Awards

The Eliss Island Medal of Honour Award

Chief Jephthah receiving the Ellis Island Medal of Honor Award

Chief Jephthah after receiving the Ellis Island Medal of Honor Award

The Chairman of the Bayelsa State Committee on Peace and Conflict Resolution, Chief James Jephathah has emerged as the First African to be awarded the prestigious Eliss Island Medal of Honour award and listed in the American Congressional record for his involvement in the actualization of the existing peace and acceptance of the Federal Government’s Amnesty programme by ex-militants in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The Ellis Medal of Honour award was established since 1986 and each year the National Ethnic Coalition of Organisations (NECO) presents the Ellis Island Medal of Honour Award to the immigrant experience, as well as for achievements to citizens from various ethnic backgrounds. The honourees are remarkable Americans who exemplify outstanding qualities in both their personal and professional lives, while continuing to preserve the richness of their particular heritage. The presentation of the award, earlier billed for May 8th, 2010, in New York, United States of America, was moved to Dublin, Ireland following the sudden demise of the Nigerian President to coincide with the 2010 presentation of the Albert Schweitzer Leadership for Life programme in Ireland and witnessed by participants in the 2010 business meeting between Nigerian and Irish professionals in Dublin. Speaking at the occasion, the Nigerian Ambassador to Ireland, Dr.Kema Chikwe commended those who made the choice of recipients of the award and insisted that the nation has human and material resources that can compete anywhere in the world in spite of the occasional challenges befalling the nation. She said “The Nigerian nation is a friendly and hospitable country with abundant business opportunities and human resources. “We are friendly and are doing great in all facet of life. There is no country in the world that has not experience some of the challenges before as a nation and we have always come out of it strong and focused in the competitive world.”

Past recipients of the Ellis Island Award

UNITED NATIONS – POLAC AMBASSADOR OF PEACE 2009 AWARD

Chief Jephthah receives the UN Polac award

Chief Jephthah receives the UN Polac award

ALBERT SCHWEITZER AWARD CEREMONY

Chief Jephthah receives the Albert Schweitzer award