Stella Okengwu, a Nigerian engineer based in the United States, has been honored with the prestigious Joe Biden Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award.
Okengwu was among four distinguished individuals recognized by former President Biden before his tenure ended and was succeeded by Donald Trump.
Other recipients of the award included Michael Flynn, Dr. Alveda Thomas, and Catalina Stube.
The honor comes at a critical time for Okengwu, as her efforts to secure a $250 million investment into Nigeria’s economy through the Winhomes Global Estate scheme face a significant challenge back home.
She has played a vital role in encouraging Nigerians in the diaspora to repatriate funds to support development in Nigeria.
However, the scheme is now under threat due to the diversion of the Lagos-Calabar Highway at Okun Ajah, a project under construction by the Federal Ministry of Works.
The diversion has sparked concerns among Nigerians in the diaspora, leading them to file a lawsuit challenging the action, citing the disregard for the 2006 Gazetted Alignment and allegations of favoritism towards lawbreakers who built on the designated area.
In response to the situation, Mrs. Okengwu has expressed her commitment to supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
She appealed to President Tinubu to intervene in the matter, emphasizing that the intervention would protect investments and inspire other Nigerians abroad to contribute to the nation’s growth.
