Kingsley Akinroye, chief executive officer, Nigerian Heart Foundation, has bagged “Knight First Class of the Lion of Finland Award” for his immense contributions to the healthcare and education sector in Nigeria.
Akinroye said on Wednesday in Lagos that the award would spur him and others to do more in the campaign toward reducing heart-related diseases, both at home and abroad.
“The award is an honour to Nigeria. If Finland can come and recognise our contributions, there is hope for those coming behind. I am very happy about this award,” he said.
The award was delivered to me by Jyrki Pulkkinen,ambassador of Finland, in Abuja on Sunday.
According to Akronye, thirty or 40 years ago, Finnish people had the highest numbers of people dying of heart diseases because they were very poor, the parliament took steps to control this and that was what attracted me to them.
I went there and felt that I could bring the same experiment here in Nigeria. This is what heart foundation has been doing for more than 25 years, and the whole world knows about it. I am very happy that the result of our work is coming up.
“The Finnish recognise us, though; Nigeria does not seem to recognise what we are doing.
“As a young doctor 25 years ago, I never knew I would be recognised like this after we have made those contributions,” he said.
The risk of heart diseases has become persistent over the years. Akinroye added that the award was an encouragement for those people coming behind that they could also make contributions to the country.
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“There is nothing impossible where you have sincerity, integrity and transparency. Award like this rewards your dedication, belief, and that investment can come in so many ways.
“The award was given to me because of few things that I have been able to contribute in the last 30 years that I have been associating with Finland, to bring Nigeria and especially Finland together.”
According to him, Nigeria as a nation can learn integrity, transparency and prudence from Finland which only relies on timber and fish as sources of revenue and prioritises health of its manpower.
“More is still being expected from all levels of government in Nigeria to ensure quality healthcare delivery for citizens, especially Nigerians living with communicable and non-communicable diseases.
Akinroye urged Nigerians to desist from smoking, eating unhealthy food, too much salt, and not exercising to protect their hearts stressing that heart-related disease is a leading cause of death in the world today, and there is a need for people to pay closer attention to what they consume.
“People should imbibe the culture of engaging in regular physical exercise to live healthier lives.
“It is estimated that over 60 per cent of Nigerians are at risk of heart-related diseases, which is the leading cause of deaths worldwide. Majority of people are unaware of the risk associated with heart-related diseases,” he said.
From right: Ambassador Jyrki Pulkkinen Ambassador of Finland, Kingsley Akinroye, and Johanna Antila, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Finland, Abuja at the presentation of Knight First Class of the Lion of Finland Award to Akinroye at the event marking the 103rd Independence Anniversary of the Republic of Finland in Abuja on Sunday, 6th December 2020.
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