The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) Calgary, Canada has conferred on the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Mariam Katagum with an “Honorary Fellow”.
The conferment was done at an award ceremony during the 10th Pan-Commonwealth Forum in Calgary, Canada with the theme “Innovations for Educational Resilience.”
A statement signed by the Assistant Director, Information, Oluwakemi Ogunmakinwa and made available to Channel Network Afrique, CNA, indicate that the President and Chief Executive Officer of Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Professor Asha Kanwar, in a letter recognised Amb.
Katagum’s past contributions to the Commonwealth of Learning, which helped in raising the visibility and profile of the body on the global stage.
The statement noted the Minister’s focus on inclusion and social development which inspired many across the Commonwealth as well as appreciation for her humble contributions to education, not just in Nigeria but at the international level.
Amb. Katagum according to the statement is the first female Nigerian to be honoured with the title of Honorary Fellow of the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) once served as a Member, representing Nigeria on the Board of Governors of the Commonwealth of Learning from 2010 – 2019 in her capacity as Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of Nigeria to UNESCO, Paris, France.
She also served within that period as Deputy Chairman of the Board of Governors from 2014 – 2019.
Other notable past Nigerian awardees include, the late Alhaji Hafiz S. Wali (2001-2002); Professor Michael Omolewa (2005-2006); Professor Olugbemiro Jegede (2011 -2013); and Professor Abdalla Adamu (2017-2019).
The title “Honorary Fellow of the Commonwealth of Learning” recognizes outstanding contributions of an individual to distance education in areas such as leadership and service, published works including courseware, lectures and presentations and mentorship as consideration is typically limited to citizens of Commonwealth countries of which Nigeria is a Member, and the title is conferred for life.
COL names the Honorary Fellows during the Pan-Commonwealth Forum and does not seek nominations for the award.
The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) is hosted by the government of Canada with headquarters in Burnaby, British Columbia.
It is the world’s only intergovernmental organization solely concerned with the promotion and development of distance education and open learning and was established in the year 1987 by Commonwealth Heads of Government to create and widen access to opportunities for learning, making use of the potential offered by distance education and by the application of communication technologies to education.
