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All is set for the 2026 International Humanitarian Award being organised by the United Towns Agency for North-South Cooperation (UTA), scheduled for Thursday, August 20, 2026, in Abuja, Nigeria.
The event, which is part of activities by the organisation to mark the 2026 World Humanitarian Day, will be chaired by Rear Admiral Samuel Alade (retd), Commandant of the National Defence College (NDC), Abuja.
Former President of Senegal and leading contender for the position of United Nations Secretary-General, Macky Sall, is expected to attend the event as an award recipient and special guest.
Other dignitaries and award recipients expected to grace the occasion from outside Nigeria include Ambassador Eya Essif, Global Secretary-General of UTA; Amb. Ousmane Yara, AU Ambassador; Samira Bawumia, wife of the former Vice President of Ghana and founder of the Samira Empowerment and Humanitarian Project (SEHP); and Ms Rosanna Roda, President of UTA Italy, among others.
Also expected are Rear Admiral Samuel Alade (retd); Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State; Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State; Dr Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service; General Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff; Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning; Chief Tony Ojukwu, Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission; HRM Igwe Okechukwu Asadu, Chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council; Dr Tijjani Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons; Dr Sampson Ebimaro, Director of International Cooperation, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning; Lloyd Ezechukwu, Chief Executive Officer of William Lloyd Technical Company Limited; Prince Ezem Ihenacho, Advocate 4 Humanity; Hon. Christopher Maikalangu, Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council; Hajia Hadiza Umar, founder of the Hajia Hadiza Foundation; and Dr Femi Lanre-Oke, Executive Director of the Still Waters Foundation.
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The Executive Governor of Zamfara State, Dr Dauda Lawal, will deliver the keynote address, while the highpoint of the event will be the unveiling of the UTA Social Centre, a community-based facility designed to provide vocational training, healthcare support and welfare services for vulnerable groups.
The UTA International Humanitarian Award and Lecture is a high-level platform established to recognise outstanding individuals and institutions making extraordinary contributions to humanitarian service in Nigeria and across Africa.
The event, which will take place at the Chida Hotel Event Centre from 4 p.m., will bring together government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, United Nations agencies, traditional rulers, private-sector stakeholders and civil society organisations.
The United Towns Agency for North-South Cooperation (UTA) is an international non-governmental organisation with special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The organisation promotes solidarity, sustainable development and humanitarian cooperation between cities and communities in the global North and South.
