Nigeria's former Chief of Army Staff, General Martin Luther Agwai, was awarded the "Visionary Award" by the US-based Africa Center for Strategic Studies at a ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal, June 23, 2010.

The Africa Center for Strategic Studies, headed by US Ambassador William M. Bellamy (ret.), is the pre-eminent US Department of Defense institution for strategic security studies, research, and outreach in Africa.

Gen. Agwai, who is also former Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff and Force Commander of UNAMID, the joint UN-AU force in Darfur, received the award in recognition of his distinguished military career and dedication to the promotion of peace and security in Africa. Gen. Agwai was introduced by U.S. General William "Kip" Ward, commander U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).

Accepting the award, Gen. Agwai said, "I am proud to say that my country, Nigeria, rose to the challenges posed to the international community by Africa-wide security problems, leading me to play a greater role in trying to secure peace on the continent than I ever imagined I would when I began my career 40 years ago."

He went on to say, "Good governance is still a challenge in most African countries. We must appreciate that a lot of progress has been made in this regard, but there are democratic structures that still need to be strengthened. Lack of free and fair elections and corruption are challenges that could truncate democracy and erode the gains we have made in the march towards good governance and democracy in Africa. Peace is not merely the absence of visible conflict but must also be based on the rights and dignity of every citizen of Africa. A just peace does not only include respect for civil and political rights but also economic security and freedom from want, which can only be guaranteed by good governance.

In his acceptance speech Gen. Agwai also paid tribute to officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Armed Forces, saying, "I deployed thousands of them to distant lands in the service of peace and I am immensely proud of how they conducted themselves....Some of them paid the supreme sacrifice for the sake of peace and security in Africa. Their sacrifices will never be forgotten."

Copyright © 2010 Center on Housing Rights and Evictions. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).

AllAfrica - All the Time

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS EVENT…..

TRANSCRIPT: General William "Kip" Ward, commander US Africa Command (AFRICOM), introduces Gen. Agwai at the awards presentation: http://www.africom.mil/getArticle.asp?art=4731&lang=0

TRANSCRIPT: Gen. Agwai's acceptance speech: http://www.africom.mil/getArticle.asp?art=4730&lang=0