and mentor to young Nigerians and Africans, citing her commitment to human capacity development, advocacy for the Sustainable Development Goals and her passion for initiatives that improve the welfare and prospects of young people.
YOCEN also commended her leadership and interpersonal skills, describing her as a woman who has consistently demonstrated courage, intellectual capacity and commitment to effective service delivery.
Presenting the award, the YOCEN leadership said the recognition was intended to acknowledge Ambassador Suleiman’s contributions to societal transformation and encourage her continued engagement in initiatives promoting education and youth development.
The delegation was led by YOCEN Secretary-General, Engr. Yakubu Nurudeen Yahaya, and included the Director of Foreign Relations, Amb. Kobehi Kosa; Director of Media, Amb. Alexander Alfa; and Ex-Officio member, Amb. Jamiu Abraham.
YOCEN-Nigeria is a Pan-African youth development initiative focused on education, youth empowerment, sustainable development and advocacy. The organisation said it has undertaken programmes across Nigeria and other African countries, with particular emphasis on quality education and keeping the girl child in school.
Accepting the award, Ambassador Suleiman described the recognition as a profound honour, saying it represented not only a personal milestone but also a reflection of the collective responsibility to invest in the future of young people.
“I am deeply humbled by the title of ‘Amazon of Societal Transformation in Nigeria’ and by YOCEN’s conviction that education is a tool for societal development,” she said.
She stressed that youth empowerment and a strong educational foundation remained essential to sustainable development, adding that her work as Special Adviser was aligned with the broader development vision of the Kogi State Government.
“This honour is not just a personal milestone, but a reflection of our collective vision under the leadership of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kogi State, to drive strategic investments and meaningful collaboration across federal agencies,” Ambassador Suleiman said.
She thanked YOCEN for the recognition and dedicated the award to Nigerians working to create a better future for the country’s youth.“I dedicate this award to everyone working tirelessly to build a brighter, more prosperous future for our youth and our nation,” she added.
The visit also provided an opportunity for discussions around possible collaboration in youth capacity building, education, skills development and other initiatives aimed at improving opportunities for young Nigerians.
