(PRESS STATEMENT)
AANI CELEBRATES OUR PRESIDENT, AMBASSADOR EMMANUEL OBI OKAFOR mni: A DISTINGUISHED STATESMAN, VISIONARY LEADER AND BEACON OF NATIONAL UNITY, ON HIS BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY
“Great leaders do not just lead; they inspire. They do not merely serve; they uplift. And in doing so, they leave behind a trail of hope, transformation, and legacy.”
Today, Tuesday, 24th June 2025, the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI) proudly and joyfully celebrates one of its most illustrious members and transformational Presidents, Ambassador Emmanuel Obi Okafor mni, SEC 29, 2007, as he marks another glorious year of purposeful life, uncommon service, and enduring impact. In commemorating this special day, we are not just celebrating a birthday.
We are honouring a man whose life embodies the finest ideals of leadership, statesmanship, integrity and patriotism, a man whose every step has been guided by integrity, compassion, and a deep and abiding love for Nigeria.
Since assuming office as President of AANI, Ambassador Okafor mni has demonstrated what it truly means to lead with vision and values.
He is a wise, humane and inspiring leader, a man who is very firm but listens with empathy, acts with courage and leads with humility.
He is a quintessential gentleman and seasoned diplomat, whose calming presence and refined intellect continue to inspire confidence, respect and admiration from those of us in the National Executive Committee and indeed from all quarters.
Over the past two years, he has transformed and repositioned AANI into a more vibrant, visible and visionary association.
Through strategic engagements, institutional reforms, and consistent advocacy, he has steered AANI back to the centre of national relevance, fulfilling its mandate as a Think Tank and platform for promoting unity, national development and good governance in Nigeria.
Indeed, his leadership has reignited the passion of members, strengthened our internal cohesion, and enhanced the credibility and prestige of our association; more chapters and continuing activities.
Under his stewardship, AANI has spoken more boldly, acted more decisively and collaborated more meaningfully in the national interest and towards a better society.
Born in Enugu and proudly hailing from Awka town in Anambra State, Ambassador Okafor’s path to greatness began with formative years at Methodist College Uzuakoli and Christ the King College, Onitsha, followed by rigorous academic pursuits at the University of Ife and the University of Lagos, prestigious institutions that helped refine his intellect and sharpen his global outlook.
His distinguished career in Nigeria’s security and diplomatic service has taken him across continents, from Europe to South America and to the global stage at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, where he represented Nigeria with distinction.
He served in our missions in The Netherlands, Argentina, and was concurrently accredited to Chile, Peru, Uruguay, and other countries.
While in public service, some of his remarkable achievements include serving as Nigeria’s expert and Focal Person on Counterterrorism and Peace-building at the United Nations, and coordinating the first-ever UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy Workshop for West Africa and the Sahel, held in Abuja in 2013, a milestone in regional peace and security cooperation.
He is not only a practitioner of diplomacy but a builder of peace, a bridge across cultures, and a promoter of global understanding.
He has represented Nigeria in several high-level conferences around the world, from Bogotá to Riyadh, bringing wisdom, credibility and calm authority to complex global conversations on terrorism, development and capacity building.
Yet, beyond the offices he has held and the international honours he has earned, our amiable President, Ambassador Okafor mni is profoundly admired for his deep humanity, unpretentious grace and infectious optimism. He treats all with dignity and respect and encourages all to rise. He admirably exemplifies leadership that is anchored in values and driven by purpose.
A Knight of Saint Paul (KSP) of the Anglican Communion, a Chartered Member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International, and a member of the IBB International Golf and Country Club, he continues to lead a life defined by spiritual depth, professional discipline and personal refinement. You have truly made us proud.
His unshakable belief in the unity and greatness of Nigeria is evident in all he does. He speaks not from a place of ambition but from conviction.
He works not for recognition, but for results. And in every sphere he touches, he leaves behind excellence and inspires others to do the same.
Therefore, as we join his family friends and well-wishers around the world in celebrating this icon of service and leadership, we reaffirm our gratitude for the privilege of having him at the helm of our great association.
Happy Birthday, our dear President, Ambassador Emmanuel Obi Okafor mni. May God continue to grant you good health, renewed strength and divine wisdom. May your passion for a united, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria continue to bear fruit for generations to come Sir.
E-Signed:
Brigadier General SK Usman (rtd) mni fnipr
AANI National Publicity Secretary
Tuesday, 24th June 2025
