The State of Georgia, United States of America, has conferred its honourary citizenship on the Chairman of US-Nigeria Trade Council, Iyalode Alaba Lawson.
At a ceremony held in her honour, the Secretary of State for the State of Georgia, Mr. Brian Kemp, represented by the distinguished Senator Donzella James, Democratic member of the Georgia State Senate, from the 35th District, commended Iyalode Alaba Lawson for her extensive milestones in the growth of quality education in Nigeria.
He also praised her robust embodiment of industry, justice and philanthropy.
Chief Alaba Lawson, the proprietress of Alaba Lawson Royal College, Abeokuta, Ogun State, is also the Iyalode of Egbaland, Iyalode of Yoruba land, first female President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), and Chairman of Abestone Microfinance Bank, established to boost Small amd Meduim Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria.
In his remarks, the Executive Director of the US-Nigeria Trade Council, Mr. Titus Olowokere, described Iyalode as “the indefatigable leader of the organized private sector in Nigeria, who, through her Foundation and other community intervention programmes, has helped the less-privileged and struggling SMEs achieve their business goals”.
Also speaking at the occasion, Mrs. Affi Ibanga, the Managing Director of AML Bonded Terminals referred to Iyalode as “Her Excellency”, and the model of excellence for womanhood and entrepreneurship in Nigeria.
She encouraged the Iyalode to continue her sterling work, and motivate the younger women to higher pedestal.
Other dignitaries at the conferment of the Honorary Citizenship of Georgia on Iyalode Alaba Lawson include, Hon. Kayode Laro, the Consul General of Nigeria in Atlanta, Ms. Cynthia Blandford, the Honorary Consul General of Liberia, Alhaji Remi Bello, Immediate Past President of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industries (LCCI), General Ganiyu Raji (Rtd), Mr. Oyebuchi Okafor, Board member of the US-Nigeria Trade Council, Prof. Lekan Ayanwale from Tuskegee University, members of the Africa Hub International and other dignitaries.
In her remarks, Iyalode Lawson, who according to a statement was short of words, thanked the State of Georgia for the honour.
She recalled how her father had been an inspiration to her when the Queen of England bestowed on him the prestigious M.B.E. award in 1957. She accepted the Honorary Georgia Citizenship status and promised to live up to the billing.
As an Honorary Georgia Citizen, Iyalode Alaba Lawson will “be afforded every courtesy as a Goodwill Ambassador from Georgia in her travels to other states, to nations beyond the borders of the United States of America or wherever she may hereafter travel or reside”.
Iyalode Alaba Lawson also attended the US-Nigeria Agribusiness Investment Summit (USNAGRIS-2017), at Hilton Atlanta Airport Hotel, where she delivered a paper on “Agribusiness Opportunities and inter- dependence in Global and Local Markets – the need for re-awakening”
